We pour and repair concrete. We are not structural engineers. For a wall or foundation that is moving, an engineer's opinion comes first, and we say so when we see one.
The price ranges on this page are national figures published by HomeGuide for 2026. They are not our quotes and not Sioux Falls averages. Local labor, ready-mix prices, access, tear-out and the soil under your slab move the number. Last checked October 2026.
Are cracks in my foundation serious or cosmetic?
Most hairline vertical cracks in a poured foundation wall are cosmetic shrinkage cracks. More serious signs are horizontal cracks, stair-step cracks in block walls, a wall that bows inward, cracks wider than about a quarter inch, or cracks that grow. In Sioux Falls, frozen wet clay pushing on basement walls is a known cause of horizontal cracks. Mark the ends of a crack with a pencil and a date and watch it through a winter.
My front steps are pulling away from the house. Why?
Front steps pulling away from the house have usually settled on loose backfill, and frost then tips them a little more each year. The house is on deep footings and stays put, so a gap opens. It is rarely a sign the house is moving. The gap should be sealed so water does not run down the foundation. Sound steps can sometimes be lifted. Often they are replaced on a footing that reaches below frost.
My garage floor has dropped on one side. Is it a leveling job or a foundation problem?
In most cases a garage floor that has dropped on one side is a leveling job. The floor slab floats inside the foundation walls and sits on fill, which settles. If the walls and the door opening are straight and uncracked, the floor can be lifted or replaced. If the walls are cracked, the door frame is out of square or the house wall shows cracks too, have an engineer look before any floor work.
My retaining wall is leaning after heavy rain. Is it going to fall?
A retaining wall that is leaning after heavy rain is being pushed by water in the soil behind it, and freezing makes it worse. It may stand for years or fail in one wet spring. Keep people and cars away from the low side, clear any drain outlets and direct surface water away from the top. A lean that is growing, or a wall holding up a driveway or building, needs an engineer. Rebuilding with proper drainage costs $3,000 to $10,000 on average, by national figures.
One company quoted $18,000 for piers and another $1,500 to seal the crack. Who is right?
They are answering different questions. Sealing for $1,500 stops water coming through the crack. Piers for $18,000 stop a foundation that is sinking. Which you need depends on whether the wall is moving. National figures put minor crack repairs at $250 to $800 and repairs for settling or bowed walls at $4,500 to $20,000, so both quotes are within range for what they describe. Before spending $18,000, pay an independent structural engineer who sells no repairs to tell you if the foundation is moving.
My basement floor leaks or shows white powder. What does that mean?
White powder on a basement floor or wall is efflorescence. Moisture moves through the concrete, dries on the surface and leaves mineral salts. It is not harmful by itself, but it shows that water is reaching the concrete. Check the outside first: gutters, downspout extensions, soil sloped away from the house and a working sump pump. National figures put fixing foundation leaks at $2,000 to $12,000, so the cheap outside fixes are worth doing first.
Why do basement walls crack in winter here?
Frost. The city's code lists a frost line of 42 inches, so the top few feet of soil against a basement wall freeze. If that soil is wet clay, it expands and pushes inward. Keeping the soil near the house dry is the defence: clean gutters, long downspout extensions and ground that slopes away.
Does a retaining wall need a permit or an engineer in Sioux Falls?
A wall over 4 feet from the bottom of the grade to the top, or any wall holding up extra load, needs a building permit under the city's code, and that generally means an engineer's design. Shorter walls with nothing above them are exempt. See our permit page for details.
Does homeowners insurance cover a retaining wall, a slab or a foundation?
Often not. Homeowners insurance usually covers sudden events named in the policy and excludes settling, earth movement, frost, wear and gradual water damage, which cause most concrete and foundation problems. Coverage of a retaining wall varies by policy. Read the exclusions and ask your agent in writing before you count on a claim. We can give you a written description of the damage and a repair price for the insurer.
Can a slab or driveway next to the house hurt the foundation?
It can if it slopes the wrong way. A slab that tips toward the house pours water along the wall, and wet soil against a basement means leaks and frost pressure. Keeping slabs sloped away and the joint at the wall sealed protects the foundation.
The only real price for your property comes from a free on-site estimate and a written quote. Call (605) 633-5029 or text us a photo of the concrete.