Seeing a crack across the slab or a gap opening at a corner? We find what moved the concrete, then repair it to hold.
Foundation repair in Santa Barbara fixes cracks and other damage in the concrete your house rests on. At C&D Santa Barbara Concrete & Masonry we find what caused the damage first, so the repair deals with why it cracked and not just the line you can see.
Most foundation calls start with something you've noticed. Maybe it's a crack across the slab, a door that's started to stick or a gap where two walls meet. We're based in Santa Barbara and work in the cities around it, from Goleta and Isla Vista up the coast to Montecito, Carpinteria and Ventura. If the cracking runs into brick, we can look at chimney repair or tuckpointing, which refills worn mortar joints, on the same visit.
The price turns on what's causing the damage, how much of the foundation it reaches, how hard it is to get to and whether the water or soil around the house needs work too. The schedule depends mostly on the permit review and on what we find once the concrete is open. Your estimate gives you the figure for your own house.
Call (805) 456-2871 or use the form, and tell us where you're seeing cracks, lifting or gaps. Photos help because I can come out already knowing where to look.
I come out myself and walk around the house with you, noting where the cracks and gaps show up, because a crack is a symptom and we need to know what moved the concrete before we pick a fix. Your estimate covers what we found, what we'd do and what it costs, and if a crack can wait, I'll tell you so.
We find out which office covers your address. For a house in the city of Santa Barbara, the city approves a permit or sends back corrections within 5 to 30 business days after we apply, and I'll tell you up front how that review fits your schedule.
I work on the job with our crew, so the person who looked at your house is there fixing it. When we're done, we walk the finished job with you before we pack up.
Concrete repair guidance is clear that the cause of the damage has to be assessed and corrected first. So before we fill anything, we look at how water reaches the house and whether the ground is pushing on the slab. If the ground under it is still moving, a filled crack usually just opens again beside the repair.
Ground matters here in another way, too. Where the state has found weak soil or rock likely under a property, that ground can fail in an earthquake and damage a house if grading and building go ahead without the right precautions. When your property sits on ground like that, we plan the repair around it before we price the work.
What our foundation repair covers:
Most cracked foundations need repair, not replacement, and I'd rather fix sound concrete than tear it out, because taking out a foundation means holding the house up while new concrete goes in. Replacing a section makes sense when the concrete itself is broken up or crumbling, or the damage runs too far to patch well. If a crack is old, dry and not moving, I'll tell you it can wait and you can keep an eye on it.
The cause shapes it most. A crack from a one-time settle is a smaller job than soil that keeps swelling, because then the water around the house needs sorting out too. After that comes how much of the foundation is involved and how easy it is to reach. It also matters what has to come up first, like a patio, plantings or flooring, and whether a permit and inspection are part of the job.
I grew up on a farm, where you fixed a cracked barn wall yourself and fixed it so it stayed fixed. I've run this business in Santa Barbara since 2017 the same way. I tell you what I see, what needs doing now and what can wait, and I won't sell you work your house doesn't need.
We treat your yard and your house with care, keep the work area tidy and clean up before we go. You'll know what we're doing and why at each stage of the job. Your satisfaction, guaranteed.
We pick up seven days a week, early morning into the evening, so call (805) 456-2871 when you spot a crack.
Put in your address and where you see cracks, lifting or gaps. We'll reply within one business day, then I'll come out for a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
Foundation repair in the Santa Barbara metro area usually costs about $3,500 to $23,000 per project. Where yours lands depends on the cause, how much of the foundation is involved and how much digging or drainage work goes with it. I'll come out and give you an estimate for your house, so you know your own number before you decide.
The best repair depends on whether the crack is still moving, and repair guidance says the cause has to be assessed and corrected before the crack itself gets fixed. Epoxy may not suit a crack that keeps moving, while polyurethane grout may suit better when the crack leaves the structure sound. We choose the material once we know why the crack formed.
Soil heaving under the house is worth looking into when you see a slab that lifts or cracks, walls that crack or separate, or walls pulling apart at a corner. In some soils, changes in moisture from rain, yard watering or rainwater running to one spot can make the ground swell a lot, so watering and where rain collects matter after a repair too. Jot down where you see each sign, since that helps us find the cause before anyone picks a fix.
Plan on checking with the city, because Santa Barbara issues building permits that are generally required to repair a building, and its list of exempt work names sheds and fences, not foundation repair. The city's Building and Safety Counter can tell you more, and you can start on the city's building permit page. When a job needs a permit, we handle the application and meet the inspector.
Under the state's rules a contractor can ask for or take a down payment of no more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. Any other payments have to be listed in the contract and tied to work already done or materials delivered to your house, so read that schedule before you sign. California counts repairing a home as home improvement, and a home improvement contractor is one licensed by the Contractors State License Board. We're licensed and fully insured.
Yes, if your house has cripple walls, which are the short wood walls between the foundation and the first floor, you can ask about anchoring and bracing them as part of the foundation work. Earthquake safety guidance warns that poorly anchored cripple walls can let a house slide off its foundation in a quake, and poorly braced ones can collapse. Bring it up when I come out and we'll look at what your house has.
We're based in Santa Barbara and work in Goleta, Montecito and the other cities below. Pick yours, or call (805) 456-2871 if your city isn't listed.
