Specialty Repairs
Sinkhole Evaluation & Engineered Remediation
Sinkhole evaluation by licensed engineers or geologists and engineered remediation – grouting, underpinning and repairs – coordinated as one project.
Overview
Cracks in walls or floors, doors that begin to stick, depressions in the yard or separation at the slab can have many causes, and subsurface activity is only one of them. The cause cannot be known by looking. It takes a professional evaluation, and we do not diagnose conditions ourselves.
That evaluation is performed by licensed professional engineers and/or professional geologists. Depending on their judgment, it may include a site inspection, ground-penetrating radar, soil borings and other testing, followed by a written report. If they find that remediation is warranted, the engineer prepares a sealed repair plan, which may call for methods such as compaction grouting, chemical grouting or underpinning.
Our role is to manage the process as one project: arranging and coordinating the engineer or geologist, bringing in a specialty remediation contractor to perform the subsurface work to the sealed plan, handling permits and inspections, and then completing the structural and cosmetic repairs to the building afterward – with one point of contact throughout.
Who it’s for
- Homeowners or property owners who have noticed new cracking, settlement or ground depressions and want a professional evaluation
- Owners who already have an engineer’s or geologist’s report and need the recommended repairs carried out
- Buyers or sellers who want an evaluation coordinated before or after a transaction
- Commercial property owners and managers with suspected subsurface activity at a building or parking area
- Owners who need the interior and exterior repaired after remediation is complete
What’s included
Typically included
- Initial site walk to document visible conditions, without offering a diagnosis
- Coordination of a licensed professional engineer and/or professional geologist for the evaluation
- Scheduling and site access for testing the professionals call for, such as ground-penetrating radar or soil borings
- Review of the engineer’s report and sealed repair plan with you, in plain language
- Selection and coordination of a specialty remediation contractor to perform the work in the sealed plan
- Permit applications and inspections for the remediation and repair work
- Coordination of engineer observation and any post-remediation monitoring the engineer specifies
- Structural repairs to slabs, walls and footings as directed by the engineer
- Cosmetic repairs afterward: crack repair, drywall, stucco, flooring, paint and landscaping
- Documentation of the work for your records
Common exclusions
- Diagnosis or determination of cause by us; that is the role of the licensed engineer or geologist
- Insurance claim handling, coverage advice or negotiation; coverage questions belong with your insurer and your policy
- Legal advice regarding disclosure, transactions or claims
- Repairs beyond the engineer’s sealed plan unless separately scoped and agreed
- Relocation, temporary housing or contents moving costs
Every proposal lists its own inclusions and exclusions in writing.
Materials, design options & upgrades
How pricing works
Sinkhole work is priced on an assessment basis. The scope – and therefore the price – of remediation cannot be set until the licensed professionals have completed their evaluation and the engineer has issued a sealed repair plan. Until then, any number would be a guess.
We price in steps: first the coordination of the evaluation and testing, then the remediation the sealed plan calls for, then the structural and cosmetic repairs once the building’s condition after remediation is known. Each step is quoted before it starts.
What changes the cost
- The scope of testing the engineer or geologist determines is needed
- The repair method specified in the sealed plan
- Depth and extent of the work the plan requires
- Number of injection points or piers and site access for drilling equipment
- Building type, slab and foundation construction
- Extent of structural and cosmetic damage to repair afterward
- Permit requirements and any monitoring the engineer specifies
If this work is part of a larger project, it’s priced within that project’s budget — please don’t add separate estimates together. Read the pricing guide.
Typical stages
Initial visit
We document visible conditions, listen to how they have changed over time and explain the evaluation process.
Professional evaluation
A licensed engineer and/or geologist inspects the property and performs the testing they judge necessary.
Report and sealed plan
The professional issues findings; if remediation is recommended, the engineer prepares a sealed repair plan.
Remediation
A specialty contractor performs the work to the sealed plan under permit, with engineer observation as specified.
Post-remediation review
The engineer reviews the results and advises on structural repairs and any monitoring.
Structural and cosmetic repairs
We complete repairs to slabs, walls and finishes, then walk the property with you.
What affects the schedule
- Availability of the engineer or geologist and the time required for testing and reporting
- Permit review for the remediation work
- Access for drilling and grouting equipment around the building
- Monitoring periods the engineer may require before cosmetic repairs
- Material and finish lead times for repairs
Questions & answers
Do these cracks mean I have a sinkhole?
Not necessarily. Cracking and settlement have many possible causes, and only an evaluation by a licensed engineer or geologist can determine what is happening. We do not make that determination.
Will my insurance cover this?
We cannot advise on coverage. Questions about what your policy covers belong with your insurer and your policy documents. We can provide scope documentation and pricing for the work.
Will remediation stop all future movement?
No one can promise that. Remediation is designed by the engineer to address the conditions found, and the engineer can explain what the repair is intended to do and any monitoring recommended.
I already have an engineer’s report. Can you start from there?
Yes. We review the report and sealed repair plan, confirm with the engineer that it reflects current conditions, and price the remediation and repairs from it.
Can I stay in the building during remediation?
Often, depending on where equipment works and what the engineer advises. We discuss access, noise and safety before work begins.
Start here
Planning sinkhole evaluation & engineered remediation?
A short form — three steps, a few minutes. Share plans or photos if you have them. We’ll review it and follow up using the contact details you provide.