A big repair quote deserves a check. An independent structural engineer, who isn't selling the repair, can tell you whether the work is needed, whether the plan fits the problem, and whether a smaller fix might do.
What it costs
Bob Vila lists a structural engineer's report at $300 to $1,000 and a soil report at $500 to $3,000. Compared with $1,000 to $3,000 per pier, a report is a small part of a large job.
What the engineer should do
The Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers says foundation evaluation and repair design should be done by a Texas-licensed engineer, acting objectively. Its guidelines describe three levels of investigation:
- Level A: interviews, a document review and a visual walk-through, with recommendations for further investigation.
- Level B: Level A plus measured floor elevations, a scaled drawing and a comparison with tolerances.
- Level C: adds testing such as soil sampling, plumbing tests and a detailed damage survey.
For a second opinion on a pier plan, Level B is usually the useful one, because it gives you measurements to compare against the contractor's plan.
Questions to ask the engineer
- Do you have any business relationship with the repair company?
- Which investigation level will you do, and will I get the elevation drawing?
- Does the proposed repair match what you measured?
- Will you inspect or re-measure after the work?
Check the license
Look up any engineer on the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors' public roster before you hire them.
Sources
- Bob Vila: How much does foundation repair cost? (Katie Flannery and Evelyn Auer, updated May 29, 2024)
- Texas Section, American Society of Civil Engineers: Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations, Version 3 (adopted April 1, 2022)
- Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors: PE roster search
Reviewed October 7, 2026. Rules, prices and contacts change, so check the source before relying on it.
Questions and answers
How much does a second opinion on foundation repair cost?
Bob Vila lists $300 to $1,000 for a structural engineer's report and $500 to $3,000 for a soil report.
Which kind of engineer inspection should I ask for?
For checking a repair plan, a Level B investigation under the Texas Section ASCE guidelines is usually most useful, since it includes measured floor elevations and a comparison with tolerances.
Ready to have it looked at?
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