The cost of foundation repair in Ontario depends mostly on the method. A single crack injection typically runs $500 to $1,500. Helical piers typically run $5,000 to $15,000. Underpinning typically runs $10,000 to $25,000 or more. An engineer’s assessment adds to that, often a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. These are typical ranges from published Canadian price guides, not quotes. Your price depends on the damage, access, soil and city.
Typical foundation repair costs in Ontario
The figures below come from the HomeStars foundation repair price guide, which reports Canadian dollars, and from HomeStars city pages for Ontario. Those pages repeat the same numbers across many towns. Treat them as a general guide, not as local market data.
| Repair | Typical range (CAD) | What drives the price |
|---|---|---|
| Crack injection (non-structural) | $500 to $1,500 per crack | Crack length, depth, access from inside |
| Slab crack repair | $300 to $800 per crack | Length and slab condition |
| Carbon fibre straps | $400 to $700 per strap | Wall height, number of straps |
| Helical piers | $5,000 to $15,000 | Depth, number of piers, access |
| Underpinning or piering | $10,000 to $25,000 or more | Depth, length of wall, soil, shoring |
| Soil testing and engineering reports | $500 to $2,000 | Scope, lot, number of site visits |
Several things push every line in this table up or down.
- Severity. The same guide says minor repairs start near $400 and major structural work can pass $10,000.
- Access. Tight side yards, finished landscaping and limited clearance can add $1,000 to $3,000, according to the guide.
- Region. The guide says the same scope can cost $3,000 to $5,000 more in a major city. Toronto and the York Region towns are in that group.
- Extras. The guide lists permits at $100 to $500, landscaping restoration at $500 to $3,000, and waterproofing at $1,000 to $10,000.
One caution: price guides disagree with each other. A second HomeStars page version lists crack injection at $500 to $1,000. Get at least three written quotes for any job above a few thousand dollars.
Crack repair
Most Ontario basements have at least one crack. Poured concrete shrinks as it cures, and that often leaves a thin vertical crack. Those are usually cosmetic, but they can leak when the soil is wet.
Contractors repair these cracks from the inside by injecting epoxy or polyurethane. Epoxy bonds the concrete. Polyurethane stays flexible and seals against water. A crack injection often takes less than one day.
The typical range is $500 to $1,500 per crack. The price rises with crack length, wall thickness and how hard it is to reach the wall. A finished basement with drywall on the wall adds work.
When a crack is not a simple crack job
Some cracks signal movement in the foundation. Watch for these signs:
- A horizontal crack, often near the middle of the wall.
- A stair-step crack in block or brick.
- A crack wider than about 6 mm, or one that keeps growing.
- One side of the crack sitting higher than the other.
Injection seals a crack. It does not stop the movement that caused it. If the wall is moving, you need an engineer first, then a structural repair.
Wall bracing and carbon fibre straps
Ontario clay soil swells when wet and presses on the foundation wall. Frost adds more pressure in winter. Over years, a block or poured wall can bow inward.
Carbon fibre straps are one common fix for a wall with mild inward movement. A crew bonds vertical straps to the inside face of the wall. Steel beams or braces are another option for larger movement. HomeStars city pages list straps at $400 to $700 each. A typical wall needs several straps spaced along its length, so a single wall can cost a few thousand dollars.
Straps hold a wall in place. They do not push it back. A wall that has moved a lot may need excavation and rebuilding. That is a much larger job and needs an engineer’s design.
Piers and underpinning
Piers and underpinning address a different problem: a foundation that is settling or sitting too shallow.
Helical and push piers
A crew drives steel piers down to stable soil or bedrock and then transfers the load of the footing onto them. The HomeStars guide gives a range of $5,000 to $15,000 for helical piers. It says the price depends on installation depth and complexity. The number of piers is the biggest factor, and each pier adds cost.
Underpinning
Underpinning extends the foundation deeper. Crews dig and pour new concrete in short sections under the existing footing. The same process is used to lower a basement floor and gain headroom. The guide lists piering or underpinning at $10,000 to $25,000 or more.
Underpinning is the one repair where the city gets involved. In Toronto, underpinning needs a building permit. The City of Toronto underpinning guide says a Professional Engineer must design and review on site a foundation built below an adjacent building’s footing and within the soil’s angle of repose. It also requires professional design and field review where the unsupported height of underpinning exceeds 1200 mm or the soil is clay or silt. A Professional Engineer must also provide testing and reports at the first and last construction stages of all underpinning work. The page lists a permit fee of $12.37 per linear metre, effective January 1, 2026. Check the page for the current fee before you budget.
Other Ontario municipalities, including Richmond Hill and Pickering, set their own permit rules. Call the building department of your town before work starts.
What an engineer’s report costs
An engineer’s report tells you why the foundation moved and what repair fits. It also protects you. A contractor who sells the repair should not be the only one who diagnoses the problem.
We did not find a reliable Ontario price for a stand-alone foundation assessment. The HomeStars guide lists “soil testing and engineering reports” at $500 to $2,000. Fees depend on the size of the house, the access, the number of visits and whether the engineer also prepares drawings for a permit. Travel and a site visit are sometimes billed separately.
Ask these questions before you book:
- Is the fee fixed, or hourly?
- Does the fee include a written report?
- Does the fee include drawings for a permit?
- Will the engineer visit again to review the work?
Check that the person is a licensed Professional Engineer. Professional Engineers Ontario keeps a public directory.
Foundation repair companies in Toronto, Richmond Hill and Pickering
This section uses our own board data for October 2026. It is data, not an endorsement. We do not do repair work. Ratings and review counts come from Google. They show how much public feedback a company has. They do not show the quality of a particular repair.
| Town | Companies ranked | Median reviews | Total reviews | Companies under 20 reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | 20 | 58.5 | 3,420 | 3 |
| Richmond Hill | 20 | 18.0 | 627 | 10 |
| Pickering | 20 | 26.0 | 2,650 | 7 |
Here is what the numbers show.
- Toronto. The foundation repair companies in Toronto board has 20 ranked companies. The median is 58.5 reviews, and only 3 companies have fewer than 20. You have a deep pool of feedback to read. The top five by review count each have 214 or more reviews.
- Richmond Hill. The foundation repair companies in Richmond Hill board has 20 ranked companies, but a median of only 18.0 reviews. Ten of them have fewer than 20 reviews. A 5.0 rating on 6 reviews says much less than a 4.8 on 97. Read the review text and ask for references.
- Pickering. The foundation repair companies in Pickering board has 20 ranked companies and 2,650 reviews in total. One company holds 1,768 of them, so the median of 26.0 describes the typical company better than the total does. Seven companies have fewer than 20 reviews.
What this means for choosing:
- A high rating with few reviews is weak evidence. Weigh the review count with the rating.
- Many companies on these boards list waterproofing, concrete or masonry as their main work. Ask each one how many structural jobs, such as piers or underpinning, they did last year.
- Ask for the engineer’s name on any structural job, and check the permit.
Many foundation problems also involve water. A drainage fix can cost less than a structural repair. See the basement waterproofing companies in Toronto board if your engineer says the problem is water and not movement. You can compare other towns in the foundation repair trade hub.
How to get an accurate price
- Document the problem. Photograph every crack with a ruler beside it. Date the photos. Repeat after a month.
- Hire the engineer first when movement is likely. Do this for horizontal cracks, bowing walls, sticking doors above the basement or sloping floors.
- Get three written quotes for the same scope. Compare the method, the number of piers or straps, the warranty and what is excluded.
- Ask about permits. The contractor should say who pulls the permit and who pays for it.
- Ask about restoration. Find out who repairs landscaping, drywall and flooring.
- Get the warranty in writing. Ask if it transfers when you sell the house.
Avoid any contractor who asks for a large deposit before the permit and drawings exist, or who offers a structural fix without a site visit.
What we could not confirm
Prices change with the season, the supply of labour and the state of the housing market. Published guides repeat figures from one another, so a number that appears often may not reflect real invoices. We could not find an Ontario source for the price of an engineer’s report alone. If a quote is far outside the ranges above, ask why. A far lower quote may leave out work. A far higher quote may include extras such as waterproofing or restoration.
Frequently asked questions
How much does foundation repair cost in Ontario?
A single non-structural crack injection typically runs $500 to $1,500. Piers and underpinning run from about $5,000 to $25,000 or more. These are typical ranges from published Canadian price guides, not quotes, and your price depends on the damage, access and soil.
Do I need an engineer before foundation repair?
For minor, stable cracks, often not. For bowing walls, settlement or any underpinning, yes. In Toronto the city requires a Professional Engineer to design and review some underpinning work, and to provide testing and reports at the first and last construction stages.
How much does an engineer’s report for a foundation cost?
We found no reliable Ontario price for a stand-alone foundation report. One Canadian price guide lists soil testing and engineering reports at $500 to $2,000. Ask the engineer for a fixed fee before the visit.
Is a hairline foundation crack an emergency?
Usually not. Thin, vertical cracks in poured concrete are common as a house cures and settles. Measure and photograph the crack, and watch it. Call a professional if it widens, leaks, or runs horizontally or in a stair-step pattern.