Sioux Falls Foundation Guide: Frost Heave, Basement Walls and the Repair Process

A free recovery and process guide for homeowners in Sioux Falls and the rest of Minnehaha County, from Get Foundation Pros.

Frost is the main force

NOAA's engineering weather data for Sioux Falls lists a 50-year frost depth of 102 inches and about 75 freeze-thaw cycles a year. Frozen, saturated soil pushes on basement walls and lifts slabs, steps and garage floors. Heavy rain, with a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.5 inches per hour, adds water that freezes next winter. This guide walks through the steps from noticing a problem to a finished repair.

Step 1: Document

Photograph cracks in basement walls and floors with a ruler for scale.
Note horizontal cracks and walls that bow inward; they are more serious than small vertical cracks.
Mark crack ends and date them.
Recheck through the seasons; frost-related movement often changes from winter to summer.

Step 2: Manage water

Extend downspouts well away from the house.
Slope soil away from the foundation.
Keep window wells clear and drained.
Test the sump pump and add a backup.

Step 3: Get an independent evaluation

A structural engineer who does not sell repairs can tell you whether walls are moving and what repair is appropriate, such as wall anchors, bracing, excavation and rebuilding, or drainage.

Step 4: Licensing and permits

The City of Sioux Falls requires a Residential Building Contractor license of anyone doing work on one- and two-family homes and townhomes that needs a building permit. Homeowners working on their own homes need no license but must get the permits. Ask whether your repair needs a permit and check the contractor's license.

Step 5: Compare proposals

Ask each contractor for the cause, method, number of anchors or braces, excavation details, permits, warranty and whether it transfers to a buyer.

Step 6: Radon after cracks

South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources notes that radon enters buildings through foundation cracks, utility penetrations, sumps and floor drains, and offers free test kits. Test after foundation repairs; sealing cracks is a good time to check.

Step 7: After the repair

Keep water away from the foundation and recheck marked cracks each season.

Records

Keep the engineer's report, contract, permit and warranty together.

Questions to ask an evaluator

Ask the engineer how far a bowing wall has moved, whether the movement is active, and what repair fits that amount of movement. Ask whether excavating and rebuilding the wall is needed, or whether anchors or braces will hold it. Ask how drainage outside the wall will change and what monitoring they recommend for the next few winters.

Garage floors, steps and walks

Frost heave also lifts garage slabs, steps and sidewalks next to the house. When they tilt toward the foundation, they send water against the wall. Ask whether they should be leveled or replaced as part of the drainage fix.

Sources for this guide

NOAA's engineering weather data for Sioux Falls lists an average of 75 freeze-thaw cycles a year, a 50-year frost depth of 102 inches and a 50-year ground snow load of 40 pounds per square foot. Source: NOAA NCEI Engineering Weather Data (Sioux Falls, SD)
NOAA's engineering weather data for Sioux Falls lists a 50-year basic wind speed of 90 mph (3-second gust at 33 feet) and a 100-year rainfall rate of 3.5 inches per hour. Source: NOAA NCEI Engineering Weather Data (Sioux Falls, SD)
The City of Sioux Falls requires a Residential Building Contractor license of anyone doing work on one- and two-family homes and townhomes in the city that needs a building permit, such as decks, sheds, shingles and basement finishing. The license takes a passing score on an open-book code exam, a $20,000 compliance bond and at least $300,000 of general liability insurance. Homeowners working on their own homes need no license but must get the permits. Source: City of Sioux Falls, Residential Building Contractors
South Dakota's Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources offers free radon test kits to residents. It notes that radon enters buildings through foundation cracks, utility penetrations, sumps and floor drains, and that testing is the only way to tell whether a building has elevated levels. Source: South Dakota DANR, Air Quality: Radon

Sources checked 2026-10-26. Every cost figure on this page comes from a source named above; fees and rules change, so confirm current amounts with the office that sets them before you budget.