Perma-Seal News and Information

Our company works with homeowners every day to diagnose their foundation issues and implement a permanent fix. Occasionally, we are called out to a home after a homeowner has tried to fix the problem themselves. This is NEVER a good idea. Problems with your home's foundation can affect safety and property value. Foundation problems are complicated....

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. But when it comes to your home's windows, they might just be the eyes that help you see its foundation problems. Stick with us here. Actually, sticking is the key to the issue. When windows and doors stick in their frames, most people will chalk it up to a case of an older home "settling" and simply li...

Whether it's a cracking driveway, pitting concrete sidewalks, or a crumbling stoop, what you put on your concrete during the winter can have a major impact. There are many factors that can play into the concrete around a home falling into disrepair. One primary reason is the soil under the concrete. But, what you put on top of your concrete can mak...

Are my foundation walls bowing? Bowing walls are a big problem for homes in the Chicagoland area and a big question Perma-Seal gets asked about from homeowners. Bowing walls show that the home's foundation has inward movement – meaning it's becoming less stable over time. The soil on the outside of the home causes the walls to bow inside of the hom...

Permanently Repair Structural Foundation Damage With Perma-Seal Burr Ridge, Ill., May 3, 2021 --- Perma-Seal, the most trusted basement waterproofing and foundation repair experts serving the greater Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana areas, has expanded its structural division to meet the increasing needs of homeowners. Trained and experienced stru...

Whether you've just noticed a crack in your wall for the first time, or you've slowly seen it grow from an inch to several, there are a few things that hold true about foundation repair. Foundation issues don't get better with time, but many people wait an average of five years before they call on a specialist to look at the problem. Here are three...

As your concrete, foundation repair, and basement waterproofing contractor, we strive to leave your home better than when we first arrived. At any point, our team members strive to leave you with better peace of mind and – ultimately – a better home. Our customer care team works to promptly get back to you, to ease your home concerns. Our customers...

 Looking for Signs of a Sinking Foundation: One More Thing to add to the Spring-Cleaning List It may not feel like it quite yet, but spring is right around the corner—we promise. Depending on where you live, this will mean things like putting on shorts and flinging open the windows the moment the temperature rises above 40 degrees. It will mea...

 SPONSORED CONTENT Without a strong foundation your home is crap. By Lou Manfredini I'm kidding, but actually its true. Unless your home is sitting on a solid foundation then all the drywall, paint, granite or wood floors you add will not look or perform correctly. If you have noticed the doors are sticking, the windows look a little out of wh...

Our company works with homeowners everyday to diagnose their foundation issues and implement a permanent fix. Occasionally, we are called out to a home after a homeowner has tried to fix the problem themselves. This is NEVER a good idea. Problems with your home's foundation can affect safety and property value. Foundation problems are complicated. ...

 If you're seeing cracks in your walls, the wall separating from the floor or ceiling, or maybe you're concerned that your walls seem to be bowing or caving in – chances are you have a foundation problem. There are many reasons why a home's foundation may be experiencing issues. A contractor trained specifically in foundation repair will be th...

Your chimney can sometimes feel like an accessory to the outside of your home. However, the chimney is very much a part of the structure of the home and problems with the chimney can indicate larger foundation issues at play. Leaning or separating chimneys pose the biggest concern. A homeowner who can see the chimney lean away from the structure of...

 As we settle into a new season, there are new weather patterns that can impact the soil – and subsequently our home's foundation! The winter months can bring bouts of heavy moisture with rain, sleet or snow . This moisture can cause pressure on your foundation and lead to serious symptoms of problems. Cracked, leaning or bowing basement walls...

 Referring someone to a contractor can be an intimidating task. Here are two very important reasons to consider before passing over that contact information.

A gap between the floor and the baseboard, uneven tilting floors, or a bounce as someone walks across the room – these are signs of sagging or sloping floors in a home. Unfortunately, sagging or sloping floors are an issue that most often gets worse overtime. It can be a sign of foundation issues within a crawl space. Serious damage to your fo...

Is the soil below your home still able to properly support the structure?  The helpful document below can help provide some insight into determining if your home is still on solid ground. Click to View

Nearly every home "settles" into place in one way or another after it's built. This can show up in tiny, hairline cracks along some interior walls. You might even hear your home creaking in the night. These are normal occurrences and not cause for concern. Unless the cracks in the walls continue to grow. That indicates a larger problem, likely with...

In the summer months, a lot can happen to the concrete in and around our homes. And with more people out and about, concrete issues might feel more noticeable – and more annoying. From a sunken sidewalk slab to a cracked concrete driveway, the climate of the region has a direct impact on the soil and, ultimately, the concrete on top of it. It's not...

We know undertaking a major home repair isn't an easy decision. Sometimes, you may be tempted to put off a foundation repair, basement or crawl space water leak, or broken concrete because they tend to worsen very slowly or leak only when it rains. For foundation issues, symptoms sometimes take several years for a crack to grow just a few inches. B...

Installation crew members must ensure the crawl space liner is layered correctly so it can properly protect the area from gases, moisture or pollutants from seeping in. What is that white and blue plastic sheet?! It’s Crawl Space Encapsulation liner!! Many crawl spaces go unfinished, ugly, and neglected, but that space is so much more valuabl...

A really hefty serving dish? A big metal domino? What is that?! It’s a Wall Anchor Plate! This heavy-duty steel will effectively stabilize concrete block and poured concrete walls if they show signs of tipping or falling in. Foundation walls support the weight of your home, but also resist horizontal pressure from the soil outside. When the h...

Helpful Tips from Home Improvement Expert, Lou Manfredini

A municipality in Illinois that lies adjacent to Chicago, Elk Grove Village is so-named for its herd of elk living in a grove in Busse Woods. Aside from the elk, the municipality is also home to the country’s largest industrial park, with over 3,600 businesses located within it.

Sitting just beside Chicago, you can expect the climate in Elk Grove Village to be harsh in the winter, with thunderstorms common in spring and summer. This makes many basements and foundation in the area prone to floods and water damage.

With a population of about 50,000, Downers Grove in DuPage County, Illinois was once named eighth in Forbes’ list of America’s Friendliest Towns. It also ranks fifth in CNN’s list of the Best Places for a Healthy Retirement.

In CNN’s list, the inclusion of Downer’s Grove can be attributed to the fine professional work by local doctors and hospital staff, as well as the gardeners and park administrators who keep the area’s expansive parks clean and green.

Adjacent to Chicago, Elk Grove Village is a municipality in Illinois with a population of about 34,000. Its name comes from the herd of elk that lives in a grove in Busse Woods. It is also the site of the largest industrial park in the country with over 3,600 businesses located there.

The climate in the area is characterized by harsh winters and thunderstorms are common in spring and summer, making precipitation an all-year thing. This results in many basements and foundations getting wet.

A village in DuPage County, Illinois, Downers Grove is known for being one of the more pleasant places to live in the northern area of the state. It was ranked number 8 in Forbes list of America’s Friendliest Towns, fifth in CNN’s Best Places for a Healthy Retirement list, and named by the American Community Survey as having one of the nation’s most educated citizenry.

Downer’s Grove is also located in a humid continental climate zone. What this means is that winters can be harsh, while thunderstorms can be common during summer and spring. Precipitation levels are at nearly 38 inches a year, which means many homes in the area experience flooded basements, or at the very least, very damp ones.

A village in DuPage County, Illinois, Downers Grove has been voted number 8 in Forbes’ list of America’s Friendliest Towns, and number 5 in CNN’s Best Places for a Healthy Retirement list.

However, there are some things that can threaten the pleasant nature of the town, one of which being hydrostatic pressure.

Known for the herd of elk living in a grove in its own Busse Woods, the aptly named Elk Grove Village is a municipality in Illinois that lies adjacent to the city of Chicago. With a population of about 33,000, it is also home to the largest industrial park in the U.S. with over 3,600 businesses located within its boundaries.

While businesses and elk thrive, many homes undergo a natural occurrence that many might feel is a cause for worry – sinking foundations. While this is natural, you might be have to be concerned if the sinking happens very fast.

Voted the second-best place to live in the US, Naperville is a suburb of Chicago and is located in the state of Illinois. It was also named as the best place to retire by Kiplinger, and was named the wealthiest city in the Midwest.

But it doesn’t matter what your social status in life is, every home in Naperville will have basement cracks given time. Whether it’s caused by water seepage or settling, when basement cracks start to appear, homeowners should have them checked out.

Listed as one of the 25 highest earning towns in the US, Wheaton in DuPage County, Illinois has a population of about 53,000 and is located 25 miles west of Chicago.

But a town’s affluence can do nothing to stop homes from getting wet, damp, or even flooded. While climate may play a part in this, other factors can contribute to a home’s foundation getting wet. It can be a sewer backing up or pipes bursting.

Home of the Motorola Solutions headquarters, Schaumberg in Illinois is a northwestern suburb of Chicago with a population of about 75,000. Incorporated as a village in 1956, Schaumberg has grown to become one of the more prosperous cities in the last fifty years.

But prosperity hasn’t diminished one of the most common issues homeowners have to face – a settling foundation. Settling is something that happens to all homes, though ideally it should occur slowly. However, there are instances when a settling foundation occurs too fast, and this can be a huge problem.

With 2.7 million residents, Chicago is the third most populous city in the country and is the most populous in the state of Illinois. Incorporated in 1837, it has grown to become a major cultural influence with contributions in art, novels, films, comedy, theater, and music.

Known as the Windy City, Chicagoans not only have to deal with the wind, but also with harsh winters and thunderstorms in spring and summer. As a result, many homeowners contend with damp and flooded basements, which in turn, can cause foundation issues.

A municipality that is adjacent to Chicago, Elk Grove Village is known for the herd of elk that lives in a grove in Busse Woods. With a population of about 33,000, it is also known as the home of the largest industrial park in the country with more than 3,600 business.

While the elk graze freely, and industries thrive, there is one fact of life in Elk Grove Village that many residents have to deal with – structural foundation damage.

A village in DuPage County, Illinois, Downers Grove has been named by Forbes as number 8 in its list of America’s Friendliest Towns. It has also been ranked number 5 in CNN’s list of the Best Places for a Healthy Retirement.

Despite its accolades though, many Downers Grove residents have to contend with something that many homeowners around the country have to deal with - that is - a sinking home.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois – a municipality that sits adjacent to Chicago, it’s known for the herd of elk that lives in a grove in Busse woods. The name is as literal as it can get, but more than that, Elk Grove Village is also home to the largest industrial park in the U.S., with over 3,600 businesses located in it.

The climate in Elk Grove Village is one that is characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and thunderstorms are common during spring and summer. All that precipitation can cause many settling foundation problems, which can make any homeowner concerned.

A village in DuPage County, Illinois, Downers Grove has been listed number eight in Forbes’ list of America’s Friendliest Towns and number five in CNN’s list of Best Places for a Healthy Retirement.

It doesn’t take much to glean that the quality of life in Downers Grove is pretty high, however, there are times when this can take a hit in the form of a leaky foundation.

Chicago is the third most populous city in the U.S., with a population of about 2.7 million. Known as the Windy City, it is called home by a professional team in each of the major sports leagues.

Climate-wise, Chicago is also known for having cold winters and hot and humid summers. Thunderstorms are also common during spring and summer, which makes damp and flooded basements a common problem for homeowners.

Bowing or leaning walls in a basement are often the result of varying pressures in the soil surrounding a home's foundation. Whenever the soil absorbs moisture from a heavy rainfall, or from melting snow, it will expand and put added pressure on your foundation walls. This is known as hydrostatic pressure. Likewise, during a drought, the soil will begin to shrink and pull away from the foundation. Over time, this soil movement can cause the wall(s) to actually lean or bow into the home. This movement will jeopardize the structural integrity of the building and has led to entire walls collapsing when left untreated.

This structural issue can also be attributed to the freeze/thaw cycle. During colder months of the year, moisture in the ground can freeze and also cause the soil to expand and put pressure on the wall. It's not uncommon for hard winters to cause existing small (or previously repaired) cracks in the foundation to get larger or start actively leaking again.

A village in DuPage County, Illinois, Downers Grove was recently listed as number 8 in Forbes list of America's Friendliest Towns. It was also ranked 5 in CNN's list of Best Places for a Healthy Retirement and was called out by American Community Survey as having one of the nation's most educated citizenry.

Now, it's time to add to that education by learning all about basement floor cracks.

A municipality located adjacent to the city of Chicago, Elk Grove Village is known for the herd of elk living in a grove in Busse Woods.

Sitting adjacent to the Windy City, it comes as no surprise that Elk Grove Village shares its climate –hot summers, cold winters, with thunderstorms common in spring and summer. These weather patterns can wreak havoc in any basement, making it wet, damp, and even flooded, unless it has been properly waterproofed.

About 23 miles north of Chicago, Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Illinois with a population of about 30,000. Founded in 1869, the municipality is known for its landmark architectural structures, including ones by prominent architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, David Adler, and Howard Can Doren Shaw, among others.

Residents of Highland Park may not all live in homes designed by famed architects, and even if they do, there is one issue that unites them all – cracked foundations.

If you have a basement wall caving into your home, it could be caused from a variety of things. The most common cause, however, is from the build-up of hydrostatic pressure in the soil surrounding a home. When certain types of soil get wet, they will swell up and put a significant amount of pressure on the wall. When the force exceeds the strength of the wall, the earth will push the wall into the home, or even cause it to break or crack in certain spots. Other factors that could cause this structural problem include: heavy rains, other structures putting a lot of pressure on the foundation (garages, driveways, and porches), tree roots, expansion of the earth due to frost, and poor lawn grading.

Often times, this problem is known as a bowed wall, but it could also be called a leaning wall, tilting wall, wall that is caving in, and so on. Regardless of what you call it, it all refers to the same type of structural problem. This really isn't something that you are going to want to put off getting repaired - even if you don't have a finished basement underneath your home. In fact, the longer you wait, the more likely it becomes that the wall will actually collapse in on itself. Needless to say, this is going to cause a lot of serious and expensive damage that you could have easily avoided.

Located in Illinois, Elk Grove Village is a municipality that's home to a herd of elk in a grove at the edge of the Busse Woods forest preserve. Aside from the origins of its name, Elk Grove Village is also home to the biggest industrial park in the US, with over 3,600 businesses in a 5.4 square mile park.  

Beautiful and picturesque, Elk Grove Village is an ideal place to live in. However, not all is perfect if the soil under your home is causing it to sink in places.  

A village in DuPage County, Illinois, Downers Grove was named number 8 in Forbes America's Friendliest Towns and number 5 in CNN's Best Places for a Healthy Retirement. It also has one of the nation's most educated citizenry and has expansive parks, and a significant number of doctors and hospitals.  

Downers Grove also has one of the highest teardown rates in the area with older residences being torn down for larger, newer homes. But sometimes, even if the homes are new, not much care is given to the foundation or backfill, which is often carried over from the old home.  

Though not native to the area, Elk Grove Village was named after its elk herd that's kept at the edge of Busse Woods. A municipality of Illinois, the village is one of the first municipalities in Illinois to ban public smoking. Located near Chicago, the village shares the same temperamental weather the Windy City has, that is, humid summers and cold winters, with thunderstorms common in spring and summer.  

These weather changes can cause moisture problems in basements, and can even play a part in affecting a home's structural integrity. Whether it's from the weakening of the backfill or deterioration of posts due to moisture, foundations can crack, and when it does, it must be repaired immediately.  

Founded in 1869, Highland Park started with a population of 500 before growing to 29,763 today. A suburban municipality of Lake County, Illinois, Highland Park was used as the location for the popular John Hughes film, Ferris Bueller''s Day Off, among many other movies.  

Part of the Chicago metropolitan area, the municipality shares the same weather Chicago has – cold winters, hot summer, thunderstorms in spring and summer. Since Chicago's soil is mostly made of clay, the weather can sometimes wreak havoc on the ground, causing foundation settlement.  

Ranked number 5 in CNN's Best Places for a Healthy Retirement list, Downers Grove in Illinois is also 8th in Forbes America's Friendliest Towns. Homeowners take pride in their village's livability ranking, but sometimes nature throws in little challenges to keep them on their toes. One of these would be a problem with basement cracks.  

Basement cracks elicit mixed reactions from homeowners. Some see it as a small irritation, while others panic at the mere sight of it. At any rate, basement cracks are something that shouldn't be ignored. It may seem unsightly and insignificant, but cracks may be a sign of bigger issues.

Elk Grove Village is known for its elk. Though not native to the area, it has become an important part of the municipality's identity. Located in northeastern Illinois, it is also home to the largest industrial park in the US with over 3,600 businesses located in its 5.4 square-mile area.  With the elk and industrial park, residents have their hands full, which makes it understandable if they don't notice the wall cracks that appear in their homes' basements.  

Cracks in the basement can cause moisture issues which, in turn, can cause flooding, damage to your belongings stored here, foster mold and mildew growth, and they can even weaken a home's foundation - this is why if you notice cracks starting to appear, it's best to have them fixed immediately.  

Forbes named it number 8 in America's Friendliest Towns, and a day in Downer's Grove would easily tell you why with its hospitable village folk and smiling faces all around. Located in DuPage County, Illinois, the village also has one of the nation's best ranked places for education as announced by the American Community Survey. However, despite the high quality of education, many residents still aren't aware of how backfills can damage foundations. A home's foundation is filled with backfill once it is ready to stand on its own.

But there are cases when the backfill process isn't done properly and it can cause the foundation to give way. It can be aggravated by water or any number of other problems, but the main reason for backfill damaged foundations is the lack of experience of the ones filling it.

Naperville, located in DuPage and Will counties in Illinois, is a suburban city of Chicago that was named the wealthiest Midwest city in 2010, and the eleventh in the nation. Once a quaint farming town, Naperville has become an affluent city through the years. But no matter how big or small its residents' homes might be, basement wall cracks are still a concern.  

Aside from being an ugly sight, wall cracks can be caused by moisture, a settling home, or an underlying foundation issue. It is a major cause of basement moisture problems, which in turn, can foster mold and mildew growth, cause premature foundation damage, and other structural and health issues. 

Lombard, a village in DuPage County, Illinois, is a suburb of Chicago and has a population of 43,395. The village has its charm, being home to The Lilac Village and host to the annual Lilac Festival. But charm won't help when basement floors start cracking.  

Many residents have mixed feelings when it comes to cracked basement floors. Some dismiss it, some panic, some are even so passionate as to try - and fail - to fix it themselves. No matter what emotion is involved, cracked basements are a cause for concern since they can introduce water seepage into the basement environment. It can also serve as a doorway for critters. 

A village in DuPage County, Illinois, Downers Grove was recently named by Forbes Magazine as the eighth Friendliest Town in America. It also has one of the nation's most educated citizenry and is fifth in CNN's Best Places for a Healthy Retirement list. Maintaining these accolades require its citizens to do their part in keeping the village a pleasant place to live, and that includes making sure their own homes are free from any unpleasant problems - starting with basement cracks. 

Basement cracks start small enough, but if left neglected, they could pose serious risks to the house's structural integrity and to the health of its occupants. Even the smallest of cracks should be noticed and taken care of. If it starts to grow over time and if moisture seems to come from it, a professional should be contacted immediately.  

Chicago is the third most populated city in the US. The seat of Cook County in Illinois, its metropolitan area is sometimes referred to as Chicagoland and is a cultural hub that has been a significant contributor to music, visual arts, film, theater and more.  

Being a large city, with thousands of homes, it can't be avoided that there are a number of homes with foundation problems - especially backfill damaged foundations.  

With 2.7 million residents, Chicago is the third most populated city in the United States. A cultural hodgepodge, the city has contributed a lot to the visual arts, novels, film, theater, comedy, and especially music - such as jazz, blues and soul. Called the "Windy City” and home to many major professional sports teams, Chicago is a major city with a lot to offer its residents and visitors.

Despite being part of a major city, Chicago homes still struggle with foundation issues just like any other area of the country. But foundation issues rarely announce themselves, so its best to be informed of the common signs that could indicate that your Chicago home has a serious foundation issue.

Oak Brook is home to some of the wealthiest citizens in Illinois and the United States. A village in DuPage County, Illinois, its population is at a modest 7,883 and is home to the headquarters of McDonald's, Ace Hardware, Blistex, and Lion's Club International. With all the homes that have taken root in Oak Brook, it's important to make sure that the root (or foundation) of your home is structurally sound, lest everything falls down.  For Oak Brook, IL residents, how do you know if you have a structural issue? First, you should know that structural issues can be caused by; subsidence – caused by the downward shift of your home's foundations; damp; fungal decay; and woodworm.  

Though cracks in walls are a sign of subsidence, it can also just be the effects of settlement or natural changes in temperature and humidity. However, if the cracks are around 1mm or more in width, and usually wider at the bottom, this can be a sign of something more and professional help is needed.  Damp, on the other hand, is cause by lack of ventilation, water penetration through walls (caused by gutter or roof problems), or from the ground rising up through the walls which in turn carries salt.