Steel Wall Bracing, Tuckpointing & Drainage Improvements — Moline, Illinois

Five steel support beams along the north wall, tuckpointing of cracked block joints, exterior crack repair at three corners, regrading and two new window wells at a home in Moline, Illinois.

PROJECT SUMMARY

Date posted: November 5, 2026
Service: Steel wall bracing, tuckpointing, exterior foundation repair and drainage
Location: Moline, Illinois
Problem: Inward movement at the north foundation wall, cracked and open mortar joints, and foundation cracks at the corners
Solution: Five steel beams on the north wall, interior tuckpointing, exterior crack and joint repair at three corners, regrading and two window wells
Foundation type: Concrete block

Project photos

Steel support beams installed along a painted block basement wall in Moline
Steel support beams along the north foundation wall.
Tuckpointed horizontal mortar joint on a painted block basement wall in Moline
A tuckpointed horizontal joint along the block wall.
Basement corner with tuckpointed joints and glass block windows in Moline
Tuckpointed joints at a basement corner.
Painted block basement corner after mortar joint repair in Moline
Another corner after the joint repair.
Stair-step mortar joint crack tuckpointed on a block basement wall in Moline
A stair-step crack in the mortar joints, tuckpointed.
Block basement wall with repaired joints near the ceiling in Moline
Repaired joints along the upper courses of the wall.
Block foundation wall with efflorescence and repaired joints in Moline
A section of block wall with efflorescence and repaired joints.
Stair-step crack repaired next to a steel support beam in Moline
A repaired stair-step crack beside one of the new steel beams.
Steel support beams along a block basement wall in Moline
The steel beams along the wall, looking down the basement.
Tuckpointed stair-step cracks on a basement wall in Moline
Stair-step cracks tuckpointed along the wall.
Tuckpointed joints on block walls in a Moline basement utility area
Tuckpointed joints in the utility area.
Block basement wall with repaired joints and covered items in Moline
Repaired joints on the block wall, with items covered during the work.
Basement block corner with tuckpointed mortar joints in Moline
A corner with tuckpointed joints.
Block foundation wall with efflorescence along the bottom courses in Moline
Block wall with efflorescence along the lower courses.
Steel support beam against a painted block wall in Moline
A new steel support beam against the wall.
Two steel support beams along a basement wall in Moline
Steel beams along the wall.
Steel support beam and repaired horizontal joint in a Moline basement
A steel beam beside a repaired horizontal joint.

Project overview

This Moline home needed work inside and out: the north wall needed reinforcement against inward movement, the block walls had cracked and open mortar joints, there were cracks at the corners, and water needed to be directed away from the house.

On the job

Inside, the crew installed five steel support beams along the north foundation wall to help resist inward movement. Cracked and open mortar joints were tuckpointed, including an eight-foot section along the bottom course of the east block wall and a 13-foot section of the south garage foundation wall. Corner joints were repaired, and flexible sealant was applied at the northeast corner.

Outside, the crew excavated the foundation cracks at the southeast and northeast corners and dug below grade at the northwest corner to repair open masonry joints. Getting down to these areas exposed defects that would otherwise have stayed hidden beneath the soil.

To improve surface drainage, soil was added along the north wall to raise the grade, and two basement window wells were installed. Since 1948, Behncke Construction has solved foundation and water problems for Quad Cities property owners with repairs tailored to the building.

Photo highlights

  • Steel support beams along the north foundation wall.
  • A tuckpointed horizontal joint along the block wall.
  • Tuckpointed joints at a basement corner.
  • Another corner after the joint repair.
  • A stair-step crack in the mortar joints, tuckpointed.
  • Repaired joints along the upper courses of the wall.
  • A section of block wall with efflorescence and repaired joints.
  • A repaired stair-step crack beside one of the new steel beams.
  • The steel beams along the wall, looking down the basement.
  • Stair-step cracks tuckpointed along the wall.
  • Tuckpointed joints in the utility area.
  • Repaired joints on the block wall, with items covered during the work.
  • A corner with tuckpointed joints.
  • Block wall with efflorescence along the lower courses.
  • A new steel support beam against the wall.
  • Steel beams along the wall.
  • A steel beam beside a repaired horizontal joint.

Related services

Cracked walls, bad mortar or a leaking basement?

Behncke Construction has repaired foundations across the Quad Cities since 1948. Request a free estimate or call (563) 332-6045.

From the field

Why they called. North foundation wall needed reinforcement against inward movement; cracked and open mortar joints; foundation cracks at the southeast and northeast corners; open masonry joints below grade at the northwest corner.

What we found. Excavating the corners exposed defects that would otherwise have stayed hidden beneath the soil.

What we did. Installed five steel support beams along the north wall; tuckpointed cracked and open joints including an 8 ft section of the east wall bottom course and a 13 ft section of the south garage foundation wall; repaired corner joints and applied flexible sealant at the northeast corner; excavated and repaired corner cracks and below-grade joints; raised the grade along the north wall and installed two basement window wells.

Result. Foundation reinforced, potential water entry points closed and runoff directed away from the home.