Most Southfield homes have basements or crawl spaces, and the clay outside those walls swells, freezes and pushes. We pour and repair concrete. When something looks structural, have a structural engineer look before anyone sells you a repair.
Every price on this page is a national figure published by HomeGuide for 2026. None of them is a quote from The Southfield Concrete Company. Local labor and material costs, access for the truck, the state of the ground under the slab and the finish you choose all move a real price. Checked October 2026.
Are cracks in my foundation serious or cosmetic?
Most hairline cracks in a foundation are cosmetic shrinkage cracks from when the concrete or block was placed. The serious signs are a crack wide enough to fit a coin, one side offset from the other, a horizontal crack in a basement wall, stair-step cracks in block, a wall bowing inward, or a crack that keeps growing. Wet, heavy clay pushing on basement walls is a known cause of bowing in this area. For any of those signs, get a structural engineer first.
What does foundation repair cost?
HomeGuide's national figures are $250 to $800 for minor crack repairs, $2,000 to $12,000 to fix foundation leaks, and $4,500 to $20,000 for settling, sinking or bowed walls. The type of foundation and the soil around it move those numbers a lot.
My garage floor has dropped on one side. Is that a leveling job or a foundation problem?
When a garage floor has dropped on one side, it depends on how the garage was built. Many garage floors are a separate slab inside the foundation walls. If the floor sank but the walls did not move, it is a leveling or replacement job. If the walls cracked or moved too, the foundation is involved and an engineer should look. A gap opening between floor and wall usually means a floating slab settled, often over loose fill.
My front steps are pulling away from the house. Why?
Steps pulling away from the house are moving differently from it. The house sits on footings 42 inches or more below grade, while concrete steps often sit on shallow ground or loose backfill. Frost lifts the steps in winter and settling drops them, so they tip away and leave a gap. A small gap can sometimes be closed by lifting. Cracked or tipped steps are replaced on a better base with a joint against the house. There is no published price for concrete steps, so we price them on site.
My retaining wall is leaning after spring thaw or heavy rain. Can it be saved?
A retaining wall leaning after the thaw can sometimes be saved. It is usually being pushed by saturated clay and frost with no drainage behind it. A small lean on an uncracked wall can sometimes be stopped with new drainage and less soil weight behind it. A wall that has moved a lot, cracked through or slid on its footing should be rebuilt with a proper footing, steel and drainage. Keep children, pets and cars away from a wall that is moving.
I was quoted $18,000 for wall anchors or piers and another company says $1,500 to seal the crack. Which is right?
They are solving different problems, so first find out which one you have. The $1,500 job seals a crack and keeps water out. The $18,000 job stabilizes a wall or foundation that is moving. With $16,500 between them, it is worth paying an independent structural engineer who does not sell repairs to tell you whether the wall is moving. If it is not, the large job is wasted money. If it is, sealing alone will not hold it.
My basement floor leaks or shows a white powder. What is it?
The white, chalky powder is efflorescence: mineral salts carried through the concrete by water and left behind when it dries. It is common on basement floors and walls in Southfield, because clay holds water against foundations, especially in spring. Brush it off, keep gutters and downspouts sending water well away, and make sure the ground slopes away from the house. Standing water or an active leak is a different problem and may need drain tile or a sump.
Does insurance cover a retaining wall, slab or foundation?
Whether insurance covers it depends on your policy and the cause, so ask your agent. Home policies are generally written for sudden events and commonly exclude settling, earth movement, frost heave and wear. Flood damage usually needs a separate flood policy. Check how your policy treats detached structures such as walls and driveways. If you file a claim, we can write up what we found and price the repair for your adjuster.
Can you pour a slab for an addition or a new building?
Yes, built to the approved plans and the permit. Michigan's residential code requires exterior footings and foundations to go 42 inches below grade, unless the building official approves a change for local conditions. The Southfield Building Department inspects the footings before the pour. Lighter structures such as sheds and equipment pads can often sit on a slab with thickened edges over compacted stone, if the city allows it.
To get a price for your own property, book a free on-site estimate. Call (313) 789-3411, or text a photo of the concrete to that number.