Concrete and Foundations
Concrete and foundation work in Chicago
Every Rimberio project starts in the ground. Our brand mark is an excavator because that is where Marco Rimberio started in 1999, digging and pouring foundations for other builders before we ever framed a wall. More than twenty-five years later, concrete is still the trade we self-perform first. Our excavation and concrete crews handle the site work, footings, walls, and flatwork on our own homes, and we take on concrete and foundation work as a standalone service across Chicago, the North Shore, and the western suburbs.
The Work
What our concrete crews self-perform
Excavation and site work, footings and foundation walls, underpinning, flatwork, garage slabs, and drainage. The same crews that dig and pour for our custom homes take on standalone concrete and foundation work across Chicago, the North Shore, and the western suburbs — same standard, same project management.
Underpinning is the quiet specialty. Lowering a basement for real ceiling height, or reinforcing a foundation to carry a second story, means supporting a house in sections while new concrete goes in beneath it. It is exacting, sequenced work, and it is the reason other builders bring us in on their own projects.
Repair calls usually start with a symptom: stair-step cracking in brick, a door that stopped closing, water where there was none, a wall with a visible bow. Some of those are cosmetic; some are structural. We walk the property, tell you which is which, and scope only the work the house actually needs — often as the first phase of a larger renovation.
Budget
What foundation work costs in Chicago
Crack repair and localized fixes run $2,000 to $10,000. Underpinning or a basement dig-down typically runs $50,000 to $120,000 depending on footprint and depth. A complete new foundation under an existing house — excavation, temporary support, new walls and slab — runs $80,000 to $150,000. Garage slabs and standard flatwork start around $8,000.
Questions
Concrete and foundation questions we hear most
What are the signs of foundation problems?
Stair-step cracks in brick or block, doors and windows that suddenly bind, sloping floors, water intrusion after rain, and visible bowing in basement walls. One symptom alone is rarely an emergency; several together deserve a structural look. We walk properties and give a straight read.
How much does foundation repair cost in Chicago?
Localized crack injection and minor repairs run $2,000 to $10,000. Underpinning sections of a foundation or lowering a basement runs $50,000 to $120,000. A full foundation replacement under an existing house typically runs $80,000 to $150,000 including excavation.
What is underpinning?
Extending or strengthening a foundation below its current depth. The house is supported in short sections while new footings and walls are poured beneath the old ones — done for basement dig-downs, settlement correction, or to carry the load of a new second story.
Why does new concrete crack?
Concrete shrinks as it cures, and hairline shrinkage cracks are normal and controlled with cut joints. The cracks that matter are wide, uneven across their faces, or growing over seasons — those point at soil movement or loading problems rather than curing, and are worth a site visit.
Do you take concrete jobs that are not part of a larger build?
Yes. Foundations, underpinning, garage slabs, flatwork, and drainage stand on their own scope with their own crews and schedule. Concrete is the trade Rimberio started with in 1999, and standalone work keeps those crews sharp between our full builds.
Start with a site visit
Send us the address and what you are seeing, whether that is cracking, water, settlement, or a set of plans. We will walk the site, review conditions, and give you a clear scope and price. Rimberio Construction is licensed, bonded, and insured in Illinois. Call (312) 555-0175 or email info@rimberioconstruction.com. Our office is at 4218 W Belmont Ave, Chicago.