Why You Should Fix Your Sinking Concrete Slab

Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014

If you begin to notice cracks between the bricks of your home, uneven sidewalks, pooling water in your driveway or patio or just general concrete cracking, it’s time to take a look at repair options. Slab settlement will only continue to worsen any of these problems if it is allowed to continue.

Three Common Reasons for Concrete Settlement:

1. Changes in the soil’s moisture content

These changes occur naturally and can very rarely be prevented. Even expertly compacted soil can be subject to settlement due to freezing and thawing, expanding and contracting. Clay soil is the most susceptible to movement. When exposed to moisture, it holds on to it and expands in size. When the soil loses the water, it shrinks.

2. Wash-out of soil under the concrete

As water moves underneath the slab the soil is washed away leaving a void. The water can come from plumbing leaks, floods, rain and general erosion. Once the void is created, cracking and sinking is inevitable.

3. Poorly Compacted Fill Soil

During the construction of a home, driveway, patio or sidewalk soil is commonly moved around or spread out to get to the desired grade level. If compaction after this moving is not done properly, the soil will slowly compact itself, damaging the already installed concrete.

Seven Reasons to Fix Your Sinking Concrete Slab:

1. The problem will only get worse over time and will end up costing much more to fix.

2. The property’s resale value will decrease with every crack and sag.

3. Concrete that is out of level can cause ugly cracks in weak spots all around the property, in and outside of the home.

4. Uneven sidewalks and patios can pose a serious safety risk. Trip hazards can put your family at risk and also lead to unwanted liability.

5. Cracks in slab or brick can lead to water intrusion. This unwanted water can cause flooding, high humidity and mold growth in many different areas of the home.

6. Pooling water that collects in driveways or patios can create patches of ice in the winter posing another safety risk.

7. Slab settlement can cause further structural damage to the home including out-of-square doors, gaps in windows, water intrusion and leaning chimneys.

Looking to fix a concrete slab at your home? Contact Tar Heel Basement Systems to schedule a free estimate!