Choose on documentation, not on pitch. A good foundation repair company in Baton Rouge will give you an LSLBC registration number, laser elevation readings, a written piling count with a unit price, an explanation of how depth is determined, and a warranty you can read before signing. Compare those line by line across two or three quotes.
Foundation Repair Baton Rouge would rather you compare us carefully than sign anything quickly. Here’s the checklist we’d use.
The checklist
- LSLBC license or registration — required for residential work over $7,500. Look it up, and ask which classification covers structural work: the Board’s guide says a Home Improvement registrant “shall not perform any structural or roofing work.” See foundation contractor licensing in Louisiana.
- Insurance certificate — general liability of at least $500,000 (the minimum since Aug. 1, 2026, up from $100,000), and workers’ comp if they have employees. Ask whether the policy excludes lifting or underpinning work. See Louisiana’s new contractor insurance rule.
- Laser elevation survey — readings, not “it looks like it’s sinking.”
- Written piling count and unit price — the single most useful number for comparing quotes.
- Method and depth — pressed to refusal and logged, or a fixed depth?
- Drainage addressed — does the quote deal with the water, or just the pilings?
- Before-and-after readings promised in writing.
- Warranty document — read it; check what’s excluded and whether it transfers. See what to look for in a warranty.
- Permit — who pulls it, and is it included?
- Payment schedule — be wary of large deposits before work begins.
Questions to ask on the first call
| Ask this | A good answer sounds like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| “What is your LSLBC number and classification?” | A number and a classification that covers structural work | Registrations have limits; the Board’s guide bars Home Improvement registrants from structural work |
| “Can you email a certificate of insurance?” | Yes, with a limit of at least $500,000 and the business name on your contract | The minimum rose from $100,000 on Aug. 1, 2026 |
| “How many pilings, and at what price each?” | A count and a unit price on paper | The one number that lets you compare quotes |
| “How do you decide depth?” | Pressed to refusal and logged per piling | A fixed depth guesses at the soil |
| “Will you give me before-and-after readings?” | Yes, in writing | Proof the house moved |
| “Can I read the warranty before I sign?” | A document, not a promise | See the warranty guide |
Sources: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, memo “Changes to Contractor Licensing Laws” (Nov. 1, 2026) and licensing guide.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign today, or discounts that expire when the salesperson leaves.
- A total with no piling count or unit price.
- No readings, or readings they won’t give you.
- “Lifetime warranty” with no document to read.
- A company that won’t give you its LSLBC number.
- A request to sign over your insurance claim or benefits to the contractor. Act 757 of 2026 prohibits certain assignments of property insurance benefits (LSLBC memo, Nov. 1, 2026); read what homeowners insurance covers first.
- Recommending pilings without checking drainage.
Comparing quotes
Put the quotes side by side: pilings (count × unit price), interior vs exterior, method, depth, drainage, readings, warranty, permit. A quote that’s $4,000 cheaper with six fewer pilings isn’t cheaper for the same job. See foundation repair cost in Baton Rouge for fair unit prices.
Bottom line
The best company gives you the most useful paperwork and the least pressure. For a free evaluation with readings and a written per-piling price, call Foundation Repair Baton Rouge.