Concrete Lifting
If you have sinking concrete around your home, Innovative Basement Authority can lift and restore your concrete to help eliminate trip hazards and pooling water problems.
Get Your Free EstimateConcrete Problem Signs
Cracked, sinking, and uneven concrete is all too common for homeowners in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Do you see your issue below?
Cracked Concrete
Cracked concrete at your home signifies a need for attention. Let Innovative Basement Authority lift and level concrete slabs.
Cracked Driveway
A cracked concrete driveway not only affects your home's appearance but also poses safety risks. IBA can help lift it.
Cracked Pool Deck
Cracked, uneven concrete around your pool? Innovative Basement Authority can lift and level it. Let us show you how.
Cracked Sidewalks
Elevate your home's curb appeal and safety with Innovative Basement Authority. Discover IBA's unique concrete lifting solutions.
Do you worry about walking on your exterior concrete steps, sidewalk, driveway, or patio? Are these areas uneven and full of cracking sunken concrete slabs? These issues are all too common around properties throughout Minnesota, the Dakotas,Burnsville, Rogers, Eastern Montana, and Western Wisconsin. While seeing them is no surprise, sinking and uneven concrete results in unsightly gaps and tripping hazards. But we at Innovative Basement Authority can help you rid your property of these dangers with a state-of-the-art repair method. Read on to learn more about how our team can help, and don’t hesitate to contact us for a free inspection and repair estimate.
Concrete Lifting Solutions
Concrete lifting with PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam injections is the wave of the future that will protect properties for years to come. This long-lasting repair method is quick, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and less invasive than other methods. And it’s only locally available through our team at Innovative Basement Authority.
PolyRenewal™ Injection Foam
Polyurethane foam injection is lightweight, durable, and is able to support and lift sunken concrete back to its original level position.
Pool Concrete Repair
Get a safe and level pool deck with Innovative Basement Authority's concrete lifting system.
Driveway Repair
If you're looking for quality driveway repair, look no further. Innovative Basement Authority is the Midwest's leader in concrete lifting!
Sidewalk Repair
See why our sidewalk repair is industry leading!
Causes of Concrete Damage
It’s normal for soil to be wet or dry depending on the season and weather patterns. But this can lead to problems for concrete structures atop the soil. Saturated soil expands when wet and shrinks when dry. This ongoing, ever-changing process leads to significant pressure exerted on any above concrete. The concrete can succumb to this pressure and crack, sink, become uneven, and sustain other damage including breaking off entirely.
During the construction of your home, soil that is removed is often used again and backfilled around your home. This also can happen prior to the construction of concrete structures on your property like the driveway, patio, and sidewalk. If the builders did not properly compact or tamp down the soil, various problems can ensue over time as the soil shifts. The region’s silty and clay soils are notorious for significantly expanding when wet and shrinking when dry, so it’s not uncommon to deal with concrete problems like settlement and sinking because of the soil’s drainage issues.
Midwest locations including Minnesota, the Dakotas, Eastern Montana, and Western Wisconsin experience often harsh winters with snow and freezing temperatures. As the days go from warm to cold and warm again, this cycle of freezing and thawing can take its toll on concrete structures. Exterior features like your driveway, sidewalk, and patio are most at-risk because of their constant exposure to the elements. Water from snow, snowmelt, and rain can saturate and freeze in the underlying soil or the concrete itself. This can lead to damage including cracking and breaking off, sinking, and heaving.
Award-Winning Service
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The crew that came out to do our work, Abraham, Darius, and Thane, were great. They like the work they do and had a great time laughing and …
The crew that came out to do our work, Abraham, Darius, and Thane, were great. They like the work they do and had a great time laughing and joking around. Great explanation of how the system works and what all they were doing. Everything is very professional and just a great work from all.
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Outstanding work done. Great customer service. Gregg P. was the BEST!
Outstanding work done. Great customer service. Gregg P. was the BEST!
Logan arrived at the scheduled time and was able to resolve our basement issue without a charge by finding a small plumbing leak. He was…
Logan arrived at the scheduled time and was able to resolve our basement issue without a charge by finding a small plumbing leak. He was very helpful and knowledgeable, and if we ever did need water proofing work done we would absolutely call again.
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Even though they ended up 3 hours past the arrival window, they were quick and efficient to raise my patio. Overall the whole process was…
Even though they ended up 3 hours past the arrival window, they were quick and efficient to raise my patio. Overall the whole process was pretty easy.
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Michael was knowledgeable in all aspects of this business and let me know all my options.
Michael was knowledgeable in all aspects of this business and let me know all my options.
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I called Groundworks due to a sinking sidewalk and driveway issue on my 1-year-old build that I had purchased 6 months ago. Groundworks…
I called Groundworks due to a sinking sidewalk and driveway issue on my 1-year-old build that I had purchased 6 months ago. Groundworks sent out John Maness who was the most professional, and knowledgeable inspector i have ever dealt with when dealing with companies that provide home services! Even though the company is located in Fargo, they sent him out in less than a week, and he was willing to work around my busy work schedule. Johns thorough attention to detail when inspecting my home highlighted not only the issue with my concrete, but also a few hidden issues with moisture that I did not know that I had. John was prepared with all the tools and knowledge necessary to inspect my house, and had a proposal ready to fix my issues within 2 hours! What was even more mind-blowing was the actual cost to repair my concrete, and mitigate the moisture issues that I had with my home was beyond reasonable!!! Also the after service care and service that will come with my repairs and equipment is amazing!!! This company is top-notch and they will not sell you anything they do not need. I had other questions about some things that I noticed with my foundation that i had concerns about. I was informed by john that they're not here to sell me something that I don't need and he was able to show me why the the perceived issues that I had were in fact not an issue. The whole process of repairs were outlined in easy to understand videos showing the root cause of my issues and how they can fix those issues permanently, not just a bandaid! The best part about it is they will come out annually to check their work and make sure that everything is still in working order, and that the repairs that they have made on my concrete is in fact still doing its job!! They had many options for payment to include financing at an amazing rate if someone were unable to afford the repair costs. The whole process was smooth and painless. I would 10/10 recommend ground works for any foundations issues that I had to anyone!!!! Thank you Groundworks for helping me protect my investment!
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Jim did an outstanding job explaining what needs to be done to remedy the problem with our floating slab garage floor, very professional.
Jim did an outstanding job explaining what needs to be done to remedy the problem with our floating slab garage floor, very professional.
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Dustin Gaudette was our certified field inspector for our basement waterproofing yearly inspection. He was very friendly and professional. …
Dustin Gaudette was our certified field inspector for our basement waterproofing yearly inspection. He was very friendly and professional. All of the actions were explained in advance.
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Excellent and professional service from Isaiah McKeown, Chris Popowich, and Mike Erickson filling under our garage floor. Did a great job…
Excellent and professional service from Isaiah McKeown, Chris Popowich, and Mike Erickson filling under our garage floor. Did a great job of walking through everything before and after and explaining how best to protect our investment going forward. We really appreciated the work, especially since it was an unexpected addition to the schedule.
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3 yrs. Ago had IBA referberb our basement, no problems at all , no water leaks and a great climate controlled area ! 😀
3 yrs. Ago had IBA referberb our basement, no problems at all , no water leaks and a great climate controlled area ! 😀
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Austin T, Brady P, Robert P. from Innovative Basement Authority form the Rush City office, did a great job. They were friendly, competent…
Austin T, Brady P, Robert P. from Innovative Basement Authority form the Rush City office, did a great job. They were friendly, competent and reliable. They did a nice job cleaning up and were very knowledgeable. The work showed that. I would have no problem recommending them, Kevin
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Dion, Jaden & Nick Schmid did an excellent job on our basement. They encountered some challenges and solved them professionally …. not…
Dion, Jaden & Nick Schmid did an excellent job on our basement. They encountered some challenges and solved them professionally …. not all jobs are easy, solving problems is where the skill shows through… Jaden and his crew shone, moved ahead & left a totally swept clean jobsite. Impressive to see.
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I had IBA install a mix of Intellijacks and carbon strips in on one of my basement walls. Dylan really hung in there on the prior project…
I had IBA install a mix of Intellijacks and carbon strips in on one of my basement walls. Dylan really hung in there on the prior project and came up with a workable solution for me — I felt he went far out of his way and demonstrated care that is rare.. During the yearly follow up for that work (which is holding up), it was identified that some Intellijacks for foundation beams would help solidify my house (the beams were wood and not large enough, so the house was shifting). Ricky did a great job explaining the situation and my options. He also spoke at length with me and took time to help me understand when I had questions and got confused. Jeremiah T and Mark F. did the work and were excellent. It was invasive work, but they were pleasant to be around, communicated clearly, were fast, and kept the mess to a minimum and cleaned up afterward. No one wants to have this sort of work be necessary — IBA was recommended by a construction friend and I agree they are a good choice if you do need this sort of work. Professional, thorough, and guarantees included with their products and work.
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Jeff was straightforward and compassionate in a very stressful pseudo crisis basement situation, getting us through the…
Jeff was straightforward and compassionate in a very stressful pseudo crisis basement situation, getting us through the inspection/assessment process, proposal and scheduling the project all within 24 hours. He communicated clearly and rolled with all of my questions and ‘big expensive decision’ jitters – addressing my concerns without making it worse.
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Chad was awesome on service day. Answered every question professionally and explained the job before start. After the job was complete he…
Chad was awesome on service day. Answered every question professionally and explained the job before start. After the job was complete he explained everything that was done again and presented pictures during the process. Very professional. The only complaint I have was after getting the total quote, I asked for a breakdown of cost 3 times and didn’t receive it until the working day before the job was to start, roughly 2 1/2 months after the initial quote. I had an absurd mobility charge that costed 1/3 of my total job cost that wasn’t explained until service day. So it made it very hard to cancel with such a long wait for the work in the first place or try and get additional bids without knowing exactly what I was paying for.
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Jeremy Jeremiah and Dylan is an excellent job on my foundation and am very pleased
Jeremy Jeremiah and Dylan is an excellent job on my foundation and am very pleased
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Eric Brertl, sales rep, was informative in what they could do and how the process goes. Plus, he gave me the impression of being honest…
Eric Brertl, sales rep, was informative in what they could do and how the process goes. Plus, he gave me the impression of being honest and straight forward.
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Micheal Bowers was courteous and professional. Job well done!
Micheal Bowers was courteous and professional. Job well done!
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Ricky took the time to do a thorough job and ensure the system functions properly. Excellent service from someone who knows and cares.
Ricky took the time to do a thorough job and ensure the system functions properly. Excellent service from someone who knows and cares.
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Dave Anderson did a great job!
Dave Anderson did a great job!
Is Concrete Lifting the Right Solution for Me?
Concrete is all around your home, including your sidewalk, driveway, patio, garage floor, exterior steps, and interior slab floors. Any cracking and uneven slabs will not mend themselves. They not only make your home look unkempt, but they also are dangerous to anyone walking or driving over them. This is especially true for those with mobility issues. You have a lot to think about as a homeowner, and your safety and that of your family and guests should be a top priority. Keeping all this in mind, it is important to have a reliable repair solution installed to protect your family and home.
Before any repairs, it is also important to understand why concrete experiences problems like cracking and sinking. These and other damages can happen for many reasons, but the root cause typically is the soil underneath the concrete slabs. There are thousands of types of soil throughout the world, and our area has a good mix of clay loam in Bismarck, silty clay loam in Sioux Falls, fine sandy loam in Duluth, silty loam in Rochester, and sand in Eau Claire. Each has its own strengths, weaknesses, and drainage properties, but all can fall victim to the region’s often wet weather and erode, settle, and heave. When the concrete slabs are no longer supported by underlying soil, they will succumb to settling, cracking, and other damage.
Tackling these problems at the source is the key to long-lasting, effective repair. Outdated methods like mudjacking and repouring do not address problems with the soil. But concrete lifting with PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam injections does. This lightweight but durable material is injected underneath the concrete slabs to fill the void between the soil and the slabs. Once the foam hardens, it simultaneously lifts and stabilizes the concrete and strengthens the soil below, as well. This is generally a fast process, as the foam cures 15 minutes after it is installed. It also is waterproof and will not wash out from under the concrete.
FAQs
Call or click for an appointment. One of our Certified Field Inspectors will come to your home and inspect your concrete. He or she will then sit down with you and explain what caused your issues, how they can be fixed and exactly what it will cost.
No. PolyRenewal is a proprietary product.
Yes. PolyRenewal is made from an environmentally friendly material that is waterproof and won’t degrade over time. This means it won’t leach harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil.
PolyRenewal cures very quickly. In fact, you can drive your car over a driveway slab just 15 minutes after it’s been lifted with PolyRenewal.
PolyRenewal is cost-effective because it offers a solution that is long-lasting, unlike mudjacking and slab replacement. And your concrete will never cost less to repair than it does right now.
We do not recommend that you try to lift or level sunken concrete slabs alone. Instead, call a professional to get the best results.
Concrete Lifting Requires Specialist Tools
Concrete lifting may seem very simple, and while it can be in some cases, it is very often a complex process that unearths unexpected issues at every turn. For this reason, concrete lifting services often need to use specialist tools and equipment to get the best result for their clients. Lifting a single slab into place may be possible with mudjacking, for example, but if the underlying cause is a foundational problem, the issue will become more complex.
Without addressing the underlying causes of sinking and cracking, any solution will be short-lived at best. The underlying issue will only continue to exert pressure on the newly repaired slab and lead to a recurrence of the sinking. Worse still, it could start to damage more of your property and cause wide-spread issues. Thankfully, you can rely on professionals to diagnose and treat underlying issues.
Professionals Offer Better Results
Foundation repair and concrete lifting specialists have all the tools they need to deal with most situations to hand. This means that you can expect a high-quality result from them no matter how complex the issue.
Likewise, professionals have access to the best products via supply stores or direct from their manufacturers. This means that they can provide you with the most up-to-date solutions for your issue. This not only gives a fantastic result, but will essentially future-proof your home to a certain extent, offering durability as well as quality!
Why is Concrete Lifting Needed?
Problems with the concrete around your home like cracks and uneven slabs can be harmful in many ways, including the following:
Personal Safety
Uneven concrete can be difficult for anyone to navigate, from young children and the elderly to anyone with mobility issues. Not only can these vulnerable groups easily trip and fall, but anyone could catch their feet on raised edges of concrete slabs and take a spill. Sunken concrete is a problem anywhere, but it is particularly dangerous around a swimming pool.
Vehicle Damage
Cracking and uneven concrete driveways and garage floors can not only succumb to the weight of vehicles, but they also can lead to vehicle damage. When vehicles have to continuously negotiate bumps and uneven concrete surfaces, the tires and suspension can suffer and require (frequent and often expensive) repairs.
Home Value and Appearance
Along with affecting the safety of your home, cracked and sunken concrete makes your property look bad. Whether you are house proud or not as concerned with the look of your concrete, the fact is that aesthetics matter. This is especially true when it comes to selling your home. It could be more difficult to sell, as buyers could be quickly turned off by unkempt appearances. This also can drag down the value of your home.
Common Concrete Tips & Mistakes
As experienced concrete lifting specialists in the industry, we have heard and seen it all when it comes to concrete problems and repairs. Here are some tips, as well as common mistakes, to consider in your concrete repair journey.
Helpful Concrete Repair Tips:
- Monitor Foundation Problems: While they are not always related, problems with exterior concrete also could mean problems with your home’s foundation. Issues with both of these areas tend to be rooted in the soil underneath. As an example, if your driveway butts up against your foundation and there are sunken slabs, your foundation walls also could be cracking and bowing inwards. Keeping an eye on all problems around your home is important in catching and repairing them early.
- Check for Problems with Drainage: Similarly, drainage issues also could be the cause of or caused by concrete problems. For example, if downspouts drain water directly onto concrete, it could cause the soil under and around the slabs to erode and the slabs to sink. And if uneven slabs are near water management systems like downspouts, water can puddle in the sunken areas.
- Be Aware of Other Concrete Problems Around Your Home: Since the root of concrete issues like cracking and sinking is the soil, various areas with concrete around your home can be impacted. It’s possible to have uneven concrete along your front sidewalk as well as your back patio. Concrete also can sustain other damage in the form of pitting, flaking, and staining. Monitoring all areas of concrete for various problems is a good proactive practice.
Concrete Repair Mistakes to Avoid:
- Concealing Cracks: It may be tempting to apply caulk or another sealant to concrete cracks in order cover them up so they won’t look so bad. But this is not going to solve the problem of how the cracks got there in the first place. The cracking will only continue, and whatever is used to try to fill the cracks could end up popping out of place and making the concrete look worse.
- Installing Other DIY Solutions: In the same vein, other DIY attempts also are discouraged. You may have the best intentions, but concrete lifting and other repairs can be tricky and specialized. It’s important to contact a concrete lifting expert like Innovative Basement Authority so the issues can be properly diagnosed and repaired with tailor-made solutions.
- Investing in Mudjacking: While mudjacking has been a time-honored tradition when it comes to concrete lifting and repair, it is an outdated method that is expensive, time-consuming, messy, and ultimately not effective. Large holes have to be drilled into the concrete to pump a heavy slurry mix under the concrete, and it takes a long time for the substance to cure. The slab and soil underneath also will end up settling again over time.
Providing Expert Concrete Lifting in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Western Wisconsin, and Eastern Montana
Pennsylvania trusts Innovative Basement Authority for reliable basement waterproofing, crawl space, foundation, and concrete repair services. Contact us for a free inspection!
Top Cities We Serve
Disclaimer: “Concrete leveling” means the process by which cracked, uneven concrete is stabilized, and in many cases lifted, by means of PolyRenewal™ polyurethane foam. Innovative Basement Authority does not guarantee that PolyRenewal™ can make your concrete perfectly level.
Our Locations
1330 41st St. N
Fargo, ND 58102
6265 Carmen Ave.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
1325 S Frandsen Ave
Rush City, MN 55069