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.
Emily's home in Madison required some attention due to a significant crack in a load-bearing wall, paired with unlevel floors. This crack, stretching approximately 5ft from vertical to diagonal, indicated underlying structural issues. Our team addressed these concerns by reinforcing the flooring and stabilizing the affected wall ensuring long-term durability. The entire project is estimated to be valued around $9,000.
Near Madison, IN
Addressed a beam and jack issue at Shawn's property in zip code 47250. The beam was short by 1 1/2 feet on each side of the foundation wall, and an existing jack was improperly installed at an angle. The repair aimed to ensure proper support and stability, preparing for the homeowner's return in February. The approximate cost for this structural repair was around $20,000.
Near Madison, IN
Completed a waterproofing project in Heather's basement located in zip code 47250. The basement had issues with water intrusion at the junction where the floor meets the block walls. Our team installed a drainage system to address this effectively, ensuring dry conditions even during heavy rains. The service focused on long-term protection and stability, approximately priced at $7.2K.
Near Madison, IN
Recently completed a structural repair in zip code 47250. Linda's home, newly purchased, was experiencing foundation cracking and unlevel dining room floors. We reinforced the foundation, ensuring the structural integrity of the property. The work included addressing issues with the front steps for better safety and aesthetics. The entire project was executed for around $28.9K.
Near Madison, IN
In a historic home purchased around five years ago, we embarked on a project to tackle significant sagging on the 1st and 2nd floors. The property, located primarily over a basement with a small section of crawl space, also showed gaps between floors and baseboards along with minor interior wall cracks likely due to age. Our team focused on reinforcing the structure to ensure safety and longevity. This essential repair was executed for around $12.5K.
Near Madison, IN
Addressed water intrusion issues in Robert's basement, evident through wall cracks and signs of moisture entry. The waterproofing team installed solutions to manage and prevent further water damage, enhancing the basement's durability. This project was accomplished for approximately $5.7K.
Near Madison, IN
Completed a crucial waterproofing job in Tom's crawlspace in zip code 47250. We addressed moisture entry issues by implementing effective protective measures to ensure the space remains dry. This project was approximately priced at $3.1K, offering long-term security and stability for the home.
Near Madison, IN
In the basement of Maria's home in zip code 47250, our team addressed issues related to home sloping and deteriorating limestone walls. This project aimed to stabilize the basement structure and enhance overall safety. The approximate cost for this essential repair was $12.3K.
Near Madison, IN
