Foundation repair in San Rafael CA - fixing the cause, not just the crack
A crack that seeps water, a floor that sags or old posts under the house, fixed with the repair that problem actually needs.
I come out first and figure out what's going on, whether that's a leaking crack, a crack that's lost strength, or tired posts and short walls under the house. Then our own crew of masons does the repair with me on site.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- We respond within 1 business day.
A foundation fixed where it failed
The owner sees every job
I look at every foundation and write the estimate myself, then stay on site while our crew works.
Fully licensed and insured
We're fully licensed and insured, so you're not taking on the risk of an uninsured crew under your house.
What does foundation repair in San Rafael involve?
Foundation repair in San Rafael fixes whatever is letting water in or letting the house move, and it usually means one of three things: sealing a crack that leaks, strengthening a crack in a wall that holds the house up, or bracing and replacing the old posts and short wood walls under an older home. I start by working out which one you have, because that decides the repair, and we don't sell one fix for everything. The price moves with how many cracks there are and how bad they are, whether we're working from a cramped crawlspace or have to dig outside, and how much old wood has to come out. The schedule usually turns more on the city's permit step than on the repair itself, and the written estimate I give you spells out what I'd do and what's included.
How do you know your foundation needs work?
Water seeping through a crack
A damp streak or white crust along a crack in your basement or crawlspace wall after rain means water is getting all the way through.
A crack that keeps growing
If a crack gets longer or wider over a few months, or one side sits higher than the other, the wall is moving and needs more than a seal.
Floors that dip or bounce
A floor that slopes toward one spot or feels springy underfoot often means a post or pier below it has rotted or shifted.
Soft or chewed posts underneath
If you can see into the crawlspace, wood posts that feel soft, crumble at the bottom or are full of small holes have rot or pests at work.
How a foundation repair job runs, start to finish
You call or send a message
- Call (628) 234-2038 or use the form
- Send photos of any cracks
- Tell us when the house was built
- I come out to look myself
My visit and written estimate
- I check cracks, posts and cripple walls
- You hear my take on the spot
- A written estimate follows
- It lists what's included
Permits and a start date
- We check what the city requires
- City lists 2 to 6 weeks for permits
- We handle paperwork and set inspections
- We set a start date with you
The repair and the walk-through
- Our own masons do the work
- I'm on site while they work
- I check it before we pack up
- Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
Get a free foundation repair estimate
Tell us what you're seeing and when your house was built, with photos of any cracks. We reply within one business day, and the on-site estimate is free with no obligation.
Foundation repair questions we hear
Here are straight answers to what San Rafael homeowners ask about foundation work. If yours isn't here, call (628) 234-2038 and ask.
Which crack injection is right for my foundation crack?
It comes down to whether the crack leaks or needs strength. One injection maker's guide calls epoxy the preferred choice for a structural repair, usually done on dry concrete, and says polyurethane suits wet, leaking cracks but doesn't add structural strength. I'll tell you which kind you have when I look.
Is my older San Rafael home at risk in an earthquake?
It can be if it has cripple walls, which many Bay Area homes built before 1940 do, and they've caused significant damage in past Bay Area earthquakes. Poorly anchored ones can let a house slide off its foundation and poorly braced ones can collapse, so ask how yours are anchored and braced before picking a repair.
Do I need a permit for foundation repair in San Rafael?
Plan on checking with the city first. Its building code covers repairs to every building in San Rafael, repairs fall under its General Permits, and its list of minor permits names reroofs and furnaces, not foundation work. Work done without a permit faces extra fees, and you can call the city's building division at (415) 485-3367 with questions.
Will you have to dig around my foundation for the repair?
Only for some repairs, since crack injection and crawlspace work usually don't need it. One helical pier maker's guide says pier installation starts with digging outside the house down to the footing, the base the wall sits on, along the whole wall or at each pier, so plan for open ground there.
Can you just patch the foundation crack I can see?
We can, but I won't recommend it unless that crack is all that's wrong. I spent years going back to the same buildings for the same problems, and a quick patch costs more in the end, so I'd rather fix the reason the foundation cracked.
Can foundation movement crack my chimney or brick walls?
It can, because a house that shifts takes its masonry with it. If I see that while I'm out, we can take care of chimney repair or tuckpointing, new mortar in the worn joints between bricks, once the foundation underneath is sound.
Other masonry work we do
- Service
Chimney repair
When a house has shifted, a brick chimney often cracks or pulls away too, and it's worth fixing once the foundation under it is sound.
Read more Chimney repair - Service
Tuckpointing
Cracked or crumbling mortar joints in brick walls and steps let water in, so we replace the mortar after foundation work has stopped the movement.
Read more Tuckpointing - Service
Foundation block wall installation
When a section of old foundation is too far gone to repair, a new concrete block wall can replace it and carry the house again.
Read more Foundation block wall installation
Get your free foundation estimate
Request an estimate- VisitSan Rafael, CA 94901
- Call(628) 234-2038
- Emailteam@sanrafaelconcreteandmasonry.com
- HoursMon–Fri: 8 AM–9 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–9 PM
Foundation repair around San Rafael
We're based in San Rafael and do foundation repair in cities like Novato and Mill Valley, plus others nearby. Pick your area below, or call if yours isn't listed.