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Pittsburgh Foundation Repair Co.

Serving Pittsburgh and nearby areas

Mine Subsidence Damage in Pittsburgh, PA

Sudden foundation cracks, a dip in the yard or doors that jam overnight can be mine subsidence, and a free inspection helps you document the damage and plan the repair.

Call now: (412) 990-2570 or book your free inspection online

Book a free foundation inspection

Tell us what you are seeing. A local specialist calls you back the same business day.

Local to Pittsburgh

We connect property owners in Pittsburgh and nearby areas, including Mount Washington, Polish Hill, Spring Hill, Lincoln Place, Bon Air and Lawrenceville, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.

What it costs

Typical published ranges for Pittsburgh. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.

WorkTypical range
Inspection and written estimate Free
State mine subsidence insurance, $150,000 of coverage $41.25per year
Structural engineer visit $250 to $500
Steel push pier $1,000 to $3,000per pier
Helical pier $1,200 to $4,400per pier

See typical foundation repair prices in Pittsburgh

Under much of Allegheny County are the rooms and tunnels of old coal mines. Many were dug long before the houses above them were built, and some do not show up on any list until the ground moves. When a mine roof or pillar gives way, the ground above can sag. The house on top cracks. This is called mine subsidence, and it is a real risk in many Pittsburgh neighborhoods.

How common is it here?

A GIS study cited in 2017 testimony to Congress found that about 42.6% of the buildings in Allegheny County sit over confirmed underground mines. In the City of Pittsburgh alone, it was 36.5%, or more than 41,000 buildings. The Pittsburgh coal bed lies under about 50 square miles of southern Allegheny County, and it was mined heavily. Many of those mines were later abandoned.

It is not just history. In October 2023, an old mine settled under Lincoln Place. At least seven homes and a VFW hall got foundation cracks. One owner was told repairs could run $50,000 to $100,000. In Mount Oliver, a subsidence on Frederick Street damaged several homes along one street.

What you will notice

The state lists these as common kinds of mine subsidence damage:

New foundation and brick cracks

Often wide, fresh-looking and appearing over days, not years.

A sinkhole or hole

Opening in the yard or driveway.

A dip or bowl

Forming in the ground where a mine roof has caved in.

Ground cracks

That pull away from the foundation.

Windows that are suddenly out of level,

Or doors that jam.

A porch column pulling away

From the house.

Neighbors with the same problem

Several homes on one street cracking at the same time is a strong clue.

Broken utility lines

Gas, water or sewer lines can break as the ground drops.

When it is minor and when it is urgent

Old houses crack for lots of reasons. One thin crack that has been there for years is usually not a mine.

Call soon if new cracks show up fast, if more than one part of the house is cracking at once, or if a dip shows up in the yard.

Urgent: a hole opens in the ground, you smell gas, doors and windows jam all at once, or the floor drops. Leave the house if you smell gas and call 911 and your gas company. Report a hole or sudden ground collapse to the DEP. Then call (412) 990-2570 to have the house itself checked once it is safe.

Check your address and your coverage

Look up your house. The DEP's free MSI Risk map at gis.dep.pa.gov/msiRisk lets you search by address. It shows if you are over or near a known mine and whether coverage is suggested.

Know what your policy covers. The state says mine subsidence damage is usually not covered by homeowners insurance. Pennsylvania sells its own mine subsidence insurance. The state lists $150,000 of coverage at $41.25 a year. It covers the house and some attached items like fences and driveways, but not what is inside. The DEP suggests coverage about 20% above the cost to rebuild your home.

Buy it before you need it. Coverage does not work backward. It pays only for damage that starts after the policy is in place. Many Lincoln Place owners did not have it when their homes cracked.

If you have a claim, call the state's MSI claims line at 1-800-922-1678 and do not make permanent repairs until the claim has been looked at. Take photos first.

How mine subsidence damage usually gets fixed

The ground and the house are two different jobs.

The ground

For abandoned mines, the DEP can run emergency projects. In Lincoln Place, crews drilled under ten structures and pumped grout into the voids to fill them.

Piers

Once the ground is stable, steel push piers or helical piers can carry the house to firm soil or rock and lift settled corners back toward level.

Wall repair

Cracked block may need bracing, rebuilding or crack injection.

Brick and plaster

Brick is repointed or rebuilt, and inside cracks are patched after the house is stable.

An engineer's report

For a claim, an engineer often documents the damage and the cause.

What it costs

These are typical ranges from published cost guides and the state's insurance page, not quotes.

What to do before the inspection

  1. Take dated photos of every new crack, inside and out, with a ruler for scale.
  2. Mark crack ends with a pencil and the date, then check daily for a week.
  3. Check the MSI Risk map for your address.
  4. Find your insurance papers, including any mine subsidence policy.
  5. Talk to your neighbors. If they have new cracks too, write down their addresses for the inspector and the DEP.

Then call (412) 990-2570 or send the short form to book a free inspection with a local crew.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out if my house is over a coal mine?

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection runs a free online map called MSI Risk. You type in your address and it shows if you are over or near a known mine and whether it suggests coverage.

Does my homeowners insurance cover mine subsidence?

Usually not. The state says damage from mine subsidence is usually not covered by a homeowners policy. Pennsylvania sells separate mine subsidence insurance through the DEP.

How much is mine subsidence insurance?

It is cheap compared to the risk. The state lists $150,000 of home coverage at $41.25 a year. Coverage runs from $5,000 to $1,000,000, and seniors can get a discount.

Can I buy coverage after I see cracks?

You can buy it, but it does not work backward. It will not pay for damage that happened before the policy started. That is why it pays to check the map and buy coverage before anything happens.

Is every crack in an undermined area caused by the mine?

No. Old houses crack from water, frost and normal settling too. Mine damage tends to show up fast, often on several homes at once, and may come with dips or holes in the ground. A claim needs an investigation to confirm the cause.

Who fixes the ground if a mine collapses under my street?

For abandoned mines, the state DEP can run emergency projects to fill the voids. In Lincoln Place in 2023, it drilled under ten structures and pumped grout into the ground. Repairs to your house are a separate job.

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Common foundation repair problems in Pittsburgh

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