Published national estimates by component
We show each publisher separately with the date its page was updated, and we do not average them. Where a page draws on other publishers, we say so. The spread between sources is part of the answer.
| Item | Published estimate | Publisher and date |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing a pier-and-beam foundation (total job) | $2,000 to $15,000 | Fixr, updated Jan. 27, 2026 |
| Individual pier, by type | $1,000 to $3,000 per pier | Fixr, Jan. 27, 2026; Bob Vila, May 29, 2024 (piering or underpinning) |
| Hydraulic pier | $700 to $2,100 each | Bob Vila, May 29, 2024 |
| Sill plate replacement | $100 to $120 per linear foot; $15,000 to $30,000 per project | HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026 |
| Sill replacement by length | About 25 to 50 feet: $2,500 to $6,000; 100 to 150 feet: $10,000 to $18,000; 200 to 300 feet: $20,000 to $36,000 | HomeAdvisor, June 19, 2026 |
| Sistering a joist | $150 to $325 per joist | Fixr, Sept. 23, 2026 (draws on other publishers) |
| Replacing a joist | $500 to $2,500 per joist | Fixr, Sept. 23, 2026 |
| Replacing a main support beam | $2,000 to $10,000 | Fixr, Sept. 23, 2026 |
| Termite treatment, budgeted separately from framing | $250 to $1,000 | Fixr, Sept. 2026 |
HomeAdvisor says its figures come from surveys of customers after projects, and that its article was produced with automation and then edited. Fixr and Bob Vila do not disclose detailed methods. None of these pages has a Louisiana table for these items.
The City’s fees are the part we can state exactly
The City of New Orleans lists the structural renovation permit fee as $60 plus $5 per $1,000 of work, a plan review fee of $1 per $1,000 if plans are required, and a 50% surcharge on the permit fee for properties in a local historic district (checked October 7, 2026). Our leveling cost page has an estimator that applies that formula. Engineer and surveyor costs are separate; national publishers give about $300 to $1,000 (Bob Vila) or about $300 to $2,000 (Fixr) for a structural engineer’s report, depending on scope.
Planning tool, not a quote
Cost factor explorer
Select what applies to your house. The tool shows which cost drivers are in play and the questions to put to each estimate. It gives no dollar amount, because we do not have New Orleans bids to base one on.
Nothing chosen yet. Choose one or more items above to see the drivers and questions.
Why two similar houses get different quotes
- Which layer is failing. A sunken pier, a decayed beam, and a termite-damaged sill are different jobs, and one house can have all three.
- What is bundled. Some quotes include termite inspection, moisture control, permits and finish repair; others list them separately or not at all.
- Hidden damage. Wood often cannot be fully assessed until a floor or sill is exposed. Ask how that is priced and approved.
- Termite treatment is a separate trade. In Louisiana it is licensed through the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
See pier and beam foundation repair and beam and sill repair for what each repair does, and structural repair permits for how to check a contractor’s license.
Sources (6)
- Fixr: cost to repair a foundation (national estimates)Read October 7, 2026
- Fixr: sagging floor repair cost (national estimates)Read October 7, 2026
- Bob Vila: foundation repair cost (national estimates)Read October 7, 2026
- HomeAdvisor: sill plate replacement cost (national estimates)Read October 7, 2026
- City of New Orleans: Renovation (Structural) / Elevation Permit (fees)Read October 7, 2026
- Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry: Structural Pest Control licensingRead October 7, 2026
Next step
Ask for a written scope
Any estimate comes from the provider, not from us. Describe your piers, beams or crawl space.
Your request comes to NOLA Raised Home first. If it looks like a fit, we share it with one independent local provider, which decides whether it can help. Not every request is a match. We are not the contractor. How it works.