How to choose a foundation repair company

Last updated October 12, 2026

Searching "foundation companies near me" gets you a page of ads, directories and lists. Here's how to tell the companies apart, written for homeowners in Rockwall, Rowlett and Wylie, though most of it applies anywhere in North Texas.

We're a referral service, not a foundation company, and we may be paid by the contractor we refer you to. That's exactly why this guide tells you how to check any company, including ours.

Start with the fact most people don't know: there's no state license

Texas doesn't issue a state license for foundation repair contractors. A company calling itself "licensed" for foundation work is telling you something that doesn't exist at the state level. (Plumbers and electricians are licensed in Texas; foundation repair companies aren't.) So the checking is up to you.

Ten questions to ask every company

1. How long have you been doing foundation work here, under this name? Then check it: the business's own site, its Better Business Bureau profile and its reviews should roughly agree.
2. Will you give me the floor-elevation readings? A good inspection includes level readings across the house. Ask for a copy of the sketch, not just a verbal "it's sinking."
3. What do you think is causing the movement? On Blackland Prairie clay it's usually moisture: drainage, a plumbing leak or a thirsty tree. Piers don't fix the cause.
4. What type of pier, how deep, and why that many? Pressed concrete, drilled concrete and steel piers all have uses. A company should explain why it picked one for your soil.
5. Should we test the plumbing first? A leak under the slab can soften one spot. Lifting before fixing it can waste money.
6. Who pulls the permit? The City of Rowlett and the City of Wylie both list foundation repair as work that needs a building permit. Rockwall's published list doesn't name it, but confirm with the city. A company should know the rule for your address and pull the permit itself.
7. Is there an engineer involved? Some companies have an engineer review the plan or inspect afterward. Ask who the engineer works for.
8. What exactly does the warranty cover? Piers only, or adjustments too? For how long? Is there a fee to transfer it when you sell, or a fee for adjustments? Get it in writing before you sign.
9. What's not included? Drainage, root barriers, plumbing repairs, interior tunneling, landscaping and cosmetic repairs are often separate.
10. Do you carry liability insurance, and can I see the certificate? Ask for it. It's a normal request.

Red flags

• Pressure to sign today, or a "discount" that expires when the salesperson leaves
• A pier count with no elevation readings to back it up
• No written warranty, or a warranty that's mostly exceptions
• Claims of a state foundation license
• A big price difference from other quotes that nobody can explain

Compare quotes the right way

Line up the pier count, pier type and depth, what's included, and the warranty, not just the total. Published Dallas–Fort Worth guides put most residential repairs between about $4,000 and $15,000, with typical slab pier jobs around $5,000–$8,500, so a quote far outside that deserves a question. See our cost guide.

How to get bids: engineer first, then three quotes

Texas doesn't license foundation repair companies, so the order you do things in is your main protection.

1. Get an independent engineer's evaluation first. Hire a Texas-licensed professional engineer who doesn't sell repairs. The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers says foundation evaluation and repair design should be done by a Texas-licensed engineer, and that conflicts of interest should be avoided. One DFW guide puts an independent evaluation at about $400–$1,000. Check the license at pels.texas.gov.
2. Test the plumbing if the engineer suggests it. A leak under the slab can be part of the cause. The ASCE Texas guidelines list plumbing tests among the more detailed evaluation steps, and the same DFW guide recommends getting before-and-after plumbing test results in writing.
3. Get three written bids against the same plan. The Federal Trade Commission advises getting three written estimates. When every company prices the engineer's plan, the bids are comparable.
4. Check that each bid spells out the details. The FTC says a written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price. For foundation work, also compare pier count, pier type and depth, and what's left out (plumbing, drainage, permit, cosmetic repairs).
5. Read the warranty. Ask how long it lasts, whether it transfers when you sell, and whether there are fees for later adjustments.
6. Ask about big price gaps. The FTC says not to pick the lowest bid automatically, and to ask why prices differ a lot.
7. Confirm the permit. Rowlett and Wylie list foundation repair as work that needs a building permit. Ask who pulls it for your address.
8. Sign a written contract before work starts. If you sign at home, the FTC notes you generally have three business days to cancel.

Sources: ASCE Texas Section, Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations, Ver. 3 (2022); North Texas Home Guide, "Foundation Repair Cost in North Texas (2026)"; FTC, "Home Repair Scams"; FTC, "How To Avoid a Home Improvement Scam"; City of Rowlett and City of Wylie building permit pages (see each city page).

When to bring in an independent engineer

If you're buying the house, if two quotes disagree by a lot, or if the repair is large, a Texas-licensed professional engineer who doesn't sell repairs works for you. You can look up an engineer's license on the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website (pels.texas.gov). More on that in what an inspection involves.

Checking reviews

• Read the low reviews and how the company answered them. A company that resolves problems is worth more than one with a perfect score.
• Look for reviews that mention warranty visits years later. That's the part of foundation repair you can't see on day one.
• Check more than one place: Google, the BBB and Nextdoor neighbors.

How we fit in

We call you back first. We'll ask what you're seeing. If you'd like a contractor to look at it, we'll tell you which one independent local contractor we'd refer you to. We share your details only after you say yes, and we never send them to a list or sell them. You can (and should) ask any contractor every question on this page. How our service works.

Quick answers

Does Texas license foundation repair companies?

No. Texas doesn't issue a state license for foundation repair contractors, so checking a company is up to you: its history, reviews, insurance certificate, written warranty and permit practice.

How many bids should I get for foundation repair?

The Federal Trade Commission advises getting three written estimates. Ask each company to price the same independent engineer's plan so the bids are comparable.

When should I hire an independent engineer?

If you're buying the house, if quotes disagree by a lot, or if the repair is large. A Texas-licensed professional engineer who doesn't sell repairs works for you. You can check the license at pels.texas.gov.

What should a foundation repair warranty say?

What it covers (piers only, or adjustments too), how long it lasts, whether it transfers when you sell, and any fees for transfers or adjustments. Get it in writing before you sign.

Guides: How to choose a foundation repair company · Does insurance cover foundation repair in Texas?

Where we connect homeowners

• Foundation repair in Rockwall: mostly 2000s homes on Heiden and Houston Black clay
• Foundation repair in Rowlett: the oldest housing of the three, on the Lake Ray Hubbard shore
• Foundation repair in Wylie: newer homes, many now past builder warranty

Want a ballpark first? Read what foundation repair costs, or tell us what you're seeing.

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