Foundation raising in Riverside CA - a home that sits level and stable again
Floors tilting, doors sticking or a slab that's dropped? We find what's sinking, deal with the cause and bring it back to level.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Do you need slab lifting or piers?
It comes down to what's actually sinking, because a dropped slab and moving walls need different repairs, so I check which it is before I write anything up.
Slab lifting is enough when:
- Only the concrete slab has settled
- The walls and footings are holding
- Doors and windows still close right
- The water behind it can be fixed
- You need the slab back in use quickly
Piers are the better choice when:
- The walls and footings are sinking
- Wall cracks keep growing
- Doors and windows keep sticking
- The settling is severe or getting worse
- You want a permanent fix, not temporary jacks
From your call to a level house
You call or write
Tell us whether your house sits on a slab or on raised supports and where you see it sinking, and we'll set a time for me to come out.
A visit booked
I look at the house
I come out myself and check the floors, walls, ground and access, and I watch how water moves around the house, because what's sinking and why decides the repair.
The cause found
Written estimate and city steps
You get a written estimate that spells out what's in it and what isn't, and we agree who applies for the permit, since the city may also ask for drawings of the work to review.
A written estimate
Raising and leveling
Our lead finisher runs the crew, I'm on site on pour days, and we bring the foundation up a little at a time until it sits level and stable.
A level foundation
Walk-through and clean-up
We walk the finished work with you, show you what was done about the water behind the settling, and clean up the site before we pack up.
A clean, level house
What our foundation raising covers
Finding what's sinking
We check whether the slab or the walls and footings have dropped, because that one answer sets the whole repair.
Tracing the water
We look for poor drainage or leaking plumbing behind the settling, since a lift that leaves the cause alone can sink again.
Piers for walls and footings
Piers carry the house's weight down to deeper, firmer soil when the walls and footings themselves are moving.
Shims for raised homes
Low spots under a home on raised supports get steel, concrete, wood or composite shims, adjusted bit by bit until level.
Slab lifting
A settled slab is raised with foam or a cement slurry pumped underneath, picked to suit the soil it sits on.
Opening up concrete
Where a pier spot sits under a walk or patio, we open it with concrete cutting and patch it afterward.
What decides the cost of raising a foundation?
The method sets most of it, and the method follows from what's sinking. Lifting a settled slab is a smaller job than piering under walls and footings, and piering costs more the deeper the piers go and the more of them you need. Shimming a few low spots under a raised home usually sits at the lighter end.
Soil matters a great deal around Riverside. The published soil maps for western Riverside County list how much weight each soil type holds and how much it swells and shrinks with water, and that tells me how deep piers may need to go and which lifting method suits your ground. Access for the crew, any drainage or leak repair, and the city's permit and drawings round out the total, and your written estimate lists each one.
Why Riverside homeowners call us to raise a foundation
I learned concrete on a city public works crew, pouring to a written spec with an inspector watching, and I started this business in Riverside in 2013 to bring that same care to homes. With foundation raising, that means finding out what's actually sinking and what water is behind it before anyone lifts anything, because lifting without fixing the cause invites the same trouble back.
I'll also be straight with you. If your house needs work a specialist would handle better, I'll tell you plainly rather than sell you a lift that won't hold. We're based in Riverside and work in many of the cities around it across the Inland Empire, so please call (951) 631-9520 when you'd like me to come take a look.
- I write your estimate myself
- Everything included spelled out in writing
- Licensed, fully insured, satisfaction guaranteed
Get a written estimate for your foundation
Tell us whether your home sits on a slab or raised supports and where it's sinking. We reply within one business day, and I'll come out for a free, no-obligation estimate in writing.
(951) 631-9520Foundation raising questions
How much does foundation raising cost in Riverside?
Repair on pier and beam homes, the ones on raised supports, usually costs about $1,500 to $15,000 per job across the US, and that's the national market, not our price. Where yours lands depends on the method and the soil, covered above. I'll put your own figure in a written estimate after I see the house.
What is the best way to fix a sinking foundation?
Piers are the fix when the walls and footings are sinking, because they move the house's weight down to deeper soil, and slab lifting is the fix when only a concrete slab has settled. On a home on raised supports, jacks are a quicker, less invasive fix but a temporary one, while piering is permanent and is what a severe problem needs.
Do I need a permit for foundation raising in Riverside?
Most likely yes, because the City of Riverside requires permits for most construction, and anyone planning to repair or alter a building applies to the city's building official first. The city warns that work done outside its codes can significantly cut a home's value and that insurers may not cover work done without permits and inspections. We agree up front who applies, and when it's us, we bring our license paperwork to the counter.
Will my slab settle again after it's lifted?
It can if the cause stays in place, because mudjacking and foam injection lift the slab but leave problems like poor drainage or plumbing leaks untouched. That's why the water fix gets planned before or alongside the lift. On weak soil or clay that swells when wet, foam is strongly preferred since it adds very little weight, while heavy mudjacking slurry can make a slab sink again.
How long before I can drive on a lifted driveway?
After mudjacking, keep vehicles off the slab for at least 24 hours, while a slab lifted with foam is ready for cars almost as soon as the crew finishes. If the driveway is broken through in too many places to lift, a new concrete driveway may be the better use of your money, and I'll tell you which I'd choose.
How do I check a foundation contractor's license in California?
You can verify a contractor's license with the Contractors State Licensing Board, which has a separate classification for contractors who raise, lower and underpin structures and their foundations. In Riverside, a contractor pulling a permit shows proof of licensing and holds a current city business license, so it's fair to ask to see both.
Cities we serve around Riverside
We're based in Riverside and also work in San Bernardino, Corona and many cities nearby. Pick yours below, or call (951) 631-9520 if it isn't listed.
Start your Riverside quote with Riverside Concrete Company
Have your foundation type and the sinking spots ready when you call (951) 631-9520, so I can plan the visit.