By Devon W., Indianapolis · Updated September 2026

How to choose a foundation contractor

I'm Devon. Foundation repair is high-ticket, high-pressure, and hard to comparison-shop — which is exactly why the industry has a reputation problem. This checklist is how you hire well anyway.

The six questions to ask every contractor

1. "Is the inspection really free, and what does it include?"

Free inspections are standard in Indianapolis. But "free inspection" should mean measurements, photos, and a written diagnosis — not a 15-minute sales pitch ending in a number.

2. "What's the diagnosis — in writing?"

Cause first, fix second, price third. "You need 8 piers" is not a diagnosis. "The northeast corner has settled 1.5 inches due to soil consolidation; 8 steel push piers will stabilize it" is. Get it in writing.

3. "Why this fix and not the alternatives?"

Piers vs. wall anchors vs. carbon fiber vs. mudjacking — each has a right application. A contractor who can explain why the alternatives don't fit your situation understands the work.

4. "What's the warranty, exactly?"

"Lifetime warranty" is marketing until you read the exclusions. What's covered? For how long? Does it transfer if you sell? Is it backed by the manufacturer, the installer, or both? Get the document, not the slogan.

5. "Who does the work — your crew or subs?"

Neither is automatically bad, but you should know. If subs, who's responsible when something goes wrong?

6. "What's the all-in price, and what could change it?"

Permits, engineering reports, excavation, restoration — which are included? What conditions would change the price mid-job, and how would you be notified?

Red flags

• Paid "inspections" that get credited toward the job — a pressure tactic. Real inspections are free.
• Same-day-sign discounts. "This price is only good today" is never true for structural work.
• Diagnosis from the driveway. No measurements, no crawl space or basement entry, no photos — that's a guess with a price tag.
• One fix for every problem. If every house gets piers regardless of symptoms, you're talking to a pier salesman, not a foundation contractor.
• No written warranty. Verbal warranties are worth the paper they're printed on.
• Cash-only / no contract. For five-figure structural work, this is disqualifying.

Green flags

• Takes measurements and photos, explains the cause before the fix
• Recommends a smaller fix than you expected — honesty over upsell
• Written estimate with line items, timeline, and warranty terms
• Local references you can actually call
• Properly licensed and insured (ask to see it)

The quote process that works

1. Get 2–3 free inspections from different companies.
2. Compare diagnoses first — do they agree on the cause? If not, get a fourth opinion or an independent structural engineer.
3. Compare methods and quantities (pier counts, anchor counts), not just totals.
4. Read the warranty documents, not the brochures.
5. Sleep on it. The foundation will still be there tomorrow.