Slab Foundation Repair in Killeen, TX

Slab repair usually means piers under the section that moved. National guides put piering at about $1,000 to $3,000 per pier.

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Slab foundation repair in Killeen usually means installing piers under the part of the slab that moved, then lifting it back toward level. National guides put piering at about $1,000 to $3,000 per pier.

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Signs a slab foundation has moved

A concrete slab rarely fails all at once. It drops or lifts at one edge or corner, and the house above it shows the strain. The Texas Real Estate Commission's inspection rules list the signs inspectors look for:

doors that bind, sit out of square or won't latch
separations in framing or frieze boards (the trim where the wall meets the roof line)
sloping floors
cracks or separations in windows, walls, floors or ceilings
brick or stone veneer that is rotating, buckling, cracking or bowing

Outside, look for stair-step cracks in brick, a gap between the slab and the soil, or a corner of the slab that sits higher or lower than the rest. One sign on its own may be normal settling or shrinkage. Several signs in the same part of the house, or cracks that keep growing, are worth an evaluation.

Why slabs move in the Killeen area

Most slabs here move because the soil under them changes volume. Western Bell County, where Killeen sits, has clayey soils with limy subsoils and shallow soil over limestone in places, and the eastern half of the county is mostly Houston Black clay, which USDA rates as having a high shrink-swell potential. Clay that gains and loses water changes volume, and the slab moves with it.

Three other causes to check:

Water at the edges. Downspouts that empty against the slab, or a yard that slopes toward the house, keep one side wetter than the others.
Dry spells. In a long summer, clay at the edge of the slab dries and pulls away while the clay under the middle stays moist. The edges drop.
Plumbing leaks under the slab. The Texas Department of Insurance has addressed foundation shifts caused by plumbing leaks beneath a house in a commissioner's bulletin. A leak can wet the clay and lift or soften one area.

How slab foundation repair is done

Every company has its own process. A typical slab repair has these steps:

Evaluation. The company measures floor elevations across the house and looks for the pattern of movement.
Written plan. You get a bid with a pier layout showing how many piers, where they go and what type.
Permit. In Killeen, the contractor needs a city permit and an annual city registration (more below).
Digging. Crews dig holes along the outside of the slab where piers go. Interior piers mean breaking through the floor or tunneling under it.
Piers and lifting. Piers are driven or screwed down beneath the slab, then the slab is lifted toward level and supported on the piers.
Checks and cleanup. Holes are backfilled, and the final elevations should be recorded. Ask whether a plumbing test is part of the job.

Common pier types

Modernize, a home-project cost site, lists three common underpinning pier types and a typical price for each. The descriptions in the middle column come from This Old House and Modernize:

Pier type	What the guides say	Typical cost per pier
Segmented piers	Modernize calls them the economical option	About $1,000
Steel push piers	Smooth pillars driven into the ground with a hydraulic pump (This Old House)	About $2,000
Helical piers	Hollow, threaded pillars screwed into the ground (This Old House); Modernize says they suit sandy or loose soils	About $3,000

Which type fits your house depends on the soil, the depth to firm bearing and the load. Ask the company why it chose the type it's proposing, and how deep it expects to go.

What slab foundation repair costs

National guides checked in October 2026 give these ranges. A Killeen company sets its own price after it sees the house.

Job	National range	Source
Piering or underpinning	About $1,000 to $3,000 per pier	This Old House
Slab repair, all methods	About $350 to $20,000	Bob Vila (Angi data)
Mudjacking or slabjacking	About $550 to $1,300	This Old House
Crack filling	About $250 to $800	This Old House
Slab leak repair (plumbing)	About $630 to $4,400	Bob Vila (Angi data)

The pier count drives the total. A job with six piers and one with twenty are very different projects. The foundation repair cost guide explains the other line items, from permits to landscaping repair.

Killeen's permit rule for slab repair

A City of Killeen notice to contractors says foundation repair has needed a city permit since March 1, 2022. The contractor submits a floor plan and pier diagram, then either provides a professional engineer's final acceptance letter when the work is done, or submits sealed plans up front and passes city inspections before the piers are covered. Ask the company which path it uses and for a copy of the final letter or inspection record. It's useful proof when you sell.

Questions to ask before you hire

How many piers, what type and how deep? Can I have the pier layout in writing?
Are you registered with the City of Killeen, and will you pull the permit?
Can I see your certificate of liability insurance?
Do you recommend a plumbing test before and after the lift?
Who repairs landscaping, flatwork and any floors you break through?
What warranty do you offer, does it transfer to a buyer, and what does it exclude?

For a second opinion that doesn't come from someone selling the repair, consider an independent Texas-licensed professional engineer (P.E.). You can check a license on the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors website.

If your house sits on piers over a crawlspace, see pier and beam foundation repair. If the whole floor is out of level, see house leveling. For short answers on insurance, timing and permits, see the foundation repair FAQ.

Common questions

Is a crack in my slab always a foundation problem?

No. This Old House notes that cracks in concrete slab foundations are common and don't always point to serious problems. Cracks matter more when they come with other signs: doors that stick or won't latch, brick that cracks in a stair-step pattern, gaps at window frames or floors that slope. Watch whether a crack grows. Marking its ends with a pencil and the date makes that easy.

How long does slab foundation repair take?

This Old House says minor jobs, such as a small number of piers, can take 1 to 3 days, and major work such as full leveling or many piers can take 5 to 7 days or longer. In Killeen, add time for the city permit and any inspections.

Can I stay in my house during slab repair?

Usually, for work done from outside the house, but ask the company. Interior piers can mean breaking through floors or tunneling under the slab, and lifting can affect doors, plumbing and drywall. Ask how the work will affect your daily routine before you sign.

Should I get an engineer's report before slab repair?

It's worth considering on a large or disputed job, or before you buy a house with a repair history. An independent Texas-licensed professional engineer (P.E.) isn't selling the repair, so the report can tell you whether a contractor's pier plan fits the problem. National guides put a structural engineer's report at about $300 to $1,000.

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Last updated 2026-10-23