Most homes built in San Antonio since the 1960s sit on a concrete slab poured directly on the ground. When the clay beneath that slab dries out during a hot Bexar County summer, it shrinks and pulls support away from the perimeter beam. When heavy rain returns, the soil swells unevenly. Over a few seasons, that cycle cracks slabs, tilts floors and splits brick veneer.
Our slab foundation repair in San Antonio, TX uses pressed concrete pilings or steel piers driven down to a stable bearing layer below the active clay zone. Once the piers reach refusal, we lift the slab back toward level using hydraulic jacks and set it on the piers with steel shims and concrete caps. The result is a foundation that rests on stable soil instead of floating on the moving clay above it.
Pier type and depth depend on your location. Homes on the East and South sides typically have deep black clay, where pressed pilings driven 10 to 20 feet or more perform well. North-side homes in areas like Stone Oak and The Dominion often hit limestone quickly, and some need bell-bottom or drilled piers to handle cut-and-fill lots.
Slab repair is often paired with house leveling for homes that need a full relevel, and foundation drainage correction to keep water from driving the problem again. If your home has a crawl space instead of a slab, see pier and beam foundation repair.
Technician insight
On San Antonio slabs, the settled corner is often the one nearest a downspout or a large live oak. If we pier that corner without fixing the water or root issue next to it, the unsupported sections of the slab keep moving. That's why every slab estimate we write looks at drainage at the same time.
Slab Foundation Repair Services We Offer
✓Pressed Concrete Pilings
Stacked precast concrete cylinders hydraulically pressed to refusal — the most common and cost-effective slab repair in Bexar County clay.
✓Steel Pier Underpinning
Galvanized steel piers driven deep for heavier homes or where soil conditions demand greater depth.
✓Bell-Bottom (Drilled) Piers
Drilled concrete piers with a flared base, often preferred on north-side limestone and fill lots.
✓Slab Crack Repair
Epoxy or polyurethane injection for slab cracks once the foundation has been stabilized.
Slab Foundation Repair Cost in San Antonio, TX
| Service | Typical Range | What Affects It |
|---|---|---|
| Pressed concrete piling | $350–$650 per pier | Most common method; price varies with depth and access |
| Steel pier | $1,000–$2,000 per pier | Deeper installation for heavier loads |
| Bell-bottom drilled pier | $900–$1,500 per pier | Common on limestone and fill lots |
| Interior pier (breakout & patch) | Add $250–$600 per pier | Includes slab breakout and concrete patch |
Ranges are typical for San Antonio, TX and confirmed with an exact written quote before any work starts.
How it works
- 1
Survey
Elevation readings identify the low areas and how far the slab has moved.
- 2
Excavate
Holes are dug at each pier location along the perimeter beam, and inside if needed.
- 3
Install Piers
Pilings or piers are driven to refusal below the active clay layer.
- 4
Lift & Set
The slab is lifted gradually and set on the piers with shims and caps.
- 5
Backfill & Verify
Excavations are backfilled and compacted, and final readings are recorded.
Pricing
Typical San Antonio slab repairs run about $3,500–$12,000 depending on pier count and method.