What Innovative Basement Systems does

Innovative Basement Authority (now rebranding to Groundworks) is a private, regional home services company founded in 2005 in Fargo, North Dakota, by father-son team Ross and Keith Johnson. It provides foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and encapsulation, structural wall repair, and concrete lifting to residential homeowners across the Upper Midwest — specifically Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Eastern Montana, and Western Wisconsin — from three physical offices (Fargo ND, Inver Grove Heights MN, Rush City MN). Headcount is reported at 101–250 employees.

The company's service portfolio rests on a proprietary product line of US-manufactured systems engineered and tested by structural and geotechnical engineers, including: piering solutions (Helical Piers, Push Piers, Slab Piers); wall reinforcement (Wall Anchors, IntelliBrace beams, Carbon Fiber Supports, IntelliJack crawl-space supports); basement waterproofing (BasementGutter interior drainage, SafeDri sump pumps with FreezeGuard, AquaStop WallSeal vapor barrier, dehumidifiers); and crawl space encapsulation (CrawlSeal 20-mil vapor barrier, CrawlDrain perimeter drainage, ExTremeBloc insulation panels with integrated termiticide). It also offers PolyRenewal polyurethane concrete lifting. All systems carry nationally backed, long-term, transferable warranties.

The business model is direct-to-consumer and project-based: certified field inspectors perform free on-site assessments and deliver custom quotes, supported by financing offers (No Interest / No Payment for 24 months; 20-year fixed payment plans), an annual maintenance/service-contract stream, and marketing via local SEO, social media, customer reviews, and a community impact program. Since 2019 the company has been a regional brand under Groundworks, LLC (Virginia Beach, VA), the parent described as the nation's leading foundation and water management solutions company, and is undergoing a 2025 rebrand to the Groundworks identity.

Name

Innovative Basement Systems

Legal name

Groundworks, LLC

Website

https://innovativebasementauthority.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Innovative Basement Authority (rebranding to Groundworks) is a regional home services company providing foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, and concrete lifting for residential homeowners across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Eastern Montana, and Western Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing Services

NAICS

Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (23822)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Basement Waterproofing & Moisture Control (HSAPACAA)

Keywords

• Foundation repair services
• Basement waterproofing
• Crawl space encapsulation
• Concrete lifting
• Structural wall repair

Headquarters

HQ city

Fargo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Structural Repair Services: Project-based revenue from providing foundation repair solutions including wall anchors, piers, and structural reinforcement systems. One-time service delivery with quoted pricing based on scope of work.
2. Basement Waterproofing Services: Revenue from installing waterproofing systems including interior drainage, sump pumps, dehumidifiers, and vapor barriers. Project-based pricing with optional maintenance services.
3. Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation: Services including vapor barrier installation, dehumidification, insulation, and structural supports. Project-based revenue with potential for follow-up maintenance contracts.
4. Concrete Lifting: Polyurethane injection services for lifting and restoring sinking concrete surfaces around homes. One-time project-based revenue.
5. Maintenance and Service Contracts: Annual maintenance check services for previously installed systems including sump pump inspections and dehumidifier servicing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Innovative Basement Systems provides foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and encapsulation, structural wall repair, and concrete lifting services to residential homeowners across the Upper Midwest. Certified field inspectors perform free on-site inspections and provide project-based quotes, with installation crews deploying a proprietary product line (Wall Anchors, piers, IntelliJacks, CrawlSeal, BasementGutter, SafeDri sump pumps, PolyRenewal) that is manufactured in the United States and backed by nationally backed long-term transferrable warranties.

Product overview

Innovative Basement Authority is a home services company providing foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space repair & encapsulation, concrete lifting, and structural wall repair. The company operates as a unified service offering rather than a software platform. Their core solutions include piering systems (Wall Anchors, Helical Piers, Push Piers, Slab Piers) for foundation stabilization, moisture management products (CrawlSeal™ Vapor Barrier, CrawlDrain™, dehumidifiers, FreezeGuard™), and wall reinforcement systems (IntelliBrace™, Carbon Fiber Supports). All solutions come with nationally backed, long-term, transferrable warranties. The company rebranded to Groundworks in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foundation Repair Services Project-based foundation repair services for residential homeowners addressing settling, settlement, wall cracks, bowing walls, uneven floors, and sticking doors or windows. Service includes free inspection, project-based quote, and installation of proprietary stabilization systems.
• Basement Waterproofing Services Basement waterproofing services for residential homeowners including interior drainage systems, sump pump installation with battery backup, dehumidifiers, vapor barriers, and FreezeGuard exterior discharge protection. Project-based pricing with optional maintenance services.
• Crawl Space Repair and Encapsulation Crawl space repair and encapsulation for residential homeowners including vapor barrier installation, dehumidification, insulation, structural supports, and perimeter drainage. Project-based with optional follow-up maintenance contracts.
• Structural Wall Repair Structural wall repair services using IntelliBrace galvanized steel beams and Carbon Fiber Supports (SettleStop) to stabilize and straighten bowing or cracking basement walls.
• Concrete Lifting (PolyRenewal Polyurethane Injection) Concrete lifting service using PolyRenewal polyurethane injection to restore sinking or uneven driveways, sidewalks, garage floors, patios, and pool decks, eliminating trip hazards and pooling water problems.
• Maintenance and Service Contracts Annual recurring maintenance service for previously installed systems including sump pump inspections, dehumidifier servicing, and check-ups on waterproofing and encapsulation systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Foundation problems can reduce home resale value by 10 to 30 percent
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature13 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• GroundworkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019In 2019, Innovative Basement Authority partnered with Groundworks, the nation's leading and fastest-growing foundation and water management solutions company. This partnership allowed IBA to invest more into their business and employees while maintaining local operations and customer relationships under the Groundworks umbrella. Groundworks provides national resources, brand recognition, and operational support while IBA continues serving homeowners throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota under the new combined identity.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Foundation Recovery Systems: Midwest-focused foundation repair and waterproofing contractor offering wall anchors, piers, and waterproofing systems analogous to IBA's product lineup.
• Acculevel: Foundation repair, basement waterproofing, and crawl space encapsulation provider focused on the Midwest/Indiana region, overlapping IBA's service geography and product categories.
• PowerLift Foundation Repair: Foundation repair and waterproofing specialist operating in adjacent Midwestern markets with comparable piering, wall stabilization, and encapsulation capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Groundworks: IBA's parent platform and the nation's largest foundation and water management solutions consolidator. Directly comparable product mix, engineering-backed proprietary systems, and the same direct-to-homeowner GTM motion scaled nationally.

Direct peers

• Olshan Foundation Repair: Long-standing foundation repair specialist with proprietary wall anchor and pier systems offering services comparable to IBA's structural repair and waterproofing suite.
• Ram Jack: National foundation repair franchise system distributing helical and push piers through a dealer network, directly competing with IBA's foundation settlement solutions.
• JES Foundation Repair: Regional foundation repair, basement waterproofing, and crawl space encapsulation specialist serving the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast with similar piering, wall stabilization, and encapsulation offerings.
• Helitech: Foundation repair, basement waterproofing, and concrete leveling provider serving the Midwest with a comparable mix of piering, drainage, and wall stabilization services.
• Basement Systems Inc. National basement waterproofing, crawl space, and foundation repair franchise network using a comparable proprietary product lineup (CleanSpace, WaterGuard, SmartSump) and direct-to-homeowner sales motion.
• B-Dry Waterproofing: Basement waterproofing franchise with proprietary drainage systems operating in similar mid-market residential segments across multiple US regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/innovbasement
• Facebookfacebook.com/innovativebasementauthority
• Instagraminstagram.com/goteaminnovative

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Innovative Basement Systems