Winter’s chill can bring more than just frosty windows and snowy driveways; it can also introduce a hidden adversary beneath your home: frost heave. This natural yet destructive force occurs when soil freezes, expands, and contracts, wreaking havoc on the stability of your foundation.
In this blog post, we’ll uncover how frost heave develops, its impact on your home’s foundation, and the steps you can take to protect your property from this seasonal menace, including essential foundation repair techniques.
What Is A Frost Heave?
A frost heave is a natural occurrence in which the ground beneath a home rises due to freezing temperatures. It occurs during winter when the temperature drops and moisture in the soil freezes. As the water in the soil turns into ice, it expands, pushing the surrounding soil upward.
This upward movement can cause serious issues for home foundations. The expanding ice can lift the ground beneath a house, leading to shifts and misalignments in the foundation. Over time, this can result in structural problems such as cracked walls, uneven floors, and compromised stability. Frost heaves can be particularly problematic in areas with frequent freezing and thawing cycles, making it essential for homeowners to address and manage these issues to protect their property.
What Causes Foundation Heave?
Foundation heave is typically caused by changes in moisture levels and temperature fluctuations in the soil surrounding a home’s foundation.
Several factors contribute to foundation heave:
- Freeze/Thaw Cycles: When water in the soil freezes, it expands, pushing the ground upward and exerting pressure on the foundation. Repeated freezing and thawing cycles intensify this effect, causing significant shifts in the foundation over time, similar to the process seen with frost heave.
- Soil Composition: Soils with high clay content are particularly susceptible to expanding and contracting with moisture changes. When clay soils absorb water, they expand; when they dry out, they contract. This constant movement can lead to foundation heave.
- Poor Drainage: Insufficient drainage around the foundation can cause water to accumulate. Over time, this water seeps into the soil, causing it to expand. Implementing proper drainage solutions, such as French drains or sump pumps, can help manage this risk.
- Plumbing Leaks: Hidden plumbing leaks can introduce excess moisture into the soil surrounding the foundation. This added moisture can cause the soil to expand, contributing to foundation heave.
- New Landscaping: Planting trees or shrubs close to the house can alter the moisture levels in the soil. The roots of these plants can draw moisture from the soil, leading to drying and contraction, which can also cause foundation heave.
Common Signs Of Frost Heave
Recognizing the signs of frost heave early on Identifying the signs of frost heave early can enable you to take preventive measures to safeguard your home.
Here are some common indicators:
- Obvious cracks in the foundation walls or floor might indicate that frost heave exerts upward pressure on the structure.
- Floors that appear uneven or sloping could result from frost heave pushing the foundation upwards.
- If your doors and/or windows suddenly become difficult to open or close, it might be due to foundation shifts caused by frost heave.
- Interior walls may develop cracks, particularly around corners and windows, as the upward pressure from frost heave distorts the building’s frame.
- Frost heave can also affect exterior areas like driveways and walkways, causing them to lift and crack.
- Cracks in the slab may appear in patterns resembling chicken feet, spider webs, or triangles, with at least two cracks intersecting.
- Nearby trees often show signs of stress and may die or fall within a year or two.
- If the soil’s plasticity index (PI) is above 25 or its moisture content (MC) has increased over the years, these can be further signs of potential foundation heave.
How Frost Heave Leads To Foundation Damage?
Living in regions like Chicagoland, where freezing temperatures are common, homeowners must be particularly vigilant about a phenomenon known as frost heave. But how exactly does frost heave lead to foundation damage?
- Cracked Walls and Floors: The upward pressure can cause your foundation to crack as the ground swells. These cracks might appear in the walls and floors, creating pathways for water to seep into your basement or crawl space. Foundation cracks can range from hairline fissures to significant splits, compounding over time if not addressed immediately.
- Uneven Settlement: Not all parts of your foundation will heave uniformly. Differential heaving can lead to uneven settlement, causing structural issues such as sloping floors, sticking doors and windows, or even visible gaps in your walls. These problems are not only a nuisance but can also diminish the structural integrity of your home.
- Bowing Walls: Frost heave doesn’t only push vertically but can also exert lateral pressure on your foundation walls. This pressure can lead to bowing or leaning walls, significantly weakening your home’s structural stability. If left unchecked, bowing walls can lead to catastrophic failures.
How Do You Fix Foundation Heaving?
Foundation heaving is a serious issue that can affect any homeowner. Addressing this problem effectively is crucial for preserving the integrity of your home.
Moisture Control
Excess moisture in the soil is a key factor in foundation heaving. Controlling moisture levels can greatly reduce the risk of frost heave. To manage moisture effectively, consider waterproofing your basement. Here are several methods to help keep your basement dry:
- Vapor Barriers: Polyethylene sheets are installed along basement walls to prevent moisture from seeping in.
- Drain Tile Systems: The drain tile systems collect and redirect excess groundwater away from your foundation, reducing moisture interaction with the soil.
- Sump Pumps: Installing a sump pump can help remove excessive water from your basement, preventing accumulation that could contribute to heaving.
Let It Be
In some cases, minor foundation heaving does not require immediate intervention. If the movement is not causing significant damage or opening up new cracks, you may be advised to monitor the situation closely. Seasonal changes often result in slight ground shifts, which can be resolved when the weather stabilizes. However, if you observe persistent or worsening symptoms, it’s crucial to seek professional advice.
Foundation Repair
When frost heaving has caused noticeable damage, repair solutions become necessary:
- Underpinning: Underpinning involves stabilizing and strengthening the existing foundation through steel push or helical piers by transferring the building’s load to more stable soil layers. This is especially helpful in cases of severe heaving where the current foundation is extensively compromised.
- Carbon Fiber Straps & Staples: Carbon fiber staples & straps provide a robust repair solution for cracked and bowing walls resulting from foundation heaving. These staples & straps reinforce the damaged areas, preventing further movement and maintaining structural integrity.
How To Protect Your Home From Frost Heaves?
Implementing preventative measures can help mitigate the risk of frost heaves and protect your home. Here’s what you can do:
- Install Drain Tile: Drain tiles are an effective measure for controlling moisture levels around your foundation. These tiles are typically installed around the perimeter of your foundation to collect groundwater and direct it away from the house. This helps minimize the amount of moisture that can freeze and cause heaving.
- Polyjacking: If concrete slabs around your home are affected by frost heave, you can repair sunken or uneven slabs through polyjacking. Polyjacking, or polyurethane foam injection, is a modern method of lifting and leveling sunken or heaved slabs. This repair technique involves injecting a high-density polyurethane foam into the ground beneath the slab, which then expands, filling voids and stabilizing the soil.
- Install a French Drain: Another excellent method for managing soil moisture and preventing frost heaves is a French drain. This system consists of a trench filled with gravel and a perforated pipe that channels water away from problem areas.
- Grade Your Property: Proper grading ensures that water flows away from your foundation, minimizing the risk of frost heaves.
- Install Gutter Extensions: Gutter extensions are crucial for directing rainwater away from your home’s foundation. Attaching extensions to your existing gutters ensures that water is channeled several feet away from the foundation. The extensions should lead the water to an area where it can naturally drain away, avoiding accumulation near the foundation.
- Clean Gutters Regularly: Regular maintenance of your gutters is essential to prevent blockages causing water to overflow and saturate the soil around your home. Inspect and clean your gutters frequently, especially when leaves and debris accumulate in the fall.
What To Do When Your Foundation Heaves?
When your foundation shows signs of heaving, such as cracks in walls, uneven floors, or sticking doors, it is crucial to fix the issue immediately to prevent further damage. The first step is to consult a professional who can accurately diagnose the problem and provide an effective solution. At The Real Seal, LLC, we specialize in foundation repair and offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to your needs, from underpinning to crack repair. Don’t wait—schedule your free inspection today and protect your home from worsening conditions.
