Based out of Rossville Indiana, Acculevel has a fairly large service area that includes Indiana and portions of the surrounding states. We are proud to be a part of the Midwestern community, where we can experience the full range of all four seasons.
But we also have to acknowledge that winter in the Midwest can be hazardous. It includes snow, freezing rain, the occasional ice storm, and below freezing temperatures that regularly drop into the negative.
As the weather cools down and winter approaches, we get a lot of questions from our customers about weather restrictions. Some winter weather does have an impact on what services we can provide. In this article, we’ll explain which services are affected and by how much.
Snow and Extremely Low Temperatures
As I mentioned at the beginning, our home office is located in Rossville, Indiana. Most of the time, our work crews are dispatched from that location. This means that heavy snows or ice on the road can delay our teams’ arrival. In some instances, road conditions have forced us to cancel and reschedule an installation.
Likewise, there are occasionally cold snaps with exceedingly low temperatures. If it will put our crew members’ safety at risk to work outdoors, we will (obviously) cancel or modify the schedule. For example, if there is work to be done inside and out, we may do the indoor portion during the frigid spell. This would help us to stay on schedule without risking harm to our employees.
Slabjacking
Slabjacking is our concrete lifting method, which uses a polyurethane foam injection. Since our lifting method doesn’t involve a concrete mix, we can slabjack in colder weather than companies that mudjack. Mudjacking cannot be done once the air is below freezing; slabjacking can be done unless the ground itself is frozen.
When the ground freezes, it solidifies around your concrete walkways, patios, porches, etc. Slabjacking won’t be as effective under those conditions- the foam won’t be able to reach between the slab and ground like it needs to.
This photo was taken by an Acculevel crew member during a helical pier installation.
Foundation Repairs
Any repairs that are done from inside your home are unaffected by weather conditions. These include epoxy crack repair, carbon fiber straps, and helical tiebacks.
If the repairs are done outside, the weather can slow down installation time. These repairs would include items like wall anchors and helical piers. This is because these services require excavation, which is harder to do when the ground is frozen. If the digging has to be done by hand instead of machine, the installations are especially likely to go more slowly.
Waterproofing and Encapsulation
Waterproofing and encapsulation are less commonly affected by winter weather. In most instances, the only outdoor portion of this installation is the discharge line for the sump pump. However, if you have one of these installations scheduled during a winter rain or snow melt, you could have a problem with flooding. We can’t perform installations while your basement or crawl space has water in it. Power tools and water do not play well together!
Additional Resources for Our Customers
If you have recently signed a contract and have questions about how to prepare your home for an installation, we have a guide that explains the steps we recommend you take and why.
Want to know how our billing is done? We explain the types of fees and surcharges that are common in our industry, and why we don’t charge them. We also explain why we don’t play the discount game.
If you have any questions about the work to be done, you are always welcome to contact your project manager or our main office. Email us anytime at [email protected] or call weekdays 8 AM- 6PM at 866-669-3349.