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.
Lindsey's basement has been experiencing water intrusion due to recent rains despite having a sump pump and mitigation system. Our team improved the existing setup by upgrading the waterproofing and improving drainage. This essential service, priced at approximately $15,900, ensures a dry and secure basement environment.
Near Kalamazoo, MI
To address the poor grading issue leading to water accumulation in Dennis's yard, our team installed a comprehensive waterproofing system. This involved placing drainage pipes to redirect water away from the vulnerable areas between his property and the neighbor's. Additionally, an interior drainage system was set up in the basement, ensuring no water intrusion affects the home's interior. This project, valued at approximately $7,800, provides peace of mind for Dennis in zip code 49048.
Near Kalamazoo, MI
We tackled an issue with uneven and bouncy floors in Jason's home, zip code 49001. Our team addressed the problem by sistering joists and reinforcing support beams, ensuring the structural integrity of the property. Cracked interior walls also indicated underlying foundation issues, which were efficiently rectified. This essential repair job was completed for approximately $3,000, bringing stability and safety back to the home.
Near Kalamazoo, MI
We tackled a challenging foundation issue in the 49001 area for Ruth by addressing bowing block walls. The team expertly handled the excavation and stabilizing process to ensure long-term structural integrity. This essential repair was completed for an approximate cost of $6,300.
Near Kalamazoo, MI
Our team visited Tamara's property in the 49004 area to address a crucial repair in the crawlspace. A beam needed sistering or replacement due to noted deficiencies. During this visit, we ensured the integrity of the structure, focusing on enhancing support and stability. The total cost of the job is around $2k, reflecting the careful work involved in maintaining a secure foundation.
Near Kalamazoo, MI
Addressed a crack in the concrete foundation wall of Brandon’s bi-level home in zip code 49009. The issue was discovered after a sump pump failure led to water intrusion, revealing the crack that extended through to the other side. Our team efficiently repaired the crack and reinforced the area to prevent future water issues, all for about $2,750.
Near Kalamazoo, MI
