What Is Concrete Honeycombing?

Concrete honeycombing is when areas of your foundation walls, floors, or columns begin to deteriorate, leaving behind coarse, brittle, and pitted surfaces. Honeycombing can appear on both the outside and inside of your concrete. Early signs of honeycombing are usually a cosmetic problem, but letting them worsen can lead to structural and waterproofing issues.

Causes Of Concrete Honeycombing

Leading causes of concrete honeycombing include,

  • Improper workability of the concrete – Workability is how easily new concrete can be mixed, placed, consolidated, and finished with minimal loss of homogeneity (a balance of components).
  • Improper balance of components – If there is too much of one component in a concrete mixture, such as water, it could lead to a separation of aggregates and mortar.
  • Improper vibration – Freshly poured concrete must be vibrated to eliminate any air bubbles or pockets. If this is improperly done or not done at all, it could lead to honeycombing.
  • Improper pouring – If concrete is poured too high, it could cause the aggregates and mortar to separate.
  • Improper reinforcing – Too much steel in a foundation wall or floor can prevent the concrete from spreading evenly.

Effects Of Concrete Honeycombing

Honeycomb Concrete Repair Services
Honeycomb Concrete Repair

Honeycombing affects your foundation in various negative ways if you don’t treat it fast.

  • Water Damage – Honeycombing concrete can allow outside groundwater to seep into your basement or crawl space foundation.
  • Structural Damage – If left untreated, honeycombing can grow and affect the structural integrity of your foundation walls or columns.
  • Cosmetic Damage – Honeycombing concrete ruins the look of your concrete walls and lowers the value of your home.
Honeycomb Concrete Repair Services

Types Of Concrete Honeycombing

  • Low risk – Depth is less than 25 mm.
  • Medium risk – Deeper than 25 mm with no exposed steel rebar.
  • High risk – Deeper than 25 mm with exposed steel rebar.

How The Real Seal Repairs Honeycombing

The Real Seal Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Repair uses a 2-part epoxy injection to repair honeycombing concrete. This injection will fill the voids inside the concrete until it’s solid again, leaving you a clean surface you can paint over.

The Real Seal Concrete Honeycomb Repair

Who To Call For Honeycomb Concrete Repair Near You

If you live in Chicagoland, call The Real Seal Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair. We’ve been repairing all sorts of foundation and waterproofing problems, including honeycombing, since 2011. Our experts will inspect your concrete, come up with the best waterproofing solution, and turn your wet foundation into a dry, clean space.

What Our Customers Are Saying

This is a great company to have work on any project within their scope. I had a really bad leak from one of my walls and couldn’t find the source. From the first phone call to completion of work the experience was seamless and easy. I called for an estimate, they came same day for the estimate, the next day they did the work, then they did such a great job that I requested them to do more work in other areas of my basement that I knew needed work that I had been holding off for some time. So far they performed well services, two foundation cracks in my basement, and a smile and professionalism throughout the entire process. Paying was easy using their online platform, the process of scheduling was great, and the work is beyond quality and every line item from that quote (and going above and beyond) was completed. No corners cut, no inferior products used, and everything George (my amazing technician) did was explained during the process. I used this company in my previous house and so far so good there have been no issues 4 years in. They did such a great job there that I called them when I moved into this house recently. I requested specially for George on the additional work because of his outstanding work, professionalism, punctuality, and courteous service. I don’t know what other type of service any other company would provide, but I’m going with the company that is true and tried from my own personal experience. If you don’t know much about foundation cracks there will be waterproofing companies that will take advantage of you. The required repairs in my previous house was a simple sealing of my foundation cracks but from another company quoted they told me I needed to repair my French drain, re-trench, take out part of the wall, for a total of $12,500 dollars. Really? These guys came out and fixed my problem there for less than 700 dollars and permanently solved my problems at the old house. Please be careful when you are shopping for quotes, there are companies that will quote you on additional things you do not need. Go with professionals like Real Seal!!!
Issues came up during a home inspection and I called Real Seal for a quote on repairs. Jeff came to do the estimate and he was extremely knowledgeable and thorough. He explained things to me so that I could understand the issues he identified. Jeff was honest and transparent about the repairs explaining that they were not nearly as extensive as previously believed. He emailed a detailed quote within a week.

In the end, we didn't need to do the repair as it wasn't deemed a true hazard. Even though we didn't wind up using their services, I was happy for the in-depth analysis from Jeff and the team.
Real Seal exceeded all expectations! From the moment I reached out, their team responded quickly and professionally. Their customer service was incredibly focused on making sure every question was answered and every concern was addressed with care. You can tell they genuinely care about their clients. The workmanship was excellent — precise, clean, and done right the first time. I highly recommend Real Seal to anyone looking for reliable, high-quality service. A top-tier experience from start to finish!
My 10' x 10' concrete patio slab settled 3-3/4" to 4-3/4" (10-3/4" to 11-3/4" below the tread of the bottom stair riser) and across the width of the 7' stoop. Adjoined to the patio slab is a 3' x 6' concrete pad for two A/C units. I am an architect by profession and I submitted a detailed drawing to The Real Seal for an estimate to saw cut the A/C pad from the patio, thus leaving it level, and to polyjack the patio slab at the stoop in order to regain a proper 7" stair riser. Uneven stair heights are dangerous and not building code compliant. Raising the patio slab at the stoop would also regain the proper slope away from it for drainage. The Real Seal's estimator, Jeff Kowalik, and I met on site, where we reviewed the details and the proposed remediation. Jeff was confident that the desired results were doable. Within days, he emailed a detailed and acceptably priced cost estimate. The work was scheduled within a week after my approving the estimate. The office and field crew provided timely correspondence. A two-man crew, led by Raymund Malvaez, arrived as scheduled, and the sawcutting and polyjacking were completed as designed without incident. They were meticulous in polyjacking the patio slab to the correct elevation across the entire width of the stoop while keeping the A/C slab level and at its existing grade elevation. The small drill holes required for polyjacking were patched and are virtually unnoticeable. A construction sealant was neatly applied between the patio slab and stoop. I couldn't be more satisfied with the overall project experience from start to finish. The Real Seal has my endorsement for professional service as well as outstanding concrete leveling and polyjacking workmanship.
Had a great experience with Real Seal. Jim was so kind and helpful identifying cracks in our basement and came up with a solution to seal them. His proposal was emailed a few hours later. Once we signed the contract, I got a call to schedule the sealing for the next day which was done by noon. I felt no pressure during the experience and walked away feeling great about the work they did. Highly recommend.
If you need basement waterproofing, stop searching and call The Real Seal. Jeff was my estimator, he was knowledgable and friendly. I was provided a quote in timely fashion. Work was scheduled and completed without issue. The guys (George and crew) did a nice job cleaning up. I left my basement wall open for April rains and no more leaking!!! Very pleased with my entire experience and wouldn't hesistate to use them again!
The Real Seal team did a phenomenal job on our project. We needed to lower our basement floor by a couple feet in order to put in a golf simulator. The crew worked tirelessly and went out of their way to protect our home from dust and debris from the process. They were very transparent and communicative, and patient will any questions that I had along the way. I give them my highest recommendation.
Real Seal did an outstanding job for us in replacing our window wells. Great communication and excellent work. We would definitely work with Real Seal again and we very highly recommend them.
Great experience with Real Seal. We moved into a remodel where a former contractor (not sure which company) sealed up a basement leak incorrectly leading to water in our basement months after moving in. Real Seal promptly came out to inspect and consult, quoted a fair price, and then repaired the crack; educating me along the way about what went wrong and how they would repair to ensure there would be no more water. I'm so thankful for their service and lifetime warranty.
Great to work with and clear in explaining how their process works. No pressure on the estimate. Arrived on time, answered our questions and were complete professionals. I would recommend this company. 💯
Sal and Omar arrived on-time and did an excellent job repairing the cracks in the foundation and installing the new piping for the crawlspace sump pump. Sal completed the exterior work in the dark nd cold and took the extra time to make sure it was just right ! The whole process from quote to completed job was what was promised.
Fantastic organization to do business with. The process was professionally handled from the initial call to the end of project. They quickly identified the issue, provided a solution, and quote in the same day. Our yard looks like it was never touched and there was a ton of digging performed. We went through the heavy rains the other day and no issues. Thank you to the entire team!
Fantastic service by Omar and Rob! Would definitely use The Real Seal again!
Our foundation had developed cracks, and the corner of our house was sinking by nearly 3/4 of an inch. After getting multiple quotes, Real Seal offered a competitive price and appeared to be highly knowledgeable. Their warranty was also the best among all the vendors. They scheduled the work for six weeks later and started on time. The project was set for three days, and they completed everything as planned. The crew was professional, respectful, and did an excellent job cleaning up the area afterward. Highly recommend them!
Quality materials, trained and experienced staff that made us feel confident thoroughly the process.... no new decisions were made until we has all options and safety concerns discussed... highly recommend The Real Seal!!!
We had a fantastic experience with Real Seal Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair! Rob, the structural engineer, came out first to inspect and assess the damage. He was extremely thorough, professional, and took the time to explain what he was seeing, which helped us feel confident in the next steps.

George, our technician, did an outstanding job with the repair. During the process, he discovered a 2x4 that had been bolted directly into the foundation wall—a possible cause of the cracking we were seeing. He explained how that kind of pressure can lead to long-term structural issues, which we never would have realized on our own. George not only fixed the problem, but also walked me through the repair process and what was being done to ensure the wall would be properly supported going forward.

Both Rob and George were professional, knowledgeable, and respectful throughout. It’s rare to find a company where both the inspection and the repair sides are this strong. I’d highly recommend Real Seal to anyone needing foundation repair or basement waterproofing. Their team brings both skill and great communication—exactly what you want for something as important as your home’s foundation.
Real Seal was professional throughout. Communication was clear, and they helped us seal cracks in our basement foundation while also offering helpful guidance on a few home improvements. Initially, their quote was a bit on the higher side, but they worked with us to resolve the issue at a very fair price. We’d definitely use them again.
Jesus and his team did amazing job to install french drain system in our basement. They were fast, efficient, organized and super clean at the site. Everyone in the company is great , very knowledgeable at their job. On top of that their price is very reasonable, highly recommend!
Very pleased with my experience. Hired to install foundation piers.
Real Seal came out and was able to provide a clear, well-thought out plan to address water issues in the basement. The installation of the drain tile system and sump pump was quick, the crew was great, and the system is running very well. Really wonderful job--thanks!
Great Company with excellent employees. Highly recommend !!!!!
I had such a great experience with the real seal. David and Susan were awesome and answered all of my questions when I started the process. The crew that came to install the liner was also amazing they were very respectful, kind, and helpful with any questions that I had. They came the day after a snow storm and the temps dropping and still got everything done.
Promot, efficient, knowledgeable, and reasonably priced. Would hire again.
Great work, super friendly service and very communicative.
Great communication with their team and excellent quality of work. Their specialist went the extra mile on site which we all appreciated. Would definitely rely on them again.
George Ledezma is a very hard worker! He pays attention to details, make sure the jobs are completed to customer satisfaction and is a leader. He deserves a promotion for his loyalty towards Real Seal.
the most dependable and thorough waterproofing company in the Chicagoland area. Been using them since we moved into our house in 2011. Austin and his team consistently crush it.
I can't recommend this company enough. Theirs is by far the best customer service I've ever experienced from any company regardless of the business they're in. There are a lot of choices for basement waterproofing, especially in Chicagoland, but Real Seal is a standout.
The crawlspace to basement conversion was great! The crew clearly knew what they were doing and paid close attention to detail. For such a large project, we had a lot of anxiety going in, but Real Seal went above and beyond to make sure the project went smoothly. Every contractor and inspector who stopped by was also impressed by their work!

If you have a crawlspace want to add square footage to your home (or have a nice new spot to wait out tornados), I highly recommend reaching out to Real Seal about a conversion.
I'm so grateful that I got The Real Seal to solve my basement water issues. They sealed several cracks and did drainage work outside to get the water away from my foundation. The guys that did the work were very friendly and knowledgeable.
I never used them personally but they respond to all the comments on their website and offer whatever help they can which is very helpful for DIYer’s like me. If they were in Philadelphia I would undoubtedly use them. Great people.
Great job RealSeal. This is my second sidewalk leveling project. Both have been performed very well.
Real seal has been very helpful with all the projects that I had completed this summer. I had foundation cracks repaired, two basement windows and wells replaced at a reasonable price. The work was completed as promised and area cleaned of the debris. They also referred me to a contractor who completed the foam spray for insulation in my crawl space who completed the work as I requested.
Did a great job of explaining whats needed, what's less important, and happy with results so far.

Honeycomb Concrete Repair FAQs

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Is honeycombing in reinforced concrete bad?

If left untreated, honeycombing concrete can lead to waterproofing and structural problems.
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How do you test honeycombing in concrete?

If the honeycombing is not visible, experts can use ultrasonic testing to detect voids inside the concrete.
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Will honeycombing concrete worsen over time?

Yes. Areas of concrete that are honeycombing can grow and begin to expose the rebar inside your walls or columns, which can lead to major structural issues.

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