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.
ECP is "The Very Best" manufacturer of steel foundation repair, waterproofing & anchoring products in the industry.
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