During the summer months, it’s nice to have ice for your drink, but during the winter, that ice can turn into a destructive force for your foundation. During the winter months, the water that is normally below ground can turn to ice and expand. That expansion can cause your basement or foundation slab to buckle and crack, resulting in more water coming into your basement. This is called frost heave and may result in long-term damage if left unchecked.
Frost Heave is defined as the upwards or outward swelling of soils due to increasing pressure caused by freezing temperatures. Due to freezing temperatures, ice forms below the soil. As it expands, it pushes both the soil and items in or on the soil to push up and out. Over time, this can cause cracks, bowing foundation walls, and more. when you see these symptoms, you should consult a foundation repair specialist.
At Tarheel Foundation Solutions, we are able to assess your unique foundation issues and provide a customized solution that will take care of any potential frost heave problems that may be impacting your home. If you were already affected by frost heave, we can repair those issues and return your foundation to one that would be able to support your structure for years to come.
At Tar Heel Foundation Solutions, we have several repair options depending on your situation. From helical tiebacks to slab brackets, to pressure grouting, we have the experience to repair your slab or foundation. Our specialists will make sure that you will not be affected by frost heave again. Contact our team of professionals today to set up an inspection. We will carefully evaluate your foundation and tailor a solution specific to your needs. We are here to help, and we look forward to helping you!
Winter is here, and freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your home’s foundation. If you live in a colder climate, you’ve likely heard about the dangers of cracked foundations and the costly repairs they can bring. But did you know that one of the biggest culprits is a phenomenon called frost heaving? Understanding what it is—and how to prevent it—can save your home from structural damage and your wallet from expensive fixes.
Frost heaving occurs when freezing temperatures penetrate the ground, causing the water in the soil to freeze and expand. This expansion can push up the ground beneath your home, pavement, or other structures, leading to cracks, leaks, and uneven surfaces. It’s a slow but powerful force of nature that can seriously damage foundations.
Your foundation could be at risk even before temperatures hit the freezing point. If the temperature drops below 40°F for three consecutive days, the chances of foundation damage increase significantly.
Frost heaving can damage your foundation in two major ways:
The result? Costly repairs to fix cracked walls, misaligned doors, and weakened structural integrity.
While frost heaving can’t be eradicated entirely, there are effective ways to reduce its impact. Prevention focuses on keeping water out of the soil and reducing frost penetration. Here are a few tips:
Foundation damage caused by frost heaving isn’t always obvious at first, but there are key signs to watch for that indicate it’s time to call a professional. Look out for:
If you notice any of these issues, don’t ignore them. Frost heaving damage can worsen quickly, leading to more extensive and costly repairs. Acting early is the best way to protect your home’s stability.
At Tar Heel Foundation Repair, we’re not just experts in frost-heaving solutions—we offer a full range of services to keep your home safe and secure. Whether you need foundation repair, crawl space encapsulation, or assistance with new construction, our team has the experience and tools to handle it all.
Protect your home from frost heaving and beyond. Visit our Contact Page to schedule an inspection and see how we can help with all your foundation and structural needs!
While the wintry wonderland that has descended upon the Charlotte area in the past few days may be a delight to your children, it could cause you future headaches. Beneath the white blanket of snow, your foundation may be shifting due to frost heave–and this can cause serious damage during the spring thaw. When the soil freezes, it pushes certain parts of the foundation upwards and leaves others in the same position. This can crack or damage your foundation, and may lead to costly repairs. How can you spot the warning signs of frost heave? What methods of prevention are there?
Look for cracks on the interior or exterior of your foundation. If these cracks show up after a winter storm, they might be a sign of damage from frost heave to your home’s foundation. Although less common, cracking on exterior walls is also a sign of frost heave damage.If Tar Heel Foundation Solutions does find signs of frost heave damage, there are several options for repair to the foundation to assure that your home is safe and secure for years to come.
Tar Heel Foundation Solutions is a full-service specialty foundation pier contractor dedicated to quality, professionalism, flexibility, and affordability. You can find a sample of our foundation repair options here.
For residential foundation repair questions, call Brandon Fender at (803)-818-7194.
For commercial and/or engineered foundation repair questions, call Larry Wittmer at (803)-246-5480.
As the temperature drops, it becomes more and more important for homeowners to be aware of the possibility of cold-weather foundation problems. Wintertime in the Carolinas often consists of widely varied day-to-day temperatures and mixed precipitation (rain, snow, sleet, etc). The variation in temperatures and moisture content of the soil can result in a few different problems that affect the foundation of your home.
This is what happens when the soil is pushed upward due to underground ice. Frost heaving is often responsible for roads buckling and cracking in the winter months and can cause the same issues in your foundation. This winter phenomenon requires cold temperatures, as it is caused by the formation of “ice lenses” below the surface soil.
These plates of ice form when underground water deposits freeze and nearby subsurface water sources (melted snow, surface runoff, groundwater, etc.) allow the ice lenses to grow even larger, pushing the soil upward further. If ice lenses form underneath your home, they can cause heaving and crack formation in the concrete or masonry work of the foundation.
Similar to frost heaving is the possibility of frozen soil pressure. If the soil around and under your home becomes saturated with water and then freezes, it can expand up to 5 percent its original volume. The expanded soil puts pressure on the above or nearby foundation, pushing in all directions (unlike ice lenses, which typically exert pressure only upwards). This expansive pressure causes the foundation to shift or heave and can lead to bowing and leaning walls and cracked bricks or masonry. In addition, a recurring freeze-thaw cycle, in which the temperature drops and rises repeatedly could cause the foundation to successively heave and settle in response to changing soil moisture content and soil pressure.
Now is the time to get your home ready for the cool winter temperatures and harsh rain and sleet. Even if you take all of the right steps to winterize your home, there is still a chance that foundation cracks and heaving can occur.
If your foundation does suffer some sort of damage from frost heave or the added pressure of frozen soils, Tar Heel Foundation Solutions can provide the necessary repairs. Look for the following signs in your foundation this winter to determine if you need professional foundation repair:
Heaving/ Buckling Concrete in Foundation/Basement/CrawlspaceThese are all foundation problems that may result from the winter conditions in North and South Carolina. If you do see these issues, do not wait to call us. The sooner we can get the problems repaired, the more affordable the repairs will be and the less chance there is of them becoming even worse.
We specialize in the installation of helical piers and slab piers to relevel and stabilize settled or cracked foundations. We can also install soil nails and helical tiebacks to reposition bowing and bulging walls. Our team uses quality products from ECP (Earth Contact Products) to ensure long-lasting repairs. Keep us in mind for all of your winter-weather foundation problems this year.
Winter is coming and there is nothing you can do about it. Sorry to break it to you like that, but it had to be said. Every year the cold weather and blowing snow show up and it seems like people are taken off guard. This year be prepared and get your home ready for Old Man Winter.
While the weather is still nice, you need to check your gutters and downspouts. Make sure they are free of leaves and other debris, so they can flow correctly. A clogged drainage system will allow ice dams and icicles to build, causing water to pool closer to your foundation than is comfortable. This is one of the few home fixes that costs nothing other than your time and the energy to climb a ladder. (Unless you want to pay the neighbor kid!)
A pipe that freezes will split or burst and then you have to deal with it in freezing temperatures. Broken pipes are bad enough in warm weather, now imagine dealing with them in ice-cold water in January! Make sure that any pipes that run through unheated portions of your home are insulated and protected. If pipes run along the outside walls of your home, make sure closet and cabinet drawers are open, to allow the heat of your home to keep them warm.
A small leak in a damaged pipe may go unnoticed until it causes a big problem or you can’t figure out why your water bill has jumped. A big leak may cause you to lose a water source while causing damage to your home. In addition to flooding, if water gets into cracks and freezes, it can cause the crack to widen, causing more damage.
There are many steps you can take to keep your home warm and safe during the winter. Depending on the age of your home you may want to do some or all of the following winterizing tips:
A little prep time before the cold sets in will save you in energy costs and keep your home comfortable.
As much as we’d like to stay inside during the winter, we do have to venture out on occasion. Make sure you are ready to clear the snow. You can do it yourself with a snow shovel or snow thrower. Don’t wait until the first foot-deep snowfall to find out your shovel is broken or your snowblower won’t start. Also keep a couple of bags of salt or sand on hand, to keep people from slipping on ice-covered sidewalks or steps. If you need to arrange for a snow removal service, you need to have that set up before the cold weather starts.
By preparing your home for the winter you should be able to relax in the warm comfort of your home. However, if you do have any foundation problems, we can assist you, no matter what the weather is like. Call us today to learn more about we can help you with winter foundation repairs.
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