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Crew injecting poly into a sidewalk.

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.

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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.


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

Groundworks, LLC BBB Business Review
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Today, our Groundwork’s service technician, Mike Bowers, was very thorough communicating with us in reviewing the problem, and in…

Today, our Groundwork’s service technician, Mike Bowers, was very thorough communicating with us in reviewing the problem, and in inspecting our sump pump and outdoor yard issues. He then made adjustments to our sump pump and created a plan for us going forward to figure out what, if any, more adjustments might be needed.

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Ben and Andrew from Innovative Basement out of Rush City, MN did a fantastic job of leveling our concrete sidewalks and driveway around our …

Ben and Andrew from Innovative Basement out of Rush City, MN did a fantastic job of leveling our concrete sidewalks and driveway around our home! Very friendly, courteous and cleaned up after the work that they did. We are extremely happy with the way everything looks and the job that was done! Will definitely be calling Innovative Basement Authority again when the time comes.

Gary & Julie Harrison

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My garage apron was in need of repair. IBA did a fantastic raising job. Grant C and Mark F worked together very well to achieve a…

My garage apron was in need of repair. IBA did a fantastic raising job. Grant C and Mark F worked together very well to achieve a professional result. They were very personable, listened to my concerns and followed thru. I recommend IBA to anyone needing concrete lifting. Their product is superior to concrete filler and cures much faster. They did a good job on cleanup also.

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Amazing experience with Ben!

Amazing experience with Ben!

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I had Chad, Woolley, Josh and Parker at my house for a project. They were kind and respectful. They worked hard, showed up on time and…

I had Chad, Woolley, Josh and Parker at my house for a project. They were kind and respectful. They worked hard, showed up on time and cleaned up nicely after the project was complete. I highly recommend IBA and this specific crew.

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My project was completed by innovative this week. The communication throughout this whole process has been great, and the crew of Andrew…

My project was completed by innovative this week. The communication throughout this whole process has been great, and the crew of Andrew and Ben was fantastic. They showed up on time, completed the project on schedule, and did a great job of cleaning up. The final project exceeded my expectations. I am so happy I finally decided to call Innovative to help protect our home.

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Gavin drove halfway across the state to meet our timeline for an evaluation. Made it on time, provided a detailed breakdown and solution to …

Gavin drove halfway across the state to meet our timeline for an evaluation. Made it on time, provided a detailed breakdown and solution to some moisture issues. Couldn't be happier

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Gregg and Brandon did a great job!

Gregg and Brandon did a great job!

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I recently had Ground Work’s complete basement, waterproofing services in my home, and I cannot say enough good things about the experience….

I recently had Ground Work’s complete basement, waterproofing services in my home, and I cannot say enough good things about the experience. From start to finish, the team was absolutely outstanding. Gunner, Jose, Ezra, and Nick were extremely knowledgeable, and took the time to explain every step of the process so I felt confident in the work being done. They were respectful of my home, kept the workspace clean, and were always friendly and professional. It’s clear they take pride in what they do. What impressed me the most was how detail oriented they were. They made sure everything was done correctly and didn’t cut any corners. Basement waterproofing is such an important investment, and having a team that truly cares about doing the job right gave me so much peace of mind. I highly recommend Ground Work, and especially gunner, Jose, Ezra, and Nick for the hard work, professionalism, and dedication to quality. Marge and Rick Salak

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Ricky Oudekerk was very friendly and knowledgeable. No pressure and gave us a good deal. We would highly recommend him for any sump pump or …

Ricky Oudekerk was very friendly and knowledgeable. No pressure and gave us a good deal. We would highly recommend him for any sump pump or basement needs.

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Marc and Brandon did a fantastic job. Both of them were very professional, they explained everything that was going to happen and at the…

Marc and Brandon did a fantastic job. Both of them were very professional, they explained everything that was going to happen and at the end showed beautiful results!

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Robert was super informative, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout the entire process of planning our basement project!

Robert was super informative, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout the entire process of planning our basement project!

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We had a great salesman Mike K, he was honest and knowledgeable, And an awesome crew Jeremiah, Jonah, Abdi and Ben. Extremely hard workers, …

We had a great salesman Mike K, he was honest and knowledgeable, And an awesome crew Jeremiah, Jonah, Abdi and Ben. Extremely hard workers, honest, informative, and at every turn, even with changes they pulled it off! Thank you all for taking care of our basement and house, You guys are awesome 🙂 older homes are unpredictable but they pressed on and made it all happen. We completed the final walkthrough and they cleaned everything up.Mark and Lisa C

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Ricky was very informative and made the experience go really well he checked every thing took his time. I would recommend having Ricky from …

Ricky was very informative and made the experience go really well he checked every thing took his time. I would recommend having Ricky from innovative basement authority my friends and families inspections

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Although the crew was unable to complete the job we had expected, Andrew was amazing to work with. He kept us abreast of everything they…

Although the crew was unable to complete the job we had expected, Andrew was amazing to work with. He kept us abreast of everything they ran across including what might happened if they moved forward. He was very informative and helpful. He also contacted other engineers to confirm his decision. He went far beyond helping us, he even assisted us in finding a sub contractor to rebuild the basement wall and sent them measurements and pictures of the space. He is working on getting our down payment returned. Devon and Dion were great to work with as well, friendly and hard workers. Would definitely recommend all three of them.

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Brandon VAnyo and Hoti worked on our home they were amazing workers.always on time and very pleasant and easy to understand what they where …

Brandon VAnyo and Hoti worked on our home they were amazing workers.always on time and very pleasant and easy to understand what they where doing to are foundation.We trusted them appreciate the work they did for usMike and Cheryl S Red Lake Falls Mn👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

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The company did a great job and solved our water problem. I'm glad to have had the crew of Julio, Luis, and Tommy as they cleaned up very…

The company did a great job and solved our water problem. I'm glad to have had the crew of Julio, Luis, and Tommy as they cleaned up very well.

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In one word. Great!! Brandon V was our service Technician and was amazing. Very knowledgeable and answered all questions we had. Was…

In one word. Great!! Brandon V was our service Technician and was amazing. Very knowledgeable and answered all questions we had. Was probably the best home service experience we have had. Very impressed. Thanks IBA

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Marc and Brandon did a great job! Very happy, Thanks again Marc+ Brandon

Marc and Brandon did a great job! Very happy, Thanks again Marc+ Brandon

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Dustin Gaudette came today to due an inspection at my house in Viborg S.D..he was very honest and very professional and explained…

Dustin Gaudette came today to due an inspection at my house in Viborg S.D..he was very honest and very professional and explained everything to my satisfaction..im well pleased with everything he did and explained..AA++ thankyou so much Dustin.. Denise

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:

Sinking and uneven concrete

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.

Cracked and sinking uneven driveway.

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.

Uneven walkway of a home.

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!  

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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.    

Innovative Basement Authority Service Map

Our Locations

Fargo, ND

1330 41st St. N
Fargo, ND 58102

Minneapolis, MN

6265 Carmen Ave.
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076

Rush City, MN

1325 S Frandsen Ave
Rush City, MN 55069