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Foundation Leveling

Correct uneven, sinking, and settling foundations and restore your home to level with licensed foundation leveling experts (Lic. #1092628) serving Southern California.

Licensed (Lic. #1092628), bonded, and fully insured crews you can trust around your home.

Hydraulic piers and slab-jacking equipment that lift your home back to level — accurately.

Engineered leveling solutions backed by a workmanship warranty.

Expert Foundation Leveling

A foundation that has settled unevenly puts the whole house out of alignment, and you feel it before you see it: floors sloped enough to roll a marble, doors that swing open on their own, cracks that reopen after every patch. Los Angeles soils make this common — clay that moves with the seasons, hillside lots that creep downhill, and older homes on supports never engineered for today’s loads. Hollywood Contractor Corp is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1092628) leveling homes in Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, La Crescenta, and the surrounding communities. We measure actual elevations across the structure, lift it back toward level in controlled stages, and stabilize the supports so it stays there. Part of our full foundation repair services.

Hydraulic piers being installed to lift and level a foundation

Signs You Need Foundation Leveling

Foundation settlement rarely happens all at once — it shows up in small, everyday frustrations first. If you notice several of these signs together, it’s time for a professional elevation check.

  • Sloping, uneven, or bouncy floors
  • Doors and windows that stick or won’t latch
  • Cracks in drywall, especially above doorways
  • Gaps between walls, floors, or trim and the ceiling
  • Visible dips or a foundation that looks lower on one side
  • Cracks in the slab or exterior foundation

What Causes a Foundation to Settle in LA

Southern California soil is tough on foundations. Most settlement traces back to how the ground beneath your home moves — which is why we always treat the cause, not just the symptom.

  • Expansive clay soil that swells when wet and shrinks when dry
  • Poorly compacted or improperly placed fill soil
  • Seasonal moisture changes and drought cycles
  • Plumbing leaks and poor drainage washing out soil
  • Soil erosion and slope movement on hillside lots
  • Earthquakes and ongoing seismic activity
Excavated foundation trench in expansive clay soil at a Los Angeles home
Crawlspace foundation pier inspection in Los Angeles

Why Address Settling Sooner Than Later

Settlement only gets worse with time, and so does the cost to fix it. Leveling your foundation early protects your home’s structure, your safety, and its resale value. Learn how we choose between push piers, helical piers, and slab jacking.

  • Small dips become major structural damage over time
  • Early leveling costs far less than a full rebuild
  • Protects plumbing lines that crack as the slab moves
  • Restores doors, windows, and floors to normal
  • Prevents water intrusion through widening gaps
  • Keeps your home safe, comfortable, and sellable

Foundation Leveling Methods Explained

There’s no single way to level a home — the right method depends on your foundation type, how far it has settled, and the soil underneath. Here are the proven methods we use.

  • Slab jacking (mudjacking) — pumps a cement slurry beneath a sunken slab to raise it back to level.
  • Polyurethane foam jacking — injects expanding foam to lift slabs precisely with minimal mess and fast cure times.
  • Pier & beam shimming — re-shims and adjusts the posts and beams under raised-foundation homes.
  • Push piers — hydraulically driven to load-bearing soil to lift and permanently stabilize heavier structures.
  • Helical piers — screwed deep into stable soil; ideal for lighter loads and weak surface soils.
  • Drainage correction — fixes the water and soil problems that caused the settling in the first place.

Our Foundation Leveling Process

A clear, predictable process means no surprises — just a foundation that’s measured, lifted, and stabilized the right way.

1

Inspection & Elevation Survey

We measure your floors and foundation to map exactly how much it has settled and why.

2

Custom Leveling Plan

You get a clear explanation and a written, fixed-price plan for the right lifting method.

3

Lift & Level

We raise the foundation back to level with piers or jacking and stabilize the soil.

4

Final Check & Warranty

We re-measure, confirm everything is level, clean up, and back the work with a warranty.

Why Homeowners Choose Hollywood Contractor Corp

When your home is settling, you want a contractor who measures carefully, explains the fix in plain language, and levels it for good. Here’s what sets our foundation leveling apart.

  • Licensed, bonded & insured (Lic. #1092628)
  • Free on-site inspection & elevation survey
  • Transparent, fixed-price quotes
  • Root-cause leveling, not temporary patches
  • Slab jacking, foam, and steel pier systems
  • Local crews who know LA soil and codes
  • Hundreds of completed LA-area projects
  • Workmanship warranty on every job

How Much Does Foundation Leveling Cost?

Leveling a settled home in Los Angeles generally runs $4,000 to $25,000, driven by how far out of level the structure sits and what type of foundation it has.

Scope of work Typical LA range What it covers
Minor shimming (raised floor) $2,500 – $6,000 Adjusting and shimming sound supports to correct modest slope.
Re-level with new supports $7,000 – $16,000 Replacing failed piers or posts, then lifting the structure back to level.
Slab lift (foam or piers) $6,000 – $25,000 Raising a settled slab section back toward its original elevation.
Whole-house re-level $18,000 – $40,000+ Full support system corrected across the entire footprint.
Elevation survey only $0 – $600 Measuring the floor across the home to quantify the actual slope.

A useful benchmark: most people notice slope at around 1 inch over 20 feet, and roughly 2 inches over 20 feet is generally regarded as significant. We measure before quoting, because “it feels uneven” and “it is structurally out of level” are not the same thing.

Does Your Home Actually Need Leveling?

Not every sloping floor needs a lift. Some homes have settled evenly and are perfectly stable; others are actively moving. The difference matters.

Likely needs leveling

  • Slope you can see or feel walking through
  • Doors and windows binding or failing to latch
  • Cracks that reopen after being patched
  • Visible separation at wall and ceiling joins
  • Movement that has worsened over 1–2 years

May not need leveling

  • Slope present since you bought the home, unchanged
  • Hairline cracks that stay the same
  • Only one small area affected
  • No door, window, or drywall symptoms
  • An older home that settled decades ago and stopped

If nothing is moving, monitoring is often the honest recommendation.

Leveling Methods Compared

How we lift depends on what is underneath — raised foundations and slabs are corrected in completely different ways.

Option Best for Expected life Relative cost
Shimming existing supports Raised floors, sound piers 5–15 years $
New piers & posts Raised floors, failed supports 40+ years $$
Steel adjustable jacks Precise, fine-tuned correction 40+ years $$
Foam injection Settled slab sections 10–20 years $$
Piering & lift Slabs over unstable soil 40+ years $$$

Lifting is always done in slow stages. A house pulled back to level too quickly will crack finishes far more than one raised patiently over several days.

What to Expect During the Project

Most leveling projects take three to seven days. The lift itself is deliberately slow — that is what protects the finishes above.

Stage Typical timing What happens
Elevation survey Day 0 We measure across the whole floor to map exactly how much movement there is and where.
Access & set-up Day 1 Crawl-space access opened or slab locations prepared; jacks and materials staged.
Support work Days 1–3 Failed piers, posts, or beams replaced so the structure can safely be lifted.
Staged lift Days 2–5 The house is raised gradually, re-measuring as we go rather than lifting in one movement.
Final survey & sign-off Final day Elevations confirmed, site cleared, warranty issued.

Expect some hairline cracking in plaster, drywall, and tile as the structure returns toward level. It is a normal consequence of the lift, and we flag the likely locations in advance.

How to Choose a Contractor

Foundation leveling work is largely invisible once it is finished, which is exactly why standards vary so widely. A few things reliably separate a proper job from an expensive patch.

Good signs

  • An active CSLB licence you can verify online
  • A written, itemised, fixed-price scope
  • They explain the cause, not just the fix
  • Realistic timelines rather than optimistic ones
  • A workmanship warranty in writing
  • They produce an actual elevation survey
  • They lift in staged increments, not one pass

Warning signs

  • A quote given without a proper site visit
  • Pressure to sign today for a discount
  • Large cash deposits up front
  • The same solution proposed for every home
  • Vague allowances instead of fixed pricing
  • A lift quoted without measuring floor elevations

Hollywood Contractor Corp holds CSLB licence #1092628 — verify it, and any contractor you are considering, with the California State License Board.


Foundation Leveling FAQs

How much does foundation leveling cost?

It depends on the method and how far the foundation has settled. Minor slab jacking or polyurethane foam leveling often runs about $1,500 to $6,000, while extensive pier installation on a settled home can range from roughly $10,000 to $25,000 or more, depending on the number of piers and the depth to stable soil. We provide a free on-site elevation survey and a clear, written, fixed-price quote before any work begins.

How long does foundation leveling last?

When the underlying cause is addressed, foundation leveling lasts a very long time. Steel push and helical piers reach load-bearing soil and provide permanent support, while slab jacking and foam leveling are long-lasting as long as drainage and soil issues are corrected. We back our work with a workmanship warranty.

What are the signs my foundation needs leveling?

The most common signs are sloping or uneven floors, doors and windows that stick or won’t latch, new cracks in drywall or the slab, and gaps opening between walls, floors, and trim. If you notice several of these together, it’s worth a professional elevation check before the settlement gets worse.

What methods do you use to level a foundation?

We match the method to your home and soil: slab jacking (mudjacking) and polyurethane foam jacking lift sunken concrete slabs, push piers and helical piers lift and permanently stabilize settled structures, and shimming re-levels pier-and-beam homes. We also correct the drainage and soil conditions that caused the settling.

Is foundation leveling permanent?

Pier-based leveling is permanent because the piers transfer your home’s weight down to stable, load-bearing soil. Slab jacking and foam leveling are very durable as well, provided the drainage and soil movement that caused the settlement are corrected at the same time.

How long does foundation leveling take?

Most residential leveling jobs are completed in one to three days. Slab jacking and foam injection are often finished in a single day, while larger pier installations on significantly settled homes can take longer. We’ll give you an exact timeline with your quote.

Can I stay in my home during foundation leveling?

In most cases, yes. Foundation leveling is typically done from the exterior or crawl space with minimal disruption, so you can usually remain in your home throughout the project. We’ll let you know in advance if any part of the work calls for temporary adjustments.

Will leveling fix my cracks and sticking doors?

Leveling addresses the root cause — the settlement — so many sticking doors, windows, and hairline cracks improve or close once the home is back to level. Some cosmetic cracks may still need patching or paint afterward, which we’re happy to handle.

Do you level both slab and pier-and-beam foundations?

Yes. For concrete slab foundations we use slab jacking, foam injection, or steel piers; for raised pier-and-beam homes we re-shim and adjust the supports and add piers where needed. We’ll recommend the right approach for your foundation type after the inspection.

Is foundation settlement covered by homeowners insurance?

Usually not. Most policies exclude damage from gradual settling, soil movement, and poor drainage, though they may cover sudden damage from a covered event such as a burst pipe. We’ll document the cause to help with any claim, but always confirm coverage directly with your insurer.

What Our Customers Say

Don’t just take our word for it — here’s what homeowners say about working with Hollywood Contractor Corp.

Is Your Floor Uneven or Sinking?

Schedule a free, no-pressure inspection and elevation survey. We’ll measure the settlement, explain your options in plain language, and give you a clear plan to get your home back to level.

Call (818) 264-1955


Foundation Leveling Across Los Angeles County

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