Slab foundation repair in Plano
Piers, slab jacking and crack injection, what published guides say they cost, and what to know before anyone drills a slab.
A slab foundation is a concrete slab poured directly on the ground. When the clay under a slab dries and shrinks or soaks up water and swells, the slab can move with it, and the house above shows it. This page covers what slab repair usually involves and what published sources say it costs. The prices are national ranges, not quotes for your house.
What a slab problem tends to look like
- Cracked floor tile, or a crack you can see in a garage floor
- Diagonal drywall cracks at the corners of doors and windows
- Stair-step cracks in brick veneer
- Interior doors that drift open or closed, or no longer latch
- A floor that feels lower in one part of the house
Small cracks in concrete are common and don't prove the foundation has moved. HomeGuide's crack repair guide says cracks wider than 1/8 inch warrant professional attention. A dated photo with a ruler in it tells you whether a crack is growing.
How slabs are usually repaired
| Approach | What it's for | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Piers (underpinning) | Carrying a settled slab on deeper soil and lifting it back toward level | $10,000 to $20,000 overall; steel piers $1,000 to $1,600 each |
| Slab jacking | Filling voids under a slab section and raising it | $4,500 to $9,000 |
| Crack injection | Sealing a crack once the movement behind it is dealt with | $250 to $800 or more per crack |
The pier and slab jacking figures come from HomeGuide's foundation repair cost guide (February 2026); the crack figure comes from its crack repair guide (July 2025). Pier repairs are priced per pier, so the number of piers drives the total. Ask any contractor for a drawing that shows where each pier goes.
If your slab is post-tensioned
Many newer slabs are post-tensioned: steel cables run through the concrete and are pulled tight after it cures. Writing in STRUCTURE magazine, engineer Bryan Allred wrote in 2010 that anyone in the southwestern U.S. who had bought a house in the previous twenty years very likely lived on a post-tensioned foundation, and that Texas sees the largest expansive soil movement because of its dry and wet cycles and clayey soil.
That matters for repairs. Concrete Network warns not to cut or drill into post-tensioned slabs, because a cut tendon is very difficult to repair, and says many such slabs are stamped to alert owners and contractors. If you see a stamp in your garage floor, tell anyone who plans to drill, core or cut the slab.
Rule out water first
A plumbing leak under a slab can wet the clay in one spot. The Dallas County Master Gardeners note that too much water under a house can make the soil heave and lift the foundation. If you suspect a leak, have a plumber test for it before paying for piers.
Permits in Plano
The City of Plano's "When Is a Permit Required?" sheet lists foundation repairs among the work that needs a permit. See the Plano permit guide for what we could and couldn't confirm, and call Building Inspections at 972-941-7140.
Sources
- HomeGuide: Foundation repair cost (published February 6, 2026)
- HomeGuide: Foundation crack repair cost (July 9, 2025)
- STRUCTURE magazine: General Considerations for Post-Tensioned Slabs on Ground (Bryan Allred, January 2010)
- Concrete Network: Post-tensioning basics
- Dallas County Master Gardeners: Foundation Plants for DFW Homes (Georgeann Moss, July 1, 2024)
- City of Plano Building Inspections: When Is a Permit Required? (copy marked revised 09/28/16)
Last checked October 6, 2026. Prices, rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the source before you act.
Common questions
How much does slab foundation repair cost?
It depends on the method. HomeGuide's published national ranges are $10,000 to $20,000 for underpinning with piers ($1,000 to $1,600 per steel pier), $4,500 to $9,000 for slab jacking, and $250 to $800 or more per crack injected.
Can I drill into my slab?
Not if it's post-tensioned without locating the cables first. Concrete Network warns that a cut tendon is very difficult to repair, and many post-tensioned slabs are stamped to warn owners and contractors.
Is a crack in my slab a foundation problem?
Not necessarily. HomeGuide says cracks wider than 1/8 inch warrant professional attention. Photograph a crack with a ruler and date it so you can see whether it's growing.
Want a local contractor to look at it?
Send the form or call. We pass your request to a local foundation repair contractor. Homeowners never pay us.
If you reach voicemail, leave your name, number, property address and what you've noticed.