NW Structural & Shoring — Since 1974
Foundation Replacement & Repair in Seattle
Cracked, settling, or crumbling foundation? We lift the house and build it a new one — full replacements, extensions, and dig-downs, done by the same family-run crew since 1974.
When you need this
Cracked or settling foundation
Stair-step cracks, sloping floors, and sticking doors point to a foundation that is moving — we replace it rather than chase the cracks.
Post-and-pier replacement
Many pre-war Seattle homes still sit on wood posts and concrete pads; we lift the house and pour a full perimeter foundation beneath it.
Dig-down for headroom
Replace the foundation and gain a taller basement in the same project — often the most affordable square footage you will ever add.
Tight or non-excavatable sites
Where there is no room to excavate outside the wall, we slip-form one-sided walls directly against the dirt.
Why Seattle homes need it
Old houses, wet ground
Puget Sound rainfall does more than fill gutters — it works into the glacial soils under your house and shifts them a little more every season. Pre-war foundations were often poured without reinforcement, and many older homes still sit on post-and-pier framing that was never meant to last a century. That is why cracked and settling foundations are so common in Seattle’s older neighborhoods. A foundation that moves every winter will not fix itself; a replacement built to today’s codes stops the cycle for good.
Our approach
The national franchises will sell you piers and patches. We do something they cannot: lift the entire house, remove the failed foundation, and pour a complete new one — footings, stem walls, and anchor bolts to current code. Where you want more room below, we dig down during the replacement and hand you a taller basement along with the new foundation.
On sites with no room to excavate from outside, we slip-form one-sided walls directly against the soil. Every job is engineered, permitted, and inspected before the house is set back down — and we tell you honestly at the site visit whether repair or replacement is the better spend.
How it works
1
Site visit & estimate
Free and no pressure. We walk the site, listen, and give you a straight assessment with a written estimate.
2
Engineering & permits
We handle the structural engineering and the SDCI or county paperwork so your project starts on solid footing.
3
Lift / shore / build
Our crews do the structural work — homes stay habitable during most projects.
4
Final inspection & sign-off
Work is inspected, documented, and signed off before we call the job done.
Related services
Straight Answers
Should I repair or replace my foundation?
If walls crumble, settle unevenly, or you want more height/space below, replacement usually beats patching; we advise honestly at the site visit.
What are the signs of foundation failure?
Stair-step cracks, sloping floors, sticking doors, gaps at trim.
Why do Seattle foundations fail?
Rain-saturated glacial soils shift and settle; many older foundations are unreinforced concrete or post-and-pier.
Can a post-and-pier foundation be replaced?
Yes — we lift the house and build a full perimeter foundation beneath it.
Get a straight answer about your house
Free site visit, honest assessment, written estimate — often the same day you call. Ask for Jeff.