It’s almost never a bad idea to seek advice, especially on a project with the cost of concrete foundation repair. In most cases, for a few hundred dollars, you can hire an independent professional structural engineer to inspect your foundation and recommend the repair method that is best for your situation. And remember, every repair problem is different.

You should look for an engineering firm or licensed professional who will provide the following: A thorough inspection of the interior and exterior of your home for foundation-related issues. Inspection of the access space, if you have a dock and a beam house. A foundation elevation survey conducted and evaluated by a licensed professional engineer. Special tools are available that can measure deviations in the level of foundations or slabs. A home floor plan drawing can then be produced that includes site information and interior foundation elevation measurements. Finally, a written report from an engineer with recommendations and a repair plan if necessary.

The advice should be much less biased simply because the engineer will be paid whether he needs to repair the foundation or not. If he needs to repair the foundation, the method he recommends comes from his professional opinion untainted by visions of commission dollars dancing in his head. Or his head. Most US states will have a government licensing authority and most will also have a trade association website where you can search for member engineers.

For example, in Texas, you can find structural engineers in the Texas Association of Structural Engineers database. In your state, search for member associations on the national website of the National Council of Structural Engineering Associations. Check your yellow pages and local web directories. Remember the importance of choosing an engineer with no financial ties to a repair contractor.