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The comparisons that decide the budget

Foundation work comes down to four choices: repair or replace, piers or mudjacking, engineer or contractor, and one big company or a local crew. Each has a cost answer and a risk answer, and the risk answer usually wins.

Choice	Option A	Option B	What decides it
Repair vs replace	$6,000–$30,000	$40,000–$150,000+	Percentage of foundation failed; whether the house is salvageable
Piers vs mudjacking	$1,000–$3,000 per pier	$3–$8 per sq ft	Structural load vs slab void
Engineer vs contractor inspection	$400–$1,500	$0, ends in a quote	Whether the diagnosis is independent
National company vs local crew	Higher price, standard warranty	Lower price, variable warranty	Who will honour the warranty in year 12

Repair versus replace

Replacement is rarely necessary. The rule of thumb among engineers is that a foundation with more than about one-third of its area failed, or a wall that has moved more than 2–3 inches, crosses from repair into rebuild territory. Even then, the decision is economic: a $120,000 replacement on a $250,000 house is usually the wrong spend unless the land value carries it.

Repair extends the life of the structure but does not restore the original condition. Any contractor promising "good as new" is overselling; the honest promise is "stabilised, with movement stopped and a warranty".

Piers versus mudjacking

Piers transfer load to bearing strata. Mudjacking fills a void under a slab. A settled footing needs the first; a settled driveway needs the second. The costly mistake is mudjacking a structural settle — it lifts the visible slab, cracks the connection to the footing and leaves the cause in place.

If a contractor proposes mudjacking for a problem that shows up as sticking doors and cracked brick, ask which footing is being lifted and how. The answer will tell you whether the diagnosis is real.

Engineer versus contractor inspection

A contractor inspection is free and ends with a proposal. An engineer's inspection costs $400–$1,500 and ends with a diagnosis and, if needed, a stamped letter. For anything structural — piers, anchors, wall rebuilds — the letter is what the permit office wants and what a warranty claim rests on.

The cheapest path is often: engineer first, then three quotes against the same scope. It costs a little more up front and makes the quotes comparable, which is where the real savings are.

National company versus local crew

National companies bring standardised engineering, financing and a warranty that survives a local closure. Local crews are often cheaper and sometimes better, but the warranty is only as good as the company. Ask for the warranty document, the certificate of insurance and two jobs from five years ago — a crew that can produce all three is a crew worth hiring.

The cost hub carries the price bands, the repair methods hub explains what each method does, and the contractor hub covers how to read a quote.

Is it cheaper to repair or rebuild a foundation?

Repair, in almost every case. Rebuild becomes rational only when more than about a third of the foundation has failed or the walls have moved beyond what anchors can restrain.

Are foundation repair companies worth it?

For structural work, yes — the equipment, engineering and warranty are not DIY. For cosmetic crack filling and grading, no.

How many quotes should I get?

Three, against the same engineer's scope. Three quotes for three different diagnoses are not comparable and usually cost more in confusion than they save.

The comparison that decides the warranty

Price gets the attention, but the warranty is what you are actually buying. A $2,000-cheaper job with a one-year workmanship promise and no transfer clause is more expensive at resale than a $2,000-premium job with a lifetime, transferable warranty and an engineer's letter. Ask for both documents before comparing totals, and read what voids the warranty: new landscaping, a plumbing leak or an added structure are the usual exclusions.

If a contractor will not put the warranty in writing before you sign, the comparison is over.