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What issue are you experiencing?
Cracks, water intrusion, crawl space moisture, settlement, etc.
Cracks, water intrusion, crawl space moisture, settlement, etc.
We Treat Your Home Like Our Own
Acculevel was founded in 1996, and is well known in the industry for repairing foundations, basements, and crawl spaces. We raise and repair concrete structures for thousands of customers per year.
A concrete slab sinks as the soil underneath it shifts. Often, the cause for this is erosion. Rain comes down and saturates the ground, mixing the water into the soil. Then, when the water drains away, it takes part of the soil with it. This erosion can happen gradually as a natural process, or suddenly if it’s caused by a broken pipe or ruptured drain. If the ground under a slab is eroding quickly or seems loose, you should evaluate your home’s guttering and plumbing systems. It’s possible the downspouts or plumbing are draining under the slab and washing out the soil.
In other circumstances, the slab moves because of the ground itself. It’s possible that it wasn’t properly compacted before the concrete was poured. The extreme weather cycles in the Midwest contribute another factor. The ground floods in the spring, then dries out during a summer drought, which prompts erosion Then there’s the winter freeze-and-thaw pattern. The ground expands when it freezes, and contracts as it thaws. This fluctuation also contributes to shifts in the soil, which accelerates the settling process.
Concrete rarely settles evenly; usually one end will sink more significantly than the other. When this happens, the stress of the uneven support will sometimes crack the slab. At that point, you have high and low points on the concrete, and a crack or joint between slabs that will catch a pedestrian’s toe. These are trip hazards and a liability issue.
Sometimes, an uneven slab can also cause damage to your home. It may redirect rainwater towards your house, instead of away from it. This leads to water damage to your foundation, and possibly to leaks in your basement or crawl space. Over time this extra moisture can cause serious damage. Water permeating into your home can cause rotting in the structural wood flooring system (sill plate, floor joists, etc) and allow mold to flourish and grow.
Slab lifting is done by injection. Small holes are drilled through the concrete slab, and material is injected below it. This material fills the void underneath the concrete, and gradually the pressure of this filler being forced under the slab creates lift. The type of fill material varies; many companies use a concrete or limestone slurry referred to as “mud” and this process is generally called mudjacking. As the slurry hardens, it creates lift below the slab.
At Acculevel, we use a polyurethane foam. In our experience, slabjacking provides a better and more reliable repair; once the foam is injected, the chemical reaction promptly begins to expand, and it’s this foam that does the lifting. Since it’s more immediate than mudjacking, it allows for better control.
In this video, one of our knowledgeable experts explains why we choose to perform slabjacking:
Slabjacking uses specialized equipment, but it’s usually installed in a standard-sized service truck that can park in the driveway or street without issue. Slabjacking repair work rarely requires an Acculevel crew driving across your lawn, or disturbing your landscape; the slabjacking equipment has a 250 foot injection hose to maximize our reach to the repair section.
In fact, there is very little mess generated at a slabjacking job site. Generally, crews only need to clean up some dust generated from drilling through the concrete, and maybe trace amounts of foam from the injection site.
This is preferable to the messy process of replacing a slab. Concrete demolition often involves the use of a jack hammer, which is noisy and creates debris that adds to landfills. Re-pouring concrete requires building forms, a concrete truck, and the use of this equipment in close proximity to the work site. This results in a significant amount of trash and upheaval on your property. The new slab can also be visually jarring, as it won’t match the other existing sections in color or texture.
Slabjacking works with the existing concrete slab, so the costs are limited. They depend more on the size of the slab being lifted, and the amount of void under the slab. (The larger the gap, the more material is required.) The costs to replace concrete can be double the price of slabjacking. For more details on costs, please review our article on costs comparisons.
Today, we’re addressing a significant horizontal crack on the foundation’s outer side. The crack has developed over six months and spans 20 feet. Given the nature of this issue, we’re focusing on reinforcing and sealing the cracked area to prevent any further damage. With the home's safety as our priority, this repair is critical and is approximately priced at $12,890.
Near Bloomington, IL
Addressed structural issues in a 20-year-old home, focusing on crawl space repairs. The project involved sealing cracks and installing a new encapsulation system to manage moisture on the west side of the property. Approximately priced at $11,000, these improvements ensure long-term stability and a healthier environment.
Near Bloomington, IL
We tackled uneven floors in a basement where previously reinforced walls had not addressed the underlying issue. Our team installed adjustable steel support jacks to reestablish balance across the space. This comprehensive effort stabilizes the structure and provides long-term support, ensuring the floors are level and safe for use once again. Scott's home, in the 61701 area, benefited from this vital service at an approximate cost nearing $7,000.
Near Bloomington, IL
Recently completed a comprehensive structure and waterproofing job in a basement, including crawlspace reinforcement. This project, located in the 61701 area for customer Jodie, involved reinforcing the structure with steel supports to ensure stability and applying waterproofing solutions to prevent future moisture issues. The approximate cost was around $17,000.
Near Bloomington, IL
We completed a waterproofing project in the basement of Brian's home in zip code 61701. Our team addressed water damage issues in the corners and tackled a bowing wall near the emergency escape window. This comprehensive intervention included installing drainage solutions and reinforcing the structure to prevent future water intrusion. The work was carried out with precision, adding stability and dryness to the space for an approximate cost of $2,823.
Near Bloomington, IL
Completed a slabjacking project for Kevin in zip code 61704 to address significant cracking and water pooling issues. This job involved lifting and leveling the driveway to prevent water from seeping through the walls, ensuring a stable and dry environment. The approximate cost of the project was $4,600.
Near Bloomington, IL
Addressed water intrusion issues for Sally in Bloomington, focusing on the basement window area where no visible cracks were found. Our team implemented effective waterproofing measures and ensured better drainage. This solution cost approximately $7,700, providing a dry and secure basement environment.
Near Bloomington, IL
Our latest project involved addressing water intrusion in Brice's basement, zip code 61704. We installed a top-notch waterproofing system to prevent water from penetrating the cinderblock walls. This essential service, completed for nearly $9,200, ensures a dry and secure basement environment.
Near Bloomington, IL
We recently completed a waterproofing project for Todd in zip code 61701. His basement frequently flooded during rainstorms due to a lack of drainage. Our team installed a comprehensive waterproofing system to tackle this issue and prevent future flooding. The project, priced at around $10,600, ensures that Todd's basement remains dry and protected against water damage.
Near Bloomington, IL
