Structural repair on a Canadian house typically costs from about $1,000–$5,000 for minor work such as sistering a few joists or replacing a post, $5,000–$20,000 for a new beam line, wall bracing or a wall removal, and $20,000–$60,000 or more for underpinning, wall rebuilds or major damage. Add $500–$3,500 for engineering. These are 2026 planning estimates, not quotes.
- Engineering is a small share of most jobs and shapes every other number, so price it first.
- Access and finishes often cost more than the structural materials themselves.
- Foundation work is priced per pier, brace or metre; floors per joist or per beam line.
- Compare quotes only on the same engineered scope, or the lowest price may be a smaller job.
- Most gradual structural problems are not covered by home insurance; budget for them.
01 /How much does structural repair cost?
Structural repair costs span a wide range because the jobs do. A few sistered joists in an open basement are a day's carpentry; underpinning a settling corner or rebuilding a basement wall is excavation, concrete and engineering over weeks. The table below groups common residential repairs into planning bands for 2026 in Canadian dollars.
| Band | Typical examples | Planning range |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | Sister a few joists, replace a sinking post with a footing, add rafter ties | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Moderate | New mid-span beam line, bracing a basement wall, a bungalow wall removal | $5,000–$20,000 |
| Major | Underpinning, wall rebuild, flush beam under a second storey, fire or flood structural rebuild | $20,000–$60,000+ |
| Engineering (in addition) | Site visit, report, design and field reviews | $500–$3,500 for most house jobs |
02 /What does a structural engineer cost?
Engineering is usually the first cost and the one that defines the rest. A site visit and letter confirm the cause; a design turns it into a buildable, permittable scope that contractors can price on equal terms.
| Service | Typical planning range |
|---|---|
| Site visit and short letter | $500–$1,500 |
| Detailed assessment report (with elevation survey) | $1,200–$3,000 |
| Beam or wall-removal design with stamped drawings | $1,000–$3,500 |
| Foundation repair design (piers, bracing, underpinning) | $1,500–$5,000 |
| Field review visit during construction | $250–$750 per visit |
| Emergency or after-hours visit | $750–$2,500 |
Read what a structural engineer does for how to hire one, and reports and drawings for what each document gives you.
03 /What do floor and beam repairs cost?
| Repair | Typical planning range |
|---|---|
| Sister one joist, open basement ceiling | $150–$500 per joist |
| Sister one joist, finished ceiling (incl. drywall repair) | $400–$900 per joist |
| Replace a sinking post with a new footing | $800–$2,500 per post |
| New mid-span beam, posts and footings, unfinished basement | $4,000–$12,000 |
| New mid-span beam in a finished basement | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Flush beam recessed into the joists | $8,000–$25,000 |
| Remove a bearing wall, bungalow, dropped beam | $5,000–$12,000 |
| Remove a bearing wall under a second storey, dropped beam | $8,000–$20,000 |
| Remove a bearing wall, flush beam, second storey above | $12,000–$30,000 |
| Long-span or steel beam with heavy loads | $20,000–$40,000+ |
Floor repairs are driven by access. An open basement ceiling with no ducts in the way is cheap to work in; a finished ceiling adds demolition, drywall, taping, paint and sometimes moving plumbing, wiring and ducts. For how the repairs work, see sagging floors, sistering floor joists, beams, posts and footings and removing a load-bearing wall. Beam materials are compared in LVL vs steel beams.
04 /What do foundation structural repairs cost?
| Repair | Typical planning range |
|---|---|
| Crack injection (sealing, not structural) | $500–$1,200 per crack |
| Steel beam or carbon-fibre wall brace | $600–$1,500 per brace |
| Wall anchor or helical tieback | $800–$2,000 per anchor |
| Excavate, straighten or rebuild a basement wall | $15,000–$40,000+ per wall |
| Helical pile or push pier, installed and bracketed | $2,000–$4,500 per pier |
| Mass concrete underpinning | $1,000–$3,000 per linear metre |
| Slab lifting (foam or grout) | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Grading and downspout corrections | $500–$3,000 |
Foundation work is quantity-driven. A 9 m (30 ft) wall braced at the spacing an engineer specifies may need several braces; a settling corner may need several piers. Always ask each contractor how many units they are pricing and at what spacing or depth, so you can compare. For the structural side, see foundation settlement, horizontal cracks and bowing walls. For Calgary waterproofing, drainage and foundation repair pricing, see CalgaryFoundations.com.
05 /What do roof, damage and emergency repairs cost?
| Repair | Typical planning range |
|---|---|
| Sister a few rafters or add rafter ties | $1,500–$6,000 |
| Truss repair to an engineered detail | $1,000–$5,000 |
| New ridge beam with posts and footings | $8,000–$25,000 |
| Professional roof snow removal | $300–$1,200 per visit |
| Replace a section of rotted sill plate and rim joist | $1,500–$6,000 |
| Sister or replace joists under a bathroom | $2,000–$8,000 plus finishes |
| Temporary shoring of a floor or beam line | $1,000–$5,000 |
| Complex shoring (walls, roofs, multiple levels) | $5,000–$20,000+ |
Details are in roof sag, trusses and snow load, fire, water and rot damage and emergency shoring. Rusted posts and spalled concrete are covered in concrete and steel structural repair.
06 /What drives the price of a structural repair?
- Cause and extent. The same symptom can be a $600 post or a $25,000 underpinning job; diagnosis first saves money.
- Access. Finished basements, tight crawl spaces, ducts and plumbing in the way, and difficult yard access for excavation.
- Finishes. Drywall, flooring, tile, cabinets and landscaping removed and restored often exceed the structural cost.
- Loads and spans. Longer spans and heavier loads mean deeper beams, steel, bigger footings and more engineering.
- Soil and depth. Pier depth to firm soil and excavation conditions drive foundation prices.
- Permits and inspections. Fees, drawing requirements and scheduling vary by municipality.
- Season and urgency. Frozen ground, winter protection and emergency call-outs add cost.
- Worked example: bouncy main floor
Engineer's letter ($500–$1,500) finds long joist spans in an unfinished basement and recommends a mid-span beam on three posts ($4,000–$12,000). Planning total: roughly $4,500–$13,500.
- Worked example: open-concept kitchen
Engineering and drawings ($1,000–$3,500), bearing wall under a second storey removed with a dropped beam ($8,000–$20,000), plus relocating a duct and wiring. Planning total before finishes: roughly $9,000–$25,000.
- Worked example: bowing block wall
Engineer's assessment and bracing design ($800–$2,500), four braces at the specified spacing ($2,400–$6,000) and grading and downspout work ($500–$3,000). Planning total: roughly $3,700–$11,500.
07 /How do you compare structural repair quotes?
Compare structural quotes only on the same scope. The cheapest quote is often a smaller job: fewer braces, no footings under new posts, no permit, or no engineer. Ask every contractor to price the engineer's drawings or letter, and check each quote for the items below.
- The engineered scope it is based on, with quantities (joists, posts, braces, piers) and spacing or depth.
- Permit, inspections and engineer's field reviews: included, and who books them.
- Temporary shoring, demolition, disposal and restoration of finishes.
- Moving services: plumbing, electrical, ducts.
- Warranty terms in writing, what voids them, and whether they transfer to a new owner.
- Proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage in your province.
- Payment schedule tied to stages, not a large deposit up front.
Insurance and taxes: the Insurance Bureau of Canada notes that most home policies exclude cracking, shifting or settling of a foundation, and gradual deterioration is generally not an insured peril, so plan to fund most structural repairs yourself unless a sudden covered event caused the damage. For rental properties, the Canada Revenue Agency separates current repair expenses from capital improvements; ask an accountant how your repair is treated. The insurance, warranty and tax guide covers new-home warranties, CRA rules and financing in more detail.
Unsure what your problem will cost? Start with the Structural Warning Sign Triage or the Floor Sag Calculator, then send a request with photos. StructuralRepair.ca is part of HAUSE Home, an independent information and service-request network, not a contractor or engineering firm.
FAQQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to fix structural damage in a house?
Planning ranges for 2026 run from about $1,000–$5,000 for minor repairs, $5,000–$20,000 for moderate work such as a new beam line or wall bracing, and $20,000–$60,000 or more for underpinning, wall rebuilds or major damage, plus engineering.
How much does a structural engineer cost for a house?
A residential site visit and letter typically falls in the $500–$1,500 planning range in 2026; designs with stamped drawings for a beam or wall removal about $1,000–$3,500; foundation designs more.
How much does it cost to fix a sagging floor?
Sistering runs about $150–$500 per joist with open access; a new beam line with posts and footings in an unfinished basement about $4,000–$12,000 (2026 planning ranges). Finished ceilings add cost.
How much does it cost to remove a load-bearing wall?
Roughly $5,000–$12,000 for a simple bungalow wall with a dropped beam, $8,000–$20,000 under a second storey, and $12,000–$30,000 or more for a flush beam, plus engineering and finishes (2026 planning ranges).
Can structural repairs be financed?
Yes. CMHC lists personal loans, personal and secured lines of credit, home equity loans, mortgage refinancing and, when buying, financing improvements into the purchase; some contractors also offer financing. Compare the total cost of borrowing, and do not let financing terms decide the scope of a structural repair. See does insurance cover structural repairs.
Is structural repair covered by insurance?
Usually not for gradual problems like settlement, creep or rot. Sudden, accidental events such as fire or certain water damage may be covered. Check your policy with your insurer or broker.