Foundation repair in Savannah most often costs about $2,200 to $23,300. Small crack and waterproofing jobs can cost less. Get a free inspection and your exact price in writing.
We connect property owners in Savannah and nearby areas, including Historic District, Victorian District, Thomas Square and Midtown, Ardsley Park, Isle of Hope and Thunderbolt, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.
What it costs
Typical published ranges for Savannah. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.
Work
Typical range
Foundation and crawl space inspection with written estimate
Free
Foundation repair in Savannah, small to major
$2,200 to $23,300
Small jobs in Savannah, cracks and basic waterproofing
$1,900 to $3,700
Foundation repair, U.S. average
$5,200
Foundation repair, most U.S. jobs
$2,200 to $8,200
Slab foundation repair
$1,000 to $10,000
Pier and beam foundation repair
$2,000 to $15,000
Crawl space foundation repair
$2,500 to $12,000
Crawl space repair, most jobs
$500 to $7,500
Piers along a whole side (underpinning)
$10,000 to $40,000
Fix a sagging floor
$1,000 to $5,000
Replace a floor joist
$100 to $300each
Replace a support beam
$1,500 to $5,000each
Wood rot repair
$750 to $5,000
Remove standing water from a crawl space
$2,000 to $10,000
Crawl space ground cover (vapor barrier)
$1,500 to $4,000
Seal the crawl space (encapsulation)
$2,000 to $15,000
Crawl space dehumidifier
$750 to $1,700
Mold removal
$500 to $2,000
Seal or fill a crack
$200 to $1,000
Raise a sunken slab section (slab jacking)
$500 to $1,900
French drain, outside
$10 to $100per foot
French drain job, typical total
$2,800 to $6,500
Sump pump, installed
$700 to $1,600
Structural engineer report, if needed
$300 to $2,000
Soil report, if needed
$1,000 to $5,000
Permit, typical
$75 to $150
The short answer
Foundation repair in Savannah most often costs $2,200 to $23,300. That comes from one cost guide for the city. Small jobs, like crack repair with basic waterproofing, run about $1,900 to $3,700. That price is for homes that have stopped settling. Across the U.S., most foundation repairs cost $2,200 to $8,200. The average is about $5,200.
Crawl space work is very common in Savannah, and it has its own ranges. Across the U.S., crawl space repair runs about $500 to $7,500. The average is about $4,500 for a 1,500 square foot space.
The table above shows typical ranges from the HomeBlue and Fixr cost guides, not a quote. The only way to know your price is a written estimate after someone looks at your house. Through Savannah Foundation, that look is free.
What moves the price
What is really wrong. A few new supports under one beam is a small job. A long row of rotted beams is a big one. So is a ring of piers around a whole slab. The cause matters as much as what you see.
How much rot there is. In damp Savannah crawl spaces, rot is often the hidden cost. The crew cannot always see how far it goes until they probe the wood. A good price says what happens if they find more once work starts.
Water. If water is the cause, the fix needs a drain piece. Gutters and downspout extensions are cheap. A French drain costs more. So does a crawl space drain with a pump. Moving water a long way across a flat yard costs more still.
Room to work. A tall crawl space is quick to work in. One with a foot of room is slow. In a slab home, piers inside cost more than piers outside. The crew has to cut the floor and patch it.
Type and age. Raised homes often need wood and support work. Slab homes more often need piers. Old brick piers and old materials may need slow, gentle methods.
Flood rules. Some fixes are limited in a flood zone. Outside Savannah city limits, the county flood law calls for flood vents under raised homes. It also says sealing and cooling that space goes against its intent. That can change which fix to keep it dry makes sense. It can change the cost, too.
Permits. Permit fees are small. But a historic review or an engineer's letter can add time and cost on some homes.
The 50 percent rule
This one surprises people. Outside Savannah city limits, the county flood law adds up all permitted repairs over five years. What if the total reaches half the home's market value? Then the whole home has to meet today's flood rules. For a home in a flood zone, that can mean raising the lowest floor. It must sit three feet above the base flood level.
Most foundation repairs are well under that line. But you may also plan a remodel, or be fixing storm damage. If so, ask the crew and the county to check where your home stands first. Inside the City of Savannah, the city sends owners of badly damaged flood-zone homes to its flood office. They do the same kind of check.
What a fair price includes
A written price you can compare should list these things:
What is wrong and what caused it.
Floor level readings, or a drawing of the high and low spots.
What will be put in or replaced, how many and where.
The drain or damp fix, if one is needed.
What happens if they find more rot once work starts.
Cleanup, and whether patching cracks is included.
Who gets the permit, and if a flood or historic review is needed.
The warranty in writing, and whether it moves to the next owner if you sell.
The payment plan.
How to compare two prices
Line them up by what they fix, not by the total.
Check that both deal with the water, not just the supports.
Ask each crew why they chose their method.
Compare the warranties side by side.
Ask about your flood zone and if it changes the plan.
A low price that skips the water problem often costs more in the end.
Why prices here can differ
National cost guides average out every kind of house and soil. Savannah pulls the work its own way. The county's soil drains slowly, and the water sits close to the top. That comes from the Chatham County plan. In Ocilla soil, the water sits just 12 to 30 inches down for months each year, says USDA. That keeps crawl spaces damp. So wood repair and drying out the space are a bigger share of local jobs. Hurricanes, big summer storms and high tides add flood damage. And many Savannah homes are old. That means old wood, old brick and, at times, a historic review.
Ways to keep the cost down
Fix gutters and downspouts now. It is the cheapest way to keep water off the foundation.
Keep water from pooling next to the house and under it.
Look under the house once a year, and after a big storm. Check for water, falling insulation and soft wood.
Act early. A few new supports cost far less than a full set of beams.
Fix the cause, not just the crack, so you only pay once.
Crack repair for cracks in the slab, brick and walls.
Frequently asked questions
Is the inspection really free?
Yes. The inspection and written price through Savannah Foundation cost nothing. You do not have to hire anyone.
Why do two prices for the same house differ so much?
They are often for different fixes. One crew may plan a few new supports under one beam. Another may plan piers around the whole house, plus drains. Compare what each plan fixes, not just the total.
Does homeowners insurance pay for foundation repair?
Most of the time, no. National cost guides say insurers see most settling as wear, or as something you could have stopped. Damage from a sudden event may be different. Flood damage is a flood insurance question. Ask your agent.
Does flood insurance cover my crawl space?
Flood insurance pays only a limited amount for some things below the lowest raised floor. It depends on your zone and when the home was built. Check your policy before work starts.
Do I pay for the whole job up front?
The contractor you hire sets the payment terms. Many ask for a deposit, then the rest when the work is done. Get the payment plan in writing before you sign.
Can I save money by doing the drainage myself?
Sometimes. Cleaning gutters and adding downspout extensions are easy jobs. Reshaping the yard, French drains and any work in a flood zone are best left to a crew that knows the local rules.
Is it cheaper to wait?
Rarely. Rot under a floor spreads. A sinking corner keeps sinking while the ground stays wet. A small fix now most often costs less than a big one later.
Get your exact price for free
Ranges help, but your house is the only one that matters. Call (912) 771-1041 or send the short form. A local crew will call you back, most often the same day. They will look at your house for free. Then they give you a written price before any work starts. No surprises, and no need to say yes.