Foundation Crack Repair in Shreveport, LA
A stair-step crack in the brick, a thin line across the slab under the carpet. Some cracks are cosmetic and some point to movement. Describe what you see once, and independent foundation companies serving Shreveport, Louisiana and Bossier City, LA can reply with free quotes.
Get a Free Quote Call (318) 633-1685
Cracks worth a closer look
- Stair-step cracks along brick mortar joints, often at a window or door corner
- A crack that is wider at one end than the other
- Slab cracks where one side sits higher than the other
- Cracks that come with sticking doors, windows that will not latch, or gaps at trim
One thin crack with nothing else going on is common. A pattern of cracks plus doors and floors that changed usually earns an inspection. On a pier-and-beam home, brick cracks can follow a settled pier. See pier-and-beam repair and slab foundation repair.
Which cracks matter
A rough guide, not a diagnosis.
| What you see | What it often means | Sensible next step |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline slab crack, flat, no offset | Concrete shrinkage is a common cause | Mark, date and photograph it; watch it |
| Stair-step crack in brick mortar | Movement in the wall or the foundation below it | Watch for widening; ask about the cause before repointing |
| One side higher, or reopens after patching | Uneven or ongoing movement | Get an inspection |
| Crack plus sticking doors or sloping floors | The structure is moving, not just the surface | Independent engineer, then quotes |
How to watch a crack
- Pencil a line at each end of the crack and write the date
- Photograph it with a ruler in the frame
- Check again after the late-summer dry spell and after spring rains
- Keep the notes for the company you hire and a future buyer
The foundation crack types guide goes deeper.
What a foundation company typically does
Find the cause
The company measures floor elevations, checks the slab edge or crawl space, and follows the water from the gutters.
Cosmetic or structural
It tells you whether the crack is surface shrinkage or a sign the foundation moved, and why.
Seal the crack
Concrete cracks are often filled with epoxy or polyurethane injection. Brick is usually repointed, and badly cracked brick replaced.
Fix any movement
That can mean drainage changes, piers under a slab, or shimming and added piers under a pier-and-beam house.
Sealing a crack closes it. It does not stop the soil from moving, so filling cracks on a house that is still moving may need redoing.
Why cracks show up in Shreveport-area homes
Much of Caddo and Bossier parishes is mapped in clay soils with high to very high shrink-swell potential (USDA NRCS soil data): roughly 43% of Caddo and 55% of Bossier by area, including Red River clays like Moreland and Buxin and upland soils like Eastwood and Keithville. Check your own lot on Web Soil Survey. Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks as it dries, which can contribute to cracking.
The weather drives that cycle. Shreveport gets about 51.4 inches of rain a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals), with April the wettest month and August the driest and hottest, averaging highs near 94.9 °F. Caddo and Bossier parishes each reached D3 "extreme" drought in 2022–2023 (U.S. Drought Monitor); Caddo peaked with 88.9% of the parish in D3 on September 19, 2023. That is why a few months of notes help.
Age adds to it. Shreveport's median home was built in 1973, and about 65% were built before 1980 (ACS 2020–2024). Many older homes in districts such as Highland, Fairfield and South Highlands sit on piers over a crawl space, so a brick crack there may lead back to a pier rather than a slab.
What crack repair costs
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation repair, overall | $2,200–$8,200 (avg ≈ $5,200) | Fixr, Jan 2026 |
| Slab foundation repair | $1,000–$10,000 | Fixr |
| Pier-and-beam foundation repair | $2,000–$15,000 | Fixr |
| Piers, per pier (underpinning) | $1,000–$3,000 | Fixr, This Old House |
| Structural engineer inspection | $300–$1,000 (avg ≈ $600) | This Old House, Oct 2026 |
| Permit | $75–$150 | This Old House |
Crack-only work such as injection or repointing is not broken out in these guides, so compare written quotes. If the crack is a symptom of movement, the price follows that fix. See the Shreveport foundation repair cost guide.
When to get an engineer first
Get an independent LAPELS-licensed professional engineer's assessment before you sign when a crack is offset or widening, when cracks come with sticking doors and sloping floors, when quotes disagree, or when you are buying or selling. This Old House puts an inspection at about $300–$1,000. The engineer should be independent of the company selling the repair. See foundation inspections.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is this crack cosmetic or structural, and what did you measure to decide?
- Does your scope deal with the cause or only seal the crack?
- What is your LSLBC license number, and can I see proof of liability insurance?
- Does the job need a permit, and will you pull it?
- What does the warranty cover, does it transfer to a buyer, and can I have it in writing?
- If you recommend piers, will you accept an independent engineer reviewing the plan?
License. Louisiana's contractor board (LSLBC) changed its thresholds on August 1, 2024. Home improvement registration now covers most projects of $7,500 to under $50,000, but structural work such as foundations, footings and floor slabs is excluded from 'home improvement', so foundation repair over $7,500 generally calls for an LSLBC-licensed contractor. Look the company up at lslbc.louisiana.gov and ask for the license number, proof of liability insurance and the permit. Confirm with the LSLBC if unsure.
Permit. Structural repairs generally need a permit from your city or parish; your contractor should pull it. Shreveport's Permits & Inspections office covers the city and Caddo Parish except Greenwood, LA, and Bossier City, LA has its own office.
Right to cancel. Louisiana's home solicitation law (R.S. 9:3538) gives a 3-business-day right to cancel many in-home sales of $25 or more, but it may not apply when you contacted the company yourself or to emergency repairs already under way. Ask whether a cancel right applies and get it in writing.
Foundation crack repair FAQs
Are stair-step cracks in brick serious?
Not always. Brick and mortar can crack from small, early movement and then stay put. A stair-step crack deserves a closer look when it widens over the seasons, when one side sits out of line with the other, or when nearby doors and windows start sticking. Mark the ends, date it and photograph it so you can tell whether it is changing.
Should I worry about a hairline crack in my slab?
A thin, flat slab crack with no height difference across it is common and is often caused by shrinkage as the concrete cured. It matters more if one edge rises above the other, if it keeps widening, or if it shows up with sloping floors or sticking doors. Watch it through a dry late summer and a wet spring.
How much does foundation crack repair cost in Shreveport?
The cost guides used here do not publish a reliable crack-only price, so compare written quotes. When a crack is a symptom of movement, the price follows the larger fix: Fixr lists slab foundation repair at $1,000–$10,000 and piers at $1,000–$3,000 each, as national ranges, not Shreveport, LA quotes.
Does homeowners insurance cover foundation cracks?
Often not. Standard homeowners policies commonly exclude settling, earth movement and gradual damage, which describes most foundation cracks. A sudden event such as a burst pipe may be treated differently, and flood damage needs flood insurance. Read your policy and ask your agent before counting on coverage. See the insurance guide.
Get free foundation crack repair quotes
Describe where the crack is, whether the home is on a slab or piers, and roughly how old it is. Your request goes to independent companies serving Shreveport, Bossier City and nearby towns.
Shreveport Foundation Services is a free quote-matching service, not a contractor. The companies are independent, and some pay to receive requests. There is no cost and no obligation to hire anyone.
Cracks, sticking doors or a soft floor? Get free foundation and crawl space quotes.
Describe it once and independent companies serving Shreveport, Bossier City and northwest Louisiana can reply with no-obligation quotes.