Plumbing leaks are never fun, but they’re worse when they happen inside your foundation. Use this guide to slab leak repair costs to see what you’re up against.
How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost in San Francisco, CA? [2025 Data]
Normal Range: $4,413 - $15,777
Foundation repair in San Francisco, CA costs an average of $9,923, but it can range from $4,413 to $15,777, depending on your foundation type and the extent of the issue.
How we get this data
fstop123 / E+ / Getty Images
fstop123 / E+ / Getty Images
Cost Insights
Many of San Francisco’s historic Victorian and Edwardian homes were built on brick or block foundations that now require seismic retrofitting.
Homes built on mud or reclaimed land are especially prone to settlement and shifting foundations.
Crawl spaces in older homes frequently show signs of wood rot, mold, and pest damage in San Francisco’s damp coastal climate.
Foundation problems are among the top issues flagged during home inspections in the Bay Area housing market.
San Francisco’s foundations reflect the city’s mix of Victorian rowhouses, mid-century infill, and hillside properties, each presenting unique repair challenges. Typical foundation projects average about $9,923, with most falling between $4,413 and $15,777. How much you’ll pay depends on the type of foundation, the scale of the damage, and the methods required to stabilize it. This guide outlines these and other key factors so you can plan accordingly.
Foundation Repair Cost Factors
In San Francisco, CA, foundation repair costs are shaped by several key factors, including the size of the home, the type of foundation beneath it, and the underlying issue that needs to be fixed. The city’s dense neighborhoods and various soil conditions create unique risks for problems like foundation settling, shifting, and water intrusion.
Foundation Size
Foundation size directly impacts the cost of fixing it. The larger the home, the larger, heavier, and more structurally complex the foundation tends to be. Large foundations also often require more equipment and materials for repairs.
The per-square-foot cost of foundation repairs ranges between $1.50 and $12 per square foot on average. The range accounts for everything from minor sealant upgrades to full epoxy replacement. Prices can go much higher per square foot for certain materials, but assume this range on average when considering the full area of your home's foundation.
| Foundation Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | $1,500–$12,000 |
| 1,200 | $1,800–$14,400 |
| 1,500 | $2,250–$18,000 |
| 1,800 | $2,700–$21,600 |
| 2,000 | $3,000–$24,000 |
| 2,500 | $3,750–$30,000 |
Foundation Type
Your options for foundation repairs will vary based on your home’s foundation type, whether it’s a basement, a concrete slab, cinder blocks, bricks, or a crawl space. Prices for each foundation type also depend on the type and extent of damage since there’s no single solution for all foundation problems.
San Francisco has everything from tightly packed Victorian homes to mid-century houses and newer hillside builds, and the foundation types reflect that variety. Many older houses rely on crawl spaces, which can make them especially vulnerable to dampness, wood rot, and pest problems in the cool coastal climate. Slab foundations show up in newer construction and tend to be easier to maintain, but they aren’t immune to cracking or settlement when built on unstable fill or near slopes.
Basements are a fixture in much of the city’s older housing, often doubling as storage or utility space, though they’re at risk of water intrusion during winter rains. In the oldest properties, you can still find brick or block foundations, but the mortar breaks down with time, and earthquakes add another layer of potential instability that often calls for reinforcement.
| Foundation Type | Average Repair Cost | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basement | $15,000–$60,000 | Adds valuable living or storage space | High costs due to seismic retrofitting and extensive waterproofing |
| Concrete Slab | $5,000–$20,000 | Common and relatively accessible for repairs | Prone to cracking or settling on unstable fill or sloppy grading |
| Crawl Space | $8,000–$25,000 | Easier access to utilities and repairs | The Bay Area's moisture fosters mold, rot, and pest issues without proper control |
| Brick/Cinder Block | $10,000–$40,000 | Maintains historic charm and matches old construction styles | Aging mortar and seismic instability often demand reinforcement |
Type of Repair
The cost of foundation repair can depend on the repair method used to fix your problem. Many types of foundation repair are available, each requiring specific materials and experience. You can hire a foundation repair pro near you to fix most issues.
| Repair Type | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Foundation lifting | $25,000–$80,000 |
| Mud- or slab-jacking | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Piering or underpinning | $4,000–$12,000 |
| Reinforcement strips | $6,000–$20,000 |
Type of Issue
Every foundation problem comes with a unique price tag, particularly when a contractor has to take multiple approaches to fix it. Foundation crack repair costs, for example, depend on whether the problem stems from drainage problems, soil instability, or poor installation.
Leaks may require contractors to add a range of waterproofing methods to your foundation or investigate the source of the water from inside or outside your home. In more extreme cases, a bowing wall or sinking foundation will require major reinforcement or even replacement.
| Foundation Issue | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Foundation cracks | $800–$3,000 |
| Foundation leaks | $4,000–$15,000 |
| Home settling | $10,000–$50,000 |
| Foundation reinforcement | $8,000–$30,000 |
Foundation Repair Pro Costs
Hiring a foundation repair pro in San Francisco means budgeting for more than the structural fix itself. The city’s permitting process, higher Bay Area labor rates, and strict insurance and licensing standards tied to seismic safety are all built into the total project cost.
Labor
Foundation repair labor in San Francisco generally ranges from $125 to $200 per hour, reflecting the city’s higher construction wages. And projects here often demand additional time because of hillside lots, dense neighborhoods with limited access, and the need for seismic reinforcement, all of which add complexity beyond the repair itself.
Permits
In San Francisco, structural foundation repairs such as underpinning, excavation, and major waterproofing require a building permit through the Department of Building Inspection. Fees are tied to the project’s valuation, with most residential foundation permits starting in the $500 to $1,000 range and increasing as scope and complexity grow.
Licensing and Insurance
Foundation repair contractors must hold the appropriate license through the California Contractors State License Board, which is typically a General Building or Specialty license. They also need to carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. These protections are factored into overall project pricing but help protect homeowners from liability in the event of accidents or property damage during the repair. So make sure to verify that a contractor’s license and insurance are active before work starts.
Does Foundation Repair Affect Home Value?
Foundation repairs in San Francisco don’t significantly raise a home’s value, but they help preserve it by addressing issues that make buyers hesitate, like cracks, settlement, and signs of structural instability. In a market where seismic safety and structural soundness are closely scrutinized, documented repairs provide assurance that the property is stable and compliant with local expectations.
In addition, the city’s mix of steep hillsides, filled land, and older construction means that reinforcement and waterproofing are often necessary alongside repair work. Addressing these problems protects the home from further damage and maintains its competitiveness in San Francisco’s demanding housing market.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
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