✓The soilThe most common soils around Lubbock have a sandy or loamy top layer over a subsoil with more clay in it, according to USDA soil surveys. Clay holds water. When it gets wet it swells, and when it dries it shrinks. Under a house, that pushes some spots up and lets others drop.soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov
✓The calicheA few feet down, many Lubbock area soils turn into caliche. That is a hard, white layer packed with lime, a lot like chalky rock. USDA surveys put the top of this layer about 2.5 to 5 feet down in common local soils. It is why a good crew asks what they hit when they drive piers, and why repairs here are not one size fits all.soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov
✓The playa lakesLubbock is so flat that rain does not run off to a river. It runs down the streets into shallow lakes called playas. The city designed it that way. Soil in playa bottoms is the most extreme of all: USDA lists it at 50 to 60 percent clay, with dry-season cracks up to 2 inches wide and 40 inches deep. Homes near a playa or on filled ground can move more than homes on higher ground.soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov
✓The weatherLubbock averages about 18.6 inches of rain a year, according to the National Weather Service. It does not come gently. Long dry spells end in heavy storms, mostly from late spring through September. So the soil under your house swings from bone dry to soaked, over and over. Each swing moves the ground a little.weather.gov
✓The housesLubbock has both kinds of foundations. Many of the oldest homes, in neighborhoods like Overton (platted in 1907) and Tech Terrace, sit on piers and beams with a crawl space under the floor. Most homes built in the last few decades sit on a concrete slab. Each type shows trouble in its own way, and each has its own fix.atlas.thc.state.tx.us
What it costs
Typical ranges from published cost guides, not quotes. Every job starts with a free inspection and a written price, so you see the number before any work begins.
Cracks, sticking doors or sloping floors? You are not alone in Lubbock
If you are reading this, you probably saw something that worried you. Maybe a crack showed up over a door. Maybe the back door started to stick, or a marble rolls across the kitchen floor. These are some of the most common things Lubbock homeowners call about.
The good news: most foundation problems can be fixed without tearing anything out. The first step is finding out what is really going on. That is what the free inspection is for.
Here is how it works. You call (806) 855-8140 or send the short form. We connect you with one local foundation contractor who works in Lubbock. They come out, measure your floors, look at the cracks inside and out, and give you a written price. There is no charge for the visit and no pressure to say yes.
The repairs a local crew handles
You do not need to know the right words. Tell us what you see, and the contractor we connect you with will match it to the right fix:
Foundation repair for a house that has sunk, cracked or gone out of level
Slab foundation repair for homes built on a concrete slab, which is most newer homes in Lubbock
Not sure if what you see is serious? Our signs of foundation problems page shows which ones need a look soon and which ones are usually cosmetic.
What moves your price
The number of piers is the biggest thing that moves the price on most jobs. Your written estimate shows how many piers, where they go, and what is included, before any work starts. See the full Lubbock foundation repair cost guide for more detail.
Slab or crawl space? How to tell
Knowing your foundation type helps the call go faster. Here is a quick check:
Look for a small door or vent low on the outside wall. If you see one, your home likely has a crawl space and sits on piers and beams.
Look at the bottom edge of the wall. If concrete meets the ground with no gap or vents, your home likely sits on a slab.
Not sure? That is fine. The crew checks it at the free inspection.
How it works
Call (806) 855-8140 or send the form. Tell us what you are seeing. A photo of the crack helps, but it is not required.
Free inspection. A local foundation crew measures your floor levels across the whole house, maps the cracks, and checks doors, gutters and drainage.
Written estimate. You get a plan and a price in writing. It shows what is wrong, how they would fix it, and what it costs.
You decide. No pressure. If you go ahead, the contractor schedules the work and handles any city permit the job needs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the foundation inspection really free?
Yes. The inspection and the written estimate cost you nothing, and you are not asked to sign anything to get them. You decide later if you want the work done.
Who comes out to my house?
Lubbock Foundation is a referral service. We connect you with one independent local foundation contractor who works in Lubbock. That crew does the inspection, writes the estimate and does the work if you hire them.
How fast can someone look at my house?
Most people who call get a call back the same day. The inspection is set for a time that works for you, often within a few days. If a door suddenly will not close or a crack is growing fast, say so on the call.
Do I need to replace my whole foundation?
Almost never. Most Lubbock homes are fixed by lifting and supporting the part that sank, re-leveling a pier-and-beam floor, or fixing the water problem that caused the movement.
Why do so many houses in Lubbock have foundation problems?
The soil under many Lubbock homes holds clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Rain here comes in bursts after long dry stretches, so the ground under a house keeps moving up and down.
Can I wait and see if it gets worse?
You can, but small problems are cheaper to fix than big ones. A free inspection tells you if the house is still moving and how urgent it is, so you are not guessing.
Is this site in Spanish?
Yes. Our main pages are also in Spanish at lubbockfoundation.com/es, including the cost guide and the questions page.
Get your free inspection today
A crack that grows over the summer is cheaper to fix now than next year. Call (806) 855-8140 or send the short form, and a local foundation crew will call you back, usually the same day. The inspection is free, the price comes in writing, and the choice is yours.