Foundation Repair Cost in Green Bay, Appleton and the Fox Valley

What does foundation repair cost? Angi's 2026 data puts the national average at $5,175, with most homeowners paying $2,225 to $8,133 [1]. HomeGuide lists $4,500 to $20,000 for settling, sinking or bowed walls [2]. We found no published Fox Valley cost data, so every figure below is a national estimate.

This page covers structural repair: walls that move, foundations that settle and floors that sag. It doesn't cover leak sealing or waterproofing.

Published price ranges by repair method

Steel I-beam wall braces aren't listed because we found no per-brace price from a dated, named source.

Wall anchor, helical pier and push pier cost

Bowing walls. Angi's national average for a bowing wall is $4,500, and most jobs fall between $500 and $10,000 [3]. Length matters because anchors and straps are spaced along the wall. On Angi's anchor table, a 15-foot wall runs $1,200 to $2,100 and a 30-foot wall $2,400 to $4,200 [3]. Anchors and straps stop the wall from moving further and may take out some of the bow, but they won't make it perfectly straight [3].

Piers for settlement. Helical piers are priced per pier. HomeGuide shows 4 piers at $8,000 to $16,000 and 8 piers at $16,000 to $32,000 [5]. Its underpinning guide, last updated November 26, 2024, puts minor settlement (2 to 4 piers) at $2,000 to $12,000 and moderate settlement (5 to 8 piers) at $6,000 to $25,000 [9]. HomeGuide's comparison rates push piers as the lower-cost of the two [5].

Sagging floors. HomeGuide lists $300 to $2,000 for surface-level fixes and $4,500 to $20,000 or more for structural work on joists or supports [6].

What drives the price

• How far the wall has moved. Angi says nearly any bowed wall can be braced if it has moved less than 2 inches, and that 2 to 4 inches may still be repairable but costs more [3].
• Number and depth of piers. Installers often charge a flat price per pier up to a standard depth and add $20 to $25 or more per foot beyond it [5]. Piers dug by hand can add $200 to $500 each [5].
• Yard access. Without room for an excavator next to the wall, anchors and tiebacks may be off the table [3].
• Finished basements. Drywall that comes off has to go back on, which Angi puts at $1.50 to $3 per square foot [3].
• Landscaping. Clearing around the foundation runs $200 to $500 before work starts [1].
• Engineering and permits. Angi's two guides disagree on permit costs. Its bowing wall guide says permits for that work range from $100 to $2,000, and some departments want an engineer's plans [3]. Its general foundation repair guide puts the average permit at $75 to $150 [1]. Your own city or village fee schedule is the number that counts.

Fox Valley rules that affect your project

Footings in Wisconsin must sit below the frost line or at least 48 inches below grade, whichever is deeper [10]. Ask pier installers how deep they plan to go. HomeGuide suggests asking for a "no depth clause" that locks the per-pier price [5].

Anchors, tiebacks and exterior piers mean digging. State law requires notice to the one-call system at least 3 working days before nonemergency excavation [11]. In Wisconsin that's Diggers Hotline, at 811 [12].

Permit rules come from each city or village [13]:

• Appleton uses its own permit form for basement foundation repair. The form wants to know the foundation type, the job's estimated cost, how many feet will be excavated, and the installer's state Dwelling Contractor number [14].
• Green Bay requires permits for structural house alterations and basement alterations [15].
• Neenah lists foundation repair or replacement among the projects that need a permit [16].
• Oshkosh: a homeowner who lives in the house can pull a remodeling permit. A contractor needs two state credentials, the Dwelling Contractor and the Dwelling Contractor Qualifier [17].

Elsewhere, call your building inspector before work starts.

How to compare quotes

1. Get at least three written quotes. Angi recommends that [1].
2. Ask each contractor to name the cause of the problem, how many anchors, straps or piers they plan, and how far apart.
3. Ask whether the price includes permits, excavation, landscape restoration and putting finished walls back.
4. For piers, ask about the standard depth and the extra charge per foot.
5. Ask whether the plan stabilizes the wall or tries to straighten it.
6. Get any warranty in writing. Terms vary by installer and manufacturer.

HomeGuide says companies offering free inspections may be more likely to recommend repairs [18]. An independent engineer's report gives you a neutral plan to compare bids against [3].

FAQ

Is foundation repair cheaper in Wisconsin?

We don't know. No published source we found breaks out Wisconsin or Fox Valley prices. Angi shows city averages in other states ranging from $1,700 to $5,500 in New York to $3,500 to $14,000 in Denver [1].

Do I need a structural engineer?

It isn't always required, but it helps with bowing or settlement. Angi puts an engineer's inspection and written report for a bowing wall at $250 to $500 [3]. HomeGuide lists a foundation inspection at $300 to $750 [8].

Will homeowners insurance pay?

Usually not. Wisconsin's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance lists neglect and earth movement among common homeowners policy exclusions, and says what's excluded varies from company to company [22]. The Insurance Information Institute adds that policies don't cover damage from lack of maintenance [19]. Read your policy and ask your agent.

Does a repair have to be disclosed when I sell?

Wisconsin's Real Estate Condition Report asks sellers whether they're aware of basement or foundation defects, including cracks, seepage and bulges [20]. Keep your repair paperwork and permit records.

How do I check a contractor's state credential?

Oshkosh points homeowners to the state's DSPS credential and license search [17]. State rules require a Dwelling Contractor credential and a Qualifier to pull a permit on a one- or two-family home, unless the owner lives there and pulls it [21].

Get quotes

Tell us your town and what you're seeing, and a local foundation contractor can contact you about an inspection and written quote. Request a free quote.

We're a referral service, not a contractor, and independent contractors may pay us for referrals.

Sources

1. Angi, "How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost? [2026 Data]," updated Oct 26, 2026. https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-foundation-repair-cost.htm. Supports: national average $5,175, typical $2,225 to $8,133; "Hydraulic piers $1,000-$3,000 per pier" (materials table); average permit cost $75 to $150; landscaping clearing $200 to $500; get at least three quotes; city table (New York $1,700 to $5,500; Denver $3,500 to $14,000). Saved: sources/angi_foundation-repair-cost_webfetch.txt.
2. HomeGuide, "How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost? (2026)," Feb 6, 2026. https://homeguide.com/costs/foundation-repair-cost. Supports: $4,500 to $20,000 for settling, sinking or bowed walls.
3. Angi, "How Much Does Bowing Basement Wall Repair Cost? [2026 Data]," updated Oct 1, 2026. https://www.angi.com/articles/typical-price-beams-support-bowing-wall.htm. Supports: average $4,500, $500 to $10,000; anchors $400 to $700 each every 5 ft; straps $350 to $1,000 each every 4 ft; tiebacks $1,500 to $1,800; straightening $340 to $550 per ft; anchor wall-length table; methods don't make wall straight; under 2 in and 2 to 4 in; excavator access; drywall $1.50 to $3 per sq ft; permits $100 to $2,000 and engineer plans; engineer report $250 to $500 and its use in comparing bids. Saved: sources/angi_bowing-wall-cost_webfetch.txt.
4. HomeGuide, "How Much Does a Bowing Basement Wall Repair Cost?," Oct 29, 2025. https://homeguide.com/costs/bowing-basement-wall-repair-cost. Supports: wall anchors $1,600 to $3,000 for 20 linear feet.
5. HomeGuide, "How Much Do Helical Piers Cost?," Feb 6, 2026. https://homeguide.com/costs/helical-piers-cost. Supports: $2,000 to $4,000 per pier; 4 piers $8,000 to $16,000, 8 piers $16,000 to $32,000; depth surcharge $20 to $25+ per ft; hand-dug $200 to $500 more per pier; "no depth clause"; push piers rated lower cost ($ vs $$).
6. HomeGuide, "Sagging Floor Repair Cost," Feb 6, 2026. https://homeguide.com/costs/sagging-floor-repair-cost. Supports: surface fixes $300 to $2,000; structural $4,500 to $20,000+; sistering $150 to $325 per joist.
7. HomeGuide, "Floor Joist Repair Cost," Apr 20, 2026. https://homeguide.com/costs/floor-joist-repair-cost. Supports: adding support posts or beams $1,000 to $5,000.
8. HomeGuide, "How Much Does a Structural Engineer Cost?," Dec 1, 2025. https://homeguide.com/costs/structural-engineer-cost. Supports: structural engineer foundation inspection $300 to $750.
9. HomeGuide, "How Much Does Underpinning a Foundation Cost?," Nov 26, 2024. https://homeguide.com/costs/underpinning-foundation-cost. Supports: minor settlement 2 to 4 piers $2,000 to $12,000; moderate 5 to 8 piers $6,000 to $25,000.
10. Wis. Admin. Code SPS 321.16(1)(a). https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/administrativecode/ch.%20SPS%20321.pdf. Supports: footings below frost penetration level or at least 48 inches below adjacent grade, whichever is deeper.
11. Wis. Stat. 182.0175(2)(am)1. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/182.0175. Supports: notice at least 3 working days before nonemergency excavation.
12. Diggers Hotline. https://www.diggershotline.com/. Supports: Wisconsin's one-call center, 811.
13. Wis. Admin. Code SPS 320.02(2)(c). https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/administrativecode/ch.%20SPS%20320.pdf. Supports: a municipality may by ordinance require permits and fees for repairs not within the code's scope.
14. City of Appleton, Basement Foundation Repair Permit application. https://applications.appleton.org/departments/public/onlinepermits/basementpermit.aspx. Supports: form fields (foundation type, estimated cost, lineal feet of excavation, State Dwelling Contractor number). Saved: sources/towns/apl_basement.*
15. City of Green Bay, "Do I Need a Permit?" https://www.greenbaywi.gov/977/Do-I-Need-a-Permit. Supports: Basement Alterations: Yes; House Alterations (Structural): Yes.
16. City of Neenah, "When Do I Need a Building Permit?" (PDF). https://www.ci.neenah.wi.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/When-Do-I-Need-a-Permit.pdf. Supports: "Foundation repair or replacement" listed as a common improvement needing a permit.
17. City of Oshkosh, License Information for Contractors/Homeowners. https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/InspectionServices/LicenseInformation.aspx. Supports: owner-occupant may obtain remodeling permits; others need Dwelling Contractor and Dwelling Contractor Qualifier credentials; check licensing at DSPS Credential/License Search.
18. HomeGuide, "How Much Does a Foundation Inspection Cost?," Feb 5, 2026. https://homeguide.com/costs/foundation-inspection-cost. Supports: companies offering free inspections "may be more likely to recommend repairs."
19. Insurance Information Institute, "Which disasters are covered by homeowners insurance?" https://www.iii.org/article/which-disasters-are-covered-by-homeowners-insurance (no byline date shown). Supports: a policy will not cover damage due to lack of maintenance.
20. Wis. Stat. 709.03, Real Estate Condition Report, item B7. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/709.03. Supports: "Are you aware of defects in the basement or foundation (including cracks, seepage, and bulges)?"
21. Wisconsin DSPS, Dwelling Contractor Qualifier. https://dsps.wi.gov/a-z-professions-list/dwelling-contractor-qualifier-dcq/. Supports: permit requires Dwelling Contractor certification and a Qualifier; owner-occupant exception.
22. Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, "Consumer's Guide to Homeowners Insurance," PI-015 (R 07/2026) (PDF). https://oci.wi.gov/Documents/Consumers/PI-015.pdf. Supports: under "Common Exclusions," damage resulting from neglect or earth movement is not covered; coverage and exclusions vary from company to company. Saved: sources/oci_PI-015.pdf, sources/oci_PI-015_pdf.txt.