Nearly all new homes in Texas and nearby states sit on a concrete slab. NAHB put the share at 97.7% for 2025. On San Antonio's clay, a slab can rise and drop as the soil under it gets wetter or drier.
Why slabs move here
The USDA says Houston Black clay shrinks and swells markedly with moisture, and it is found from north of Dallas to San Antonio. In 2022 San Antonio had only 11.51 inches of rain, its second driest year on record.
How slabs are lifted
The usual repair is to set piles under the foundation and raise it. A Houston foundation industry group calls pressed precast concrete segmented piles the most common way to lift foundations in Texas.
Steel piers go deeper. Helical piers screw into the ground. Ask the company why it recommends one method for your house.
Slab jacking
Mudjacking and foam jacking pump material under a sunken slab to lift it. Fixr notes they are affordable but not permanent, because they don't treat the cause. Ask whether it suits your problem.
Before work starts
- Ask who pulls the city permit
- Ask whether the engineer's letter the city requires is in the price
- Ask whether plumbing will be tested before and after the lift
- Get the pier plan and warranty in writing
Typical prices
| Slab foundation repair | $1,000-$10,000 |
| Each pier or pile | $1,000-$3,000 |
| Mudjacking or foam jacking | $500-$1,900 |
Ranges from published cost guides, not a quote.
Questions
Can a slab be leveled perfectly flat?
Not always. Ask the company what result it expects for your house and put that expectation in writing.
Does a slab repair need a permit in San Antonio?
Yes. The city's code requires a foundation repair permit and an engineer of record letter.
Areas served around San Antonio
- Alamo Heights
- Terrell Hills and Olmos Park
- Castle Hills
- Stone Oak
- Shavano Park
- Leon Valley
- Helotes
- Live Oak
- Converse
- Universal City
- Windcrest
- Schertz