Should I have my plumbing tested before foundation work?
In older Houston homes it is often a good idea. A leak under the slab can be a cause of movement, and lifting a slab can stress aging pipes.
Foundation Repair Houston, TX
Houston's housing runs from century-old pier and beam bungalows to brand-new slabs, all on clay that moves with every drought and downpour.
How we help: Foundation First TX is your foundation contractor. We'll review your request and call you about next steps and a quote.
Houston's age shows in its foundations
Inside Loop 610, neighborhoods such as the Houston Heights still have many early-1900s bungalows on pier and beam foundations with a crawlspace. Farther out, large parts of the city were built in the 1950s through the 1970s on slab-on-grade foundations, often with cast-iron drain lines under the slab. Newer areas, especially on the city's edges, are mostly post-tensioned slabs.
All of it sits on clay-rich soil over very flat ground, and parts of the city have flooded repeatedly in recent years.
What Houston homeowners run into
- Pier and beam settling. Sloping or bouncy floors, gaps under interior doors, and shims that have worked loose over decades.
- Under-slab plumbing leaks. Aging cast-iron drains can leak and soften the soil under a mid-century slab.
- After-flood movement. Soil that stays saturated and then dries can shift unevenly.
- Big trees near the house. Mature oaks pull a lot of moisture from clay during summer.
- Remodels and additions. An addition on a different foundation type can move separately from the original house.
Pier and beam or slab?
If your home has crawlspace vents along the base of the exterior walls, it is likely pier and beam. Those homes are usually re-leveled from underneath with new piers, beams, or shims. Slab homes are typically supported with piers driven or drilled under the slab. Tell us which you have when you request an inspection. See slab vs. pier and beam.
Foundation services in Houston
Slab Foundation Repair · Pier & Beam Repair · House Leveling · Foundation Inspection · Drainage & Moisture Control · Repair cost factors
What happens after you request an inspection
- We review your request. Your ZIP code, the signs you checked, and any notes tell us what to look at first in Houston.
- We call you. We confirm the details, answer first questions, and set up a time for an evaluation.
- The inspection. Elevation readings across the floors, a look at interior and exterior cracks, doors and windows, drainage and grading, and the crawlspace if the home is pier and beam.
- Written findings and quote. If repair is recommended, you get a written scope and quote to review. You decide what happens next.
Nearby communities
Also serving Bellaire, West University Place, Spring Valley, Pasadena, Pearland, and the rest of Greater Houston. Nearby city pages: Pasadena, Pearland, Sugar Land, Katy.
Frequently asked questions
My house flooded. Should I get the foundation checked?
If you see new cracks, sticking doors, or sloping floors after the water receded and the soil dried, an inspection can measure whether the foundation moved.
Can an old pier and beam home be leveled?
Often, yes. Many are re-leveled by replacing failed piers or shims and correcting moisture in the crawlspace. The inspection shows what is practical for your home.
How do I request an inspection in Houston?
Use the inspection request form or call (346) 679-7687.
Next step: Request an inspection or call (346) 679-7687. Foundation First TX is your foundation contractor.
Seeing cracks or sloping floors in your Houston home?
Request an inspection from Foundation First TX and get clear next steps.