Foundation repair for Wichita Falls, Texas homes

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and what you've noticed around the house.

2. We connect you

   We connect you with an independent foundation repair contractor that serves Wichita Falls and Wichita County.

3. They call you back

   They take floor readings, explain what's moving and why, and give you their repair plan and price directly.

Who is this site for?

Homeowners in Wichita Falls, Burkburnett, Iowa Park, Electra and the rest of Wichita County who think their foundation may be moving. That usually starts with something small: a crack in the brick by the garage, drywall splitting above a doorway, a door that suddenly drags on the carpet, or a home inspector's note that says "recommend evaluation by a foundation specialist." It covers slab-on-grade houses and older pier-and-beam houses with crawl spaces. Base housing at Sheppard Air Force Base isn't part of it.

Why do Wichita Falls foundations move?

Clay soil and a climate that swings hard between wet and dry. The Handbook of Texas describes Wichita County as rolling plains whose soils are mostly sandy loams, black loams and clay loams. Under the surface, many of the county's soils carry a lot of clay. The USDA's Kamay soil series, whose type location is in Wichita County, has 35 to 50 percent clay in its subsoil and is classed as smectitic, the clay family known for swelling when it gets wet. The Wichita series was first set up in Wichita County back in 1924, and USDA maps both alongside Tillman, a vertic clay soil whose official description notes cracks more than 48 inches deep.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation explains the problem in its bulletin on foundations over expansive soils: wet soil heaves and can lift a building, and dry soil shrinks and lets it drop. Wichita Falls gives the clay plenty of both. The city averages a little under 28 inches of precipitation a year under 1991 to 2020 normals, with July highs around 97°F. In 2011 it became the first Texas city to log 100 days at or above 100°F in a single year. Dry spells like that pull moisture out of the ground along the edges of a house, and the next big storm puts it back.

Which warning signs matter?

• Stair-step cracks in brick, often near a corner or under a window
• Diagonal cracks in drywall running up from door and window corners
• Doors that stick, drift open, or won't latch anymore
• Floors that slope, dip in the middle, or feel springy
• Gaps opening under baseboards or along crown molding
• Brick separating from window frames or garage door trim
• Cracks that come back wider after they've been patched

A single hairline crack isn't proof of a failing foundation. Several of these at once, or signs that keep getting worse, are the reason to have floor elevations taken. Our evaluation and crack repair page explains what a good visit includes.

What kinds of repair are there?

That depends on how the house is built and what's actually moving it:

• Slab homes that have dropped at a corner or edge are usually supported with piers installed to firmer ground, then lifted as far as is safe. Slab repair.
• Pier-and-beam homes are often leveled from the crawl space by re-shimming, adding or resetting interior piers, and fixing beams and sills. Pier-and-beam repair.
• Pier systems vary: steel push piers, helical piers and pressed concrete piers each fit different situations. Compare pier types.
• Water management through gutters, grading and drains keeps the clay at a steadier moisture level so the repair holds. Drainage and watering.

Does every moving house need piers?

No. On swelling clay, part of a slab can rise instead of sink, often where a leaking pipe or a low, soggy spot keeps the soil wet. Some houses also move with the seasons, dropping a little during a long dry stretch and recovering after rain. Piering a house that is heaving, not settling, doesn't solve the problem and can add new ones. A careful contractor looks at the elevation pattern, the drainage, nearby trees and the possibility of a plumbing leak before recommending piers. If the proposal calls for a lot of piers and the reasoning is thin, get a second opinion or hire a licensed professional engineer for an independent evaluation.

Is there a state license to check?

No. Texas doesn't license general contractors or foundation repair companies, so you won't find a state license number for this work. In Wichita Falls, the city's Building Inspections office at 1300 7th Street handles permits and contractor registration forms; ask whether your job needs a permit. Our how it works page lists what to get in writing before you sign.

What can I do before anyone comes out?

• Write down which doors and windows stick and roughly when it started
• Photograph cracks next to a coin or tape measure, and keep the dates
• Walk the house during a rain and watch where the downspouts send water
• Look for puddles against the foundation after a storm
• Watch for an unexplained jump in the water bill, which can point to a leak under the slab

Are you a foundation repair company?

No. Wichita Falls Foundation Repair is a referral service. We connect you with an independent contractor that serves your address, and that contractor evaluates the house, quotes the job, does the work and stands behind its own warranty. Before hiring anyone, read the Wichita Falls foundation repair guide.

Areas we cover

• Wichita Falls
• Burkburnett
• Iowa Park
• Electra

Planning ahead? Read our Wichita Falls foundation repair guide.