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.
We completed a crucial foundation crack repair at Joseph's residence in Crown Point, IN, zip code 46307. Our team addressed the visible cracks on the basement wall, ensuring long-term stability and preventing future water intrusion. This vital maintenance was performed for an approximate price of $2,615.
Near Crown Point, IN
Glenn's basement faced significant seepage around 50% of the walls due to hydrostatic pressure issues. Our team proposed exterior waterproofing along half of the foundation to address the concern effectively. This project, priced at approximately $16,800, aims to safeguard the basement against future water intrusion.
Near Crown Point, IN
Successfully completed a structure repair project in zip code 46307. The job involved addressing foundational issues to ensure long-term stability and safety. Reinforcements were installed to prevent future structural problems, with the work being crucial for maintaining the integrity of the property. This comprehensive repair was completed for an approximate cost of $11,500.
Near Crown Point, IN
Completed a structural repair focusing on stabilizing the sinking back porch footings and addressing the issues with a separating sunroom slab for Roxann in zip code 46307. Our intervention involved strategic reinforcement to enhance the structural integrity and prevent further damage, with the job priced approximately at $7,600.
Near Crown Point, IN
In Greg's home at 46307, we successfully carried out a crawl space encapsulation project. Our team ensured the space was effectively sealed to prevent moisture issues, laying down a protective barrier over the concrete. This important work aims to maintain a dry and secure environment, with the total project cost being approximately $2,650.
Near Crown Point, IN
We recently completed a thorough waterproofing job for Kris in zip code 46307. The project involved addressing moisture issues in the basement by enhancing the drainage system and sealing potential water entry points. This comprehensive service ensures Kris's basement stays dry and secure, with a total cost of about $14,950.
Near Crown Point, IN
We tackled a water intrusion issue at Kerry's basement in 46307 after recent plumbing fixes failed to resolve the problem. Water was found seeping through the basement walls, necessitating an effective waterproofing solution. The job was efficiently completed for an approximate cost of $20,900.
Near Crown Point, IN
We tackled basement wall concerns for Tim at their newly purchased house in Crown Point, zip code 46307. The basement walls showed signs of bowing at the frost line with potential minor seepage issues. Our team implemented stabilization techniques to enhance the structural integrity and prevent future issues. The project was handled for an estimated cost of around $19,700.
Near Crown Point, IN
