The short answer
Angi puts the national average for foundation repair at $5,174, and its Dallas average is $5,223. Collin County jobs tend to land above the national figure because most of them are pier jobs on expansive clay: This Old House notes that homes on expansive clay soils, like parts of Texas, are more likely to need piering. One large contractor, Olshan, reports an average of $8,379 across its Dallas–Fort Worth jobs so far in 2026 (a contractor figure).
The number that matters is the one on your written plan. The rest of this page is a way to read it.
What each line on a quote typically costs
| Line item | Typical cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation inspection | $300–$750 | HomeGuide |
| Structural engineer’s report, average | $550 | HomeAdvisor |
| Piers, per pier | $1,000–$3,000 per pier | HomeAdvisor |
| Piers on a typical slab job | 5–15 piers | Olshan (contractor figure) |
| City permit | $75–$150 | This Old House |
| Sealing cracks (the simplest fix) | $250–$800 | HomeAdvisor |
| Slab leak repair, average | $2,500 | Fixr |
| Drainage system | $2,800–$6,500 | Angi |
| Pier and beam repair | $1,500–$15,000 | HomeGuide |
Two Collin County cities publish their permit fee: Allen lists foundation repair at $75.00, and Frisco at $75.00. McKinney’s fee isn’t published on the pages we could find, so ask the contractor.
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Pier types and what they cost
Most quotes come down to how many piers, of what type, how deep. Per-pier prices from the cost guides and one contractor:
| Pier type | How it works | Typical price per pier | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete (pressed or poured) | Precast cylinders pressed into the soil, or concrete poured in a drilled hole | $1,000 per pier | Angi |
| Drilled concrete | A hole drilled to depth and filled with reinforced concrete | $765–$1,100 per pier | Olshan (contractor figure) |
| Steel push piers | Steel pipe driven down using the house’s weight as resistance | $2,000 per pier; one contractor lists $990–$1,350 per pier | Angi; Olshan |
| Helical piers | Steel shafts with screw plates, turned into the ground | $2,000–$4,000 per pier | HomeGuide |
Cheaper isn’t wrong and dearer isn’t better. The right pier depends on what’s under the house: where firm ground or rock sits, and how much load the pier carries. That’s a design question for the engineer whose letter goes with the permit. The pier types guide compares how each one holds.
Why two quotes for the same house differ
The pier count. The biggest variable. A count should follow the area that moved, measured by a floor elevation survey, not the size of the house. A quote that rounds up to “the whole perimeter” and one that piers only the low corner are proposing different jobs. Ask each contractor to mark every pier on a drawing.
Interior piers. Piers under the middle of a slab mean breaking through the floor or tunneling underneath, which costs more than exterior piers and disturbs flooring.
Pier type and depth. Steel and helical piers can reach deeper, firmer ground; pressed concrete often stops shallower. Depth changes the price per pier.
What’s bundled. Some quotes include the engineer’s letter, permit, plumbing test and final report; others don’t. Line them up item by item before you compare totals.
Plumbing. Lifting a slab can stress the pipes under it. A plumbing test before and after the lift adds cost, and a slab leak found during the job adds more: Fixr puts an average slab leak repair at $2,500. In Texas, a buyer’s hydrostatic plumbing test is run by a licensed plumber.
Drainage and cosmetic repairs. Gutter extensions, regrading or a French drain may be recommended alongside the piers. Cracked drywall, brick and trim are usually separate.
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A worked example
Example: say one plan proposes 8 steel piers at the low end of Olshan’s published steel range, and another proposes 12 concrete piers at Angi’s concrete average. The second plan has more piers but may cost about the same. The question isn’t which total is lower; it’s which plan matches the elevation survey and the engineer’s design. Ask each contractor to explain their count.
Costs that can catch you off guard
- Waiting. HomeAdvisor puts sealing cracks at $250–$800. This Old House warns that waiting until damage spreads can mean $10,000–$15,000.
- A second lift. If the cause, usually water, isn’t addressed, a repaired house can move again. Drainage work is often the cheapest part of a long-term fix.
- Insurance assumptions. The Texas Department of Insurance lists earth movement among the damage most policies don’t cover. Don’t count on a claim unless a sudden plumbing leak caused the damage. The insurance guide explains the exception.
- Selling the house. The Texas seller’s disclosure notice asks about Foundation/Slab(s) and Landfill, Settling, Soil Movement, Fault Lines, so keep every report, permit and warranty from the repair.
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Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the plan based on an elevation survey, and can I have a copy of the readings?
- How many piers, of what type, where, and how deep? Why that number?
- Does the price include the engineer’s letter, the permit and the final report?
- Will the plumbing be tested before and after the lift?
- What does the warranty cover, and does it transfer to a buyer? For what fee?
- What’s not included: landscaping, flatwork, interior cracks?
Compare at least two written plans. If they disagree badly, an independent evaluation by a licensed professional engineer who doesn’t sell repairs can settle it; HomeAdvisor says a general structural report averages $550.