Cracks in the slab or walls
Swelling soil can crack floor slabs and walls, so I look at where the cracks run and how wide they get to see which part of the house is moving.
Foundation repair in Fresno CA - a house that sits steady on piers set to firm soil
Cracks in your slab or walls, or doors that stick? We find what's moving and set piers to hold your house steady.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What foundation repair involves on your house
Foundation repair in Fresno, CA usually means setting piers under your house and driving them down toward firmer soil, so the house rests on something solid instead of ground that swells and shifts.
We're Mastercraft Fresno Concrete and Masonry, based in Fresno and working in the cities around it, including Clovis, Madera, Selma, Sanger and Kingsburg, and most foundation calls start with a crack that's grown or a floor that doesn't feel right anymore. What you'll pay turns mostly on how many piers the house needs, which pier system suits its weight and whether we can work from the yard or have to go through a floor inside, and the schedule turns mostly on the permit and how easy the foundation is to reach. When a job needs a permit, we file it with the right city or county office and handle the paperwork, and we're licensed and insured. I come out to look at the house myself and give you the price in writing, so you're deciding on your own number.
Our own crew does the work
The people who show up work for us, with a lead mason running the job on site, so the plan I write is the plan the crew follows.
Care where you won't see it
Running crews on big commercial jobs taught me a job is won or lost in the prep, so we put the care into the parts that get covered up, like the digging and the drainage.
A small fix when it'll do
If a crack is old and the house isn't still moving, I'll tell you that, because I'd rather point you to a small repair than sell you piers you don't need.
How we put piers under a house
I start by looking at how your house is built and roughly what it weighs, because that decides which pier system makes sense, and I do that before we talk options. Then I tell you which way we'd go and why, and what part of the yard or floor we'll need to get to. On the job, our crew opens up only what the piers need, sets each pier down toward firm soil and ties it to the foundation, so the house rests on the piers instead of the ground that's been moving. When the piers are in, we backfill, put back what we moved and clean up, with the lead mason on site from the first dig to the last pass.
Foundation movement rarely stays in the foundation. A chimney that's cracked or pulled away from the house often needs chimney repair once it's sitting on solid ground again, and brick that split along the joints while the house moved usually needs tuckpointing, where we grind out the damaged mortar and pack in fresh. We do the foundation first, because there's no point fixing brick that's still moving.
What we look for on a Fresno foundation
Heaved floors and sticking doors
The same swelling can push floors up and put stress on doors, so a door that's started sticking tells us which corner of the house the ground is working on.
Slow-draining Fresno soil
Where a lot sits on Fresno series soil, water runs off and soaks in very slowly, and small pools commonly sit through wet winters, so we check where water collects against your foundation.
Hot summers and cool, wet winters
That soil sits in a climate of hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters, so the ground under your house goes from wet to dry each year, which is why I look at drainage too.
Get a written price for your foundation repair
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the house and write the estimate myself, free and with no obligation.
Send photos of the cracks
If you can, attach photos of the wall and floor cracks, so I know where to look first and can bring what I need to check them on the visit.
Know your home's age and size
The age and size of your house give me a head start on how it's built, so the visit goes to the parts that matter instead of the basics.
Your price in writing
You get the price in writing after the visit, so you have one clear number to think over and compare before you decide anything.
Foundation, chimney and brick work examples
Example photos of pier work, block and brick foundations, and repaired chimneys and mortar joints, to help you picture the options we'll talk through.
Foundation repair questions from Fresno homeowners
Plain answers on pier types, cost in Fresno County, permits and how much of your yard or floor the job opens up.
Which type of foundation pier is right for my house?
It usually comes down to how heavy your house is. One pier maker says push piers, driven down against the house's weight, suit heavy buildings over dense soil that's within reach, while helical piers, which screw into the ground, suit lighter buildings and soil that changes from spot to spot.
Do push piers work on a single-story slab house in Fresno?
Often not, since a lighter house may lack the weight to push them deep enough. The same maker says that's common with single-story homes, houses built on a slab, porches, chimneys and additions, and that helical piers get their force from a drive head that turns them in. Helical piers can be checked for capacity as each one goes in, so you get a record of each pier.
How much does foundation pier work cost in Fresno County?
Pier or underpinning work in Fresno County usually costs about $1,100 to $3,000 per pier, so your total turns mostly on how many piers your house needs. That's the going rate around the county, not a quote. When I come out, I work out how many your house needs and give you our price in writing. Satisfaction guaranteed on every job.
Do I need a permit for foundation repair in Fresno?
Usually yes, since the city requires a permit to alter or repair a building, and its permit counter takes the application, with plans for staff to review or a completed affidavit form. We file it and handle the paperwork for you. If your house is a designated historic property, tell us at the estimate so we can plan for it.
Will foundation repair tear up my yard or floors?
Usually less than people expect, though we do need to reach the foundation. One maker's manual says its screw-in pier system generally goes in with no soil removed, which leaves no dirt to haul away. When piers go in from inside, another maker's guide has crews remove a square of concrete floor away from the foundation wall, so plan on clearing furniture from that spot.
Call or send photos of your cracks
Call (559) 319-0148 or use the form, because the sooner I see the cracks, the sooner you know whether a small fix will do.