Much of Gainesville sits on about five feet of sand over clay-rich soil, with limestone below that water slowly dissolves. Heavy summer storms soak the sand and wash it down into gaps in the rock. That is why the county sees sinkholes and settling under both old homes near downtown and newer slab homes on the west side.
What we do
Gainesville Foundation is a lead referral service. We are not a foundation contractor. When you call (352) 724-7728 or send the form, we connect you with one independent local foundation contractor who works in your part of Gainesville.
That contractor comes to your home, does a free inspection and gives you a written estimate. If you choose to hire them, they do the work. Your agreement is directly with them.
Why we started this site
Foundation problems are stressful, and in Gainesville a crack can bring a sinkhole worry with it. You search online and find a long list of names with no prices and no plain answers. We built this site to give Gainesville homeowners straight facts first. Why houses here move. What the fixes are. What they typically cost. Then one call gets a local crew out to look.
What it costs you
Nothing. There is no fee to use Gainesville Foundation, and the inspection is free. Contractors pay us for referrals. You never pay us, and you decide whether to hire anyone.
What to ask for from any contractor
Whoever you hire for foundation work, ask for these things.
A written estimate based on floor level readings across the whole house.
A drawing that shows where each pier goes.
Their Florida contractor license number, which you can check at myfloridalicense.com.
Proof of insurance.
The warranty in writing, including whether it transfers when you sell.