We pour concrete. We are not structural engineers. For anything that carries the house, we will tell you when an engineer should look first.
The price ranges on this page are national figures that HomeGuide published for 2026. They are not quotes from us. Labor rates, ready-mix prices, access to the yard and how wet or sloped the ground is all move a Clark County job up or down. Last checked October 2026.
Are cracks in my foundation serious or cosmetic?
Most thin vertical cracks in a foundation wall are cosmetic shrinkage cracks. A foundation crack is serious when it is wider than about a quarter inch, wider at one end, stepped or horizontal, leaking, or growing. Doors that stick and sloping floors nearby are also warning signs. National figures put minor crack repairs at $250 to $800. Mark the ends with a pencil and a date and check again after a wet season.
My front steps are pulling away from the house. Why?
Steps start pulling away from the house because they sit on backfill, which is the loose soil put back around the foundation after it was built. That soil settles for years, faster where roof water lands on it. If the steps are in one piece they can sometimes be lifted and re-supported. If they are cracked or badly tilted, new steps on a proper footing are the better repair.
My garage floor dropped on one side. Is that a leveling job or a foundation problem?
It is usually a leveling job. In most houses the garage floor is a separate slab that floats inside the foundation walls, so when one side has dropped the walls may be fine. Look at the walls themselves. If they are straight and uncracked, the slab can be lifted or replaced. If the walls are cracked or leaning too, have an engineer look.
My retaining wall is leaning after heavy rain. Is it going to fail?
A retaining wall that starts leaning after heavy rain is under water pressure, and it can fail. Soaked soil is far heavier than dry soil, and a wall with no drain behind it holds all of that weight. Keep people and cars away from the low side. Small leans can sometimes be held with added drainage and anchors. A wall that keeps moving has to be rebuilt with drain rock, pipe and a proper footing. For walls over 4 feet, an engineer designs the repair.
One company quoted $18,000 for piers and another $1,500 to seal a basement wall crack. Which is right?
They are answering two different questions. Sealing for $1,500 stops water coming through a crack that is not moving. Piers for $18,000 support a foundation that is sinking. So the question is whether the wall is moving. An independent structural engineer, paid by you and selling no repair, can answer that for a small part of either price. National foundation figures run from $2,000 to $12,000 for leak repairs and $4,500 to $20,000 for settling or bowed walls.
My basement or slab floor is damp and shows a white powder. What is it?
The white powder is efflorescence. Water moves through the concrete, carries mineral salts to the surface and leaves them behind when it dries. It is harmless, but it proves moisture is getting through. In our wet season the cause is most often outside: gutters, downspouts and ground that slopes to the wall. Fix those first, then think about coatings.
How deep do footings need to be for frost here?
Footings here need at least 12 inches of frost protection. Both the City of Vancouver's design criteria and Clark County's plan review requirements state 12 inches. That is shallow next to colder regions, because our freezes are short. Footings often go deeper anyway to reach firm soil.
Do earthquakes change how concrete is built here?
Yes, for structural work. The city and the county place homes in seismic design category D1, which is a high category. That is why foundations, stem walls and tall retaining walls have set rules for rebar and anchor bolts. Flat driveways and patios are not designed for earthquakes, but steel in a slab helps hold it together if the ground shakes.
Does homeowners insurance cover a retaining wall, slab or foundation?
Sometimes. It depends on what caused the damage. Policies often cover sudden events, such as a vehicle hitting a wall. They commonly exclude settling, earth movement, flood and wear, and earthquake cover is usually a separate policy. Read your own policy and ask your agent, because insurance terms differ. Take photos before any repair.
Call (360) 995-1179 for a free look at a wall, steps or a slab.