Foundation crack repair in Algonquin, Illinois
Most vertical cracks in a basement wall come from the concrete shrinking as it cured, but they still let water in. We seal leaking cracks from inside, and we tell you straight when a crack needs more than sealing.
Serving Algonquin, Crystal Lake, St. Charles, Geneva and Vernon Hills.
Signs a crack is letting water in
- A crack in the basement wall that turns dark and wet after rain
- Water trickling in along a crack
- A damp streak or white, chalky residue running down from a crack
- A crack that looks longer or wider than it used to
What’s included
A look at every crack
Which way it runs, how wide it is and whether it leaks. Vertical cracks are usually the concrete shrinking; horizontal ones get a closer look.
Crack injection
A sealant injected into the crack from inside, so water can’t follow it through the wall.
Hydraulic cement patching
For holes, gaps and wet spots in the concrete. It sets even in damp, cold conditions.
A check for other ways in
A crack is often one of several. We look at the floor-wall joint and the window wells, and at the gutters and grading outside.
How it works
- 1
We look at the crack and what’s around it
Its direction, its width, whether it leaks, and the other ways water may be getting in, inside and out.
- 2
You get a written estimate
What we would seal, how, and what it costs. If a crack looks structural, we tell you it needs a structural engineer’s opinion first.
- 3
The crack is sealed from inside
Injection fills the crack so water can’t follow it through. It needs about 40°F or warmer, so it can be done in winter.
How it’s priced
Crack repair is priced after we have seen the cracks. How many leak, and how long they run, move the price most.
If the crack is one of several ways water gets in, the estimate says so, and what to fix first.
What moves the price
- How many cracks leak, and how long they are
- Whether finished walls or stored belongings are in the way
- Whether patching is needed as well as injection
- Whether the crack is part of a bigger water problem
You get a written, itemized estimate after we’ve looked, and nothing starts until you’ve signed it.
What can happen now, and what waits for spring
Any time of year
- Crack injection from inside, in temperatures down to about 40°F
- Hydraulic cement patching
- Checking the other ways water gets in
Once the ground thaws
- Any repair that means digging along the outside of the wall, once the ground has thawed. We don’t do exterior digging, but if a crack needs it, we will tell you.
Why us for this job
Sealing is not the same as fixing
Injection stops water following a crack. It isn’t a structural repair, and if a crack looks structural, we will tell you before anyone seals it.
We look past the crack
A leaking crack is often one of several ways in. We check the floor-wall joint, window wells, gutters and grading, so you know what else is letting water in.
Winter isn’t a reason to wait
Injection is done from inside and works down to about 40°F, so a leaking crack can be sealed now rather than in spring.
Questions about foundation crack repair
Can a foundation crack be repaired in winter?
From inside, yes. Crack injection works in temperatures down to about 40°F. Any repair that needs digging outside waits for the ground to thaw.
Is a crack in my basement wall serious?
Most vertical cracks come from the concrete shrinking as it cured, and the main problem is water getting through. A horizontal crack, or a wall that bows inward, can mean the soil is pushing on the wall. That needs a structural engineer’s opinion before anyone seals it.
Will sealing the crack stop my basement leaking?
It stops water coming through that crack. If water is also getting in at the floor-wall joint or through a window well, that needs its own fix, which is why we check the whole basement first.
How much does foundation crack repair cost?
It depends on how many cracks leak and how long they are, so it is priced after we have seen them. You get a written, itemized estimate before any work starts.
Related services
Basement waterproofing
Finding where water gets in, and interior drain tile to stop it at the floor-wall joint.
Basement finishing
Framing, insulation, drywall, flooring and lighting, with the ceiling height measured first.
Egress windows
An escape window and well for a basement bedroom, measured any time and dug once the ground thaws.
From the blog
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Water down there, or ready to finish it?
Tell us what’s going on. We’ll come out, find the cause, measure and give you a written estimate.
Someone from our team calls or texts to set up a visit.