- A leaking crack sealed from inside typically costs $500 to $1,000 per crack. A bowing wall braced with carbon fibre is usually $3,000 to $8,000 per wall.
- Lowering a basement by underpinning typically runs $55,000 to $95,000 for the structural work on a detached house, or $70,000 to $120,000 with waterproofing, drains and a new floor.
- The cause sets the price more than the crack does. A shrinkage crack and a settling footing can look alike and be priced worlds apart.
- Compare quotes on scope, not just the total: what's being fixed and how, who does the work, whether permits and engineering are included, and what's warrantied.
Foundation repair costs at a glance
These are typical ranges for the Hamilton area in 2026, before tax. Treat them as a way to understand the scale of a job, not as a quote.
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leaking crack, injected from inside | $500 to $1,000 per crack | Most single cracks in poured walls, usually one visit |
| Structural crack repair | $1,000 to $3,000 per crack | Epoxy plus carbon fibre staples for cracks that need reinforcing, once the cause is dealt with |
| Crack repaired from outside | $1,400 to $3,000 per crack | When inside access isn't possible |
| Bowing wall, carbon fibre straps | $3,000 to $8,000 per wall | Walls that have stopped moving |
| Bowing wall, steel beams | $4,000 to $10,000 per wall | Walls that need more support |
| Basement lowering with bench footings | $20,000 to $45,000 | Cheaper, but you lose floor space at the walls |
| Basement lowering by underpinning | $55,000 to $95,000 | Detached house, structural work only |
| Underpinning with waterproofing and a new floor | $70,000 to $120,000 | The complete job, ready to finish |
| Basement floor removal and repour | $8,000 to $20,000 | Typical 800 to 1,000 sq ft basement |
| Walk-up basement entrance | $15,000 to $30,000 | Stairwell, retaining walls, drain and door |
| Full walkout on a sloped lot | $25,000 to $50,000 | New opening at grade with retaining walls |
| Structural engineer's assessment | $500 to $1,500 | Site visit and a letter or report |
Typical Hamilton-area market ranges before tax, drawn from 2026 Ontario price guides and published contractor rates. Your price comes from a written quote after an assessment.
Crack repair costs
Most foundation cracks are the cheapest repair on this list. A vertical or diagonal crack in a poured concrete wall is usually a shrinkage crack that formed as the concrete cured, and if it leaks, it's sealed from inside with polyurethane or epoxy injection for $500 to $1,000 per crack. Cracks that are moving or widening need structural repair, typically $1,000 to $3,000 per crack, and a crack that can only be reached from outside costs more because of the digging.
Our sister company Basement Worx handles crack repair. Their foundation crack repair cost guide breaks down what's included and what moves the price.
Bowing and cracked wall repair costs
A block wall bowing inward is usually caused by soil pressure from outside, and it gets harder and more expensive to fix the further it moves. Carbon fibre straps run $500 to $1,000 per strap and work on walls that have stopped moving. Steel beams, at $800 to $1,500 per beam, hold a wall back harder. A wall that has moved too far is excavated and straightened or rebuilt, which is quoted after an assessment.
The number of straps or beams depends on the length of the wall, which is why most bowing walls land in the range above. See bowing basement wall repair for how we decide between them.
Settling foundation repair costs
Settling repairs vary the most, because the fix depends on how much of the foundation is moving and why. Expect an engineer's visit at $500 to $1,500, stamped drawings at $1,500 to $5,000 if underpinning is needed, and the stabilizing work itself, which is priced by the length of wall involved. One settling corner costs a fraction of underpinning a whole house. Read our settling foundation guide for the signs and the options.
Underpinning and basement lowering costs
Lowering a basement is the biggest job most homeowners will ever do below grade. Underpinning, which builds new footings under the existing ones, typically runs $350 to $600 per linear foot, or $55,000 to $95,000 for the structural work on a detached house. Add waterproofing, new drains and a new floor and the complete job is usually $70,000 to $120,000.
Bench footings are the cheaper way down, typically $20,000 to $45,000, but they leave a concrete ledge along the walls that eats into the floor. Our underpinning guide covers the process, the permits and the trade-offs.
Walkouts and new basement floors
A walk-up entrance on a flat lot typically costs $15,000 to $30,000, and a full walkout on a sloped lot with retaining walls $25,000 to $50,000. Both involve cutting a structural opening in the foundation, so drawings and a permit are part of the price.
Replacing a cracked or heaving basement floor typically runs $10 to $20 per square foot for a basic job, or about $8,000 to $20,000 for a typical basement. Adding insulation, under-slab drainage or new plumbing pushes it higher.
What moves the price
- Length and depth. More wall, or a deeper foundation, means more digging, more concrete and more time.
- Access. Driveways, decks, walkways, air conditioners, tight side yards and a neighbour's wall all slow the work down.
- Soil and water. Wet or unstable soil needs more shoring and drainage.
- Engineering and permits. Structural work needs a permit in Ontario, and underpinning needs stamped drawings. Starting early costs more: Hamilton's permit fee goes up by at least 25% if work starts before the permit is issued, and in Brantford, starting early can raise the fee by 25% to 100% depending on how far the work has gone.
- What's found when it's opened. Collapsed weeping tile or a wall that's worse than it looked from inside changes the scope. A good quote explains how surprises are handled.
- Finishes. Restoring landscaping, patios and finished walls is part of the real cost.
How to compare quotes from foundation repair companies
Two quotes for the same house can be very different numbers for very different jobs. Before comparing totals, check that each one answers these questions:
- What's the cause? A quote that fixes the crack without naming why it formed is a patch.
- What's the method, and why that one? Carbon fibre, steel, underpinning and piers solve different problems.
- Who does the work? The crew that quotes the job should be the crew that does it, not a subcontractor you've never met.
- Are permits and engineering included? If not, add them, and be wary of anyone suggesting you skip them.
- Is the price fixed? Allowances and vague line items are where totals grow.
- What's the warranty, in writing? And will it transfer to the next owner?
A much lower quote usually means a smaller scope: a surface patch instead of a repair, no drainage work, or no permit. Ask what's not included.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Act early. A wall that's started to bow costs less to brace now than to rebuild later.
- Fix the water. Downspouts extended at least 2 m and ground that slopes away from the house remove the pressure behind most foundation problems.
- Do it once while it's open. If a wall is being excavated, waterproofing it at the same time costs far less than digging it up again.
- Check for subsidies. Foundation repair itself isn't subsidized, but drainage work can be. Halton Region covers 100% of disconnecting weeping tile and adding a sump pump, up to $6,500.
Foundation repair cost questions
Are these AVH Foundations' prices?
Why do foundation repair quotes vary so much?
Is the assessment free?
Does Tarion cover foundation repairs on a newer home?
Do I need a permit for foundation repair?
Foundation work AVH quotes in writing
Related guides
Basement Worx's crack repair cost guide covers injection, structural crack repair and what's included.
AVH Foundations works across Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Cambridge, Brantford, Caledonia and Grimsby.