Cost guides › Foundation repair
Canada
Foundation repair cost
Stabilizing a settling foundation with 8 helical piers typically costs $15,000 before GST/HST, with most jobs between $11,700 and $19,500, including a structural engineer's report and permit. Push piers or mass concrete underpinning come in around $11,600, while deep piles or micropiles for poor soil run about $20,800.
Most homeowners pay
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Cost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | $11,900 | $15,400 | $21,300 |
| Alberta | $11,700 | $15,200 | $21,000 |
| Ontario | $11,600 | $15,000 | $20,700 |
| British Columbia | $11,500 | $14,900 | $20,600 |
| Manitoba | $11,400 | $14,700 | $20,400 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $11,400 | $14,700 | $20,400 |
| Saskatchewan | $11,300 | $14,600 | $20,200 |
| New Brunswick | $10,800 | $14,100 | $19,500 |
| Nova Scotia | $10,800 | $14,100 | $19,500 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Structural engineer's inspection and written report
- Helical steel piers with brackets, materials and installation equipment
- Excavation at each pier location along the affected wall
- Installing each pier, loading it and attaching it to the footing
- Backfilling the excavations
- Permit and monitoring allowance
What affects the cost
Push piers or helical piers
Push piers are steel tubes driven down using the weight of the house as resistance until they reach firm soil; they suit heavier homes and are usually the cheaper option. Helical piers are screwed in, and the torque needed tells the installer when they reach load-bearing soil, so they also work under lighter structures, porches and additions.
Number and depth of piers
Price scales with the number of piers along the affected wall, as the engineer specifies, and with how deep firm soil lies. Deep or poor soils, such as soft clay, need longer piers or, in the premium case, deep piles or micropiles, which require heavier equipment.
Frost depth and access
Footings in Canada sit below frost depth, so excavation to reach them is deeper than in milder climates. Decks, driveways and landscaping that must be removed, or piers installed from inside a basement through the slab, add labour.
Lift or stabilize only
Stopping further movement is the main goal. Trying to lift the house back toward level can close cracks and fix doors, but it can also cause new cracks in drywall or tile, so agree in writing what the contractor is aiming for.
The cause of the movement
Settling often starts with water: poor grading, downspouts emptying at the foundation, leaking pipes or clay soil that swells and shrinks with the seasons. Drainage corrections are not in these figures but may be needed so the problem does not move to another wall.
Engineer, permits and warranty
An independent structural engineer's report tells you what is actually needed and gives contractors the same scope to bid on. Structural work usually needs a building permit, and many pier installers offer transferable warranties that are worth comparing.
How to save
- Hire an independent structural engineer before calling pier contractors, so every quote follows the same design.
- Fix eavestroughs, downspouts and grading first; they are cheap and may slow or stop minor settling.
- Compare quotes by number of piers, pier type, target depth or torque, and warranty terms, not only the total.
- Leave interior crack repairs and redecorating until the foundation has been stable through a full freeze-thaw cycle.
Grants, tax and rules
Permits and engineering
Structural work usually needs a building permit, and many municipalities want engineer-stamped drawings for underpinning or piers. The estimate includes an engineer's report and a permit allowance; confirm both are in any quote you accept.
GST/HST
GST/HST applies to renovation work. Our figures are before GST/HST (for example 13% HST in Ontario, 5% GST in Alberta).
Frequently asked questions
How much does foundation repair cost in Canada?
For 8 helical piers with an engineer's report and permit, expect around $15,000 before GST/HST. Push piers or simple underpinning come in closer to $11,600, and deep piles or micropiles about $20,800.
Do I need a structural engineer for foundation repair?
For anything beyond sealing a non-structural crack, it is strongly advised and often required for the permit. An engineer's report is independent of any contractor's sales pitch and tells you how many piers are needed and where.
What is the difference between push piers and helical piers?
Push piers are driven into the ground using the building's weight, which suits heavier homes. Helical piers are screwed in and can be used under lighter structures, and their installation torque confirms their capacity.
What are signs of foundation problems?
Stair-step cracks in block or brick, horizontal cracks, cracks wider at one end, doors and windows that start sticking, sloping floors and gaps around window frames. A single thin vertical crack in poured concrete is often just shrinkage.
Can foundation work be done in winter?
Piering can often continue in winter because the work reaches below frost, but frozen ground makes excavation slower and costlier. Many homeowners schedule it for spring to fall unless the movement is urgent.
Does home insurance cover foundation repair?
Standard policies often exclude settling and earth movement, but coverage can depend on the cause and your policy wording. Check with your insurer before work begins.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 96 · Labour: $4,725 · Materials: $10,291
Sources: Job Bank wages (Employment and Social Development Canada); Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates.