How Soil Erosion Causes Foundation Damage to Commercial Properties
Soil erosion is a naturally occurring process. But what happens when this process starts taking place underneath a business, a warehouse, or a factory? Foundation damage happens. A damaged foundation can lead to a myriad of issues that can slow down your business. In this article, we will discuss soil erosion, its effect on foundations, and how our team at Groundworks can resolve these issues with a variety of foundation stabilization services.
Causes of Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is a natural process that can accelerate under certain conditions, especially when water management issues come into play. Understanding these factors is essential for preventing potential foundation damage to your commercial property. Here are the key causes:
- Heavy Rains and Flooding: Excessive rainfall and flood events can quickly wash away the protective topsoil. As rainwater flows over the ground, it carries loose soil with it, eroding the area around your foundation. This not only diminishes the soil’s ability to support your building, but can also create channels or gullies that exacerbate erosion over time and allow water to pool. Saturated soil from these events can also allow the soil to compress under the weight of the foundation.
- Plumbing Leaks: Leaking pipes from beneath your property might seem minor, but a steady drip can saturate the surrounding soil. Over time, this continuous exposure to moisture reduces the soil’s structural integrity, making it more susceptible to being washed away. Prompt detection and repair of leaks are crucial to mitigate this risk.
- Water Pooling around Foundation: Poor drainage or ineffective water management can cause water to accumulate near your building’s foundation. This pooling water continuously saturates the soil, reducing its ability to bind together and support the structure. As the soil becomes overly moist, it loses its cohesion, making it much more vulnerable to being washed away by even a moderate flow of water. Over time, this persistent saturation not only accelerates soil erosion, but also creates conditions that promote further water intrusion into the foundation, setting the stage for potential structural damage. This damage is not limited to your foundation, but can also affect other structures like parking lots, parking garages, and more.
How Soil Erosion Causes Foundation Damage
While soil erosion is a natural process, its impact on the ground beneath your business can be severe. When the supporting soil is washed away, the stability of your building’s foundation is compromised in several key ways:
- Foundation Settlement: The soil beneath your structure acts as a natural support system that evenly distributes the weight of your building. When erosion removes this crucial layer, the foundation loses its support. This often results in uneven settlement, causing the structure to sink unevenly, known as differential settlement. The resulting shifts can lead to cracks in the foundation walls, misalignment of load-bearing elements, trip hazards for customers and employees, and ultimately, structural instability.
- Corrosion and Structural Damage: Erosion often leads to water pooling in unintended areas, allowing moisture to seep into the foundation of your commercial building. This persistent water exposure accelerates the corrosion of both concrete and steel reinforcements, gradually compromising the structure’s integrity. As corrosion weakens these critical components, it further promotes soil erosion, perpetuating a cycle of deterioration.
- Soil Compaction Issues: As erosion strips away the topsoil, the remaining soil often becomes less compacted. This weakened soil cannot effectively support the foundation. The loss of proper soil structure means that even minor shifts in weight distribution—due to changes in weather or additional load—can exacerbate settling and lead to more pronounced cracks and structural failures.
Problem Signs Indicating Foundation Damage
It can be easy to overlook the signs of foundation damage that may be occurring in your commercial building. Here are some problem signs that business owners and their employees can look for:
- Foundation Cracks: Foundation cracks can look different on varying foundation types. On cinderblock foundations, these cracks will appear in a stairstep shape and occur in the mortar between the cinderblocks. In foundations that include concrete elements, hairline cracks can develop over time. These cracks may gradually expand, signaling potential foundation movement or structural concerns.
- Sticking Doors and Windows: Doors and windows should open and close easily. This is a nuisance and may be a sign of foundation damage to your business.
- Uneven Floors: Floor slabs may become uneven, resulting in slabs that are different heights. This creates trip hazards for employees and customers alike. Uneven floors in warehouses can also result in rocking concrete slabs, which are hazardous for heavy equipment such as forklifts. This can result in forklift accidents which can potentially destroy products or create liabilities.
- Gaps Between Floors and Walls: Separation between walls and the ground is a sign of soil erosion and foundation sinkage. These gaps may occur in both exterior and interior settings.
- Cracks in Walls and Floors: Over time, a sunken foundation may cause damage to interior structures. Concrete slab floors may become cracked, and walls may develop cracks.
- Visible Soil Loss: Soil loss around the foundation may be visible. There may be noticeable gaps, depressions, or washed-out areas around or near the foundation.
Foundation Repair Solutions from Groundworks
Understanding these mechanisms is key to preventing costly repairs and ensuring the long-term stability of your business property. At Groundworks, our team specializes in early detection and proactive foundation stabilization solutions designed to address these issues before they escalate. Armed with this understanding, we’ve developed a comprehensive range of solutions to tackle these challenges head-on. Let’s explore how Groundworks’ expert services can safeguard your property and ensure its long-term stability:
- Helical Piles: These screw-like piles are driven deep into stable soil or bedrock to anchor and support the building’s foundation, providing strong, immediate load support. Our installation team evaluates soil conditions, installs the helical piles at strategic points, and adjusts them for optimal support, reinforcing the foundation.
- Push Piers: Push piers are hydraulically pressed into load-bearing soil layers, creating a permanent foundation solution that counters soil shifts and prevents further settlement.
- Polyurethane Injection: We inject high-density polyurethane beneath foundation slabs, where it expands to fill voids and stabilize the underlying soil. The quick-curing foam secures the slab in place, eliminating movement without excavation.
Foundation damage—from settlement and water pooling to compromised soil integrity—poses significant risks to your business operations and safety. Groundworks offers advanced stabilization solutions, including polyurethane injections, helical piles, and push piers, designed to secure your property against these challenges. Proactive action is key to preventing costly repairs and maintaining your building’s structural integrity.
Contact Groundworks today for a comprehensive evaluation and a tailored plan to safeguard the investment you made in your commercial property. Don’t wait for the damage to escalate—act now to ensure your property remains a safe and stable foundation for your business.
