Frost Heave and Foundation Cracks: What You Need to Know
Winter brings frigid temperatures, ice, snow, and, for some, blizzards. From shoveling snow and dealing with frozen pipes to deicing driveways and increased heating costs, winter challenges may seem unending.
Many homeowners are unfamiliar with the term frost heave but may experience its effects without realizing it. While frost heave may not be at the top of your list of winter woes, it can lead to foundation cracks and costly repairs.
This page explains what you need to know about winter-related foundation cracks and the prevention and repair methods that reduce frost heave damage.
What is Frost Heave?
Frost heave occurs in the winter when saturated ground soil freezes, expands, and pushes upward against the foundation of a home or building. This movement, known as foundation heave, can cause cracks and structural damage to your home. The severity of frost heave depends on the soil conditions beneath the foundation, the climate, and the frost line depth.
What Causes Frost Heave?
Why does frost heave happen? When the ground has sufficient moisture and temperatures fall, the water freezes, causing the ground to shift. However, not all soil types are affected by frost heave. Understanding frost heave can help you identify potential issues and take preventative measures to protect your home before damage occurs. Here are the factors influencing frost heave:
- Soil Type: Expansive clay soils absorb and retain water, making this soil type particularly susceptible to frost heave.
- Temperature Changes: Rapid freeze-thaw cycles due to temperature changes increase the likelihood of frost heave.
- Frost Depth: Frost heave potential increases with the depth at which the frost penetrates the ground.
- Moisture Content: High moisture content makes the ground more prone to heaving.
- Design: Poor foundation design or construction can make foundations more vulnerable to concrete heave.
- Inadequate Protection: Foundations without adequate insulation or frost wall installation may be at risk of concrete heave.
If you discover signs of frost heave, contact a foundation repair expert like Groundworks for a free inspection. Foundation damage requires prompt attention to prevent further deterioration and safety hazards.
How Do Frost Heave-Related Foundation Cracks Occur?
Let’s be honest: no foundation crack is good—especially when it’s caused by frost heave. Frost heave-related foundation cracks occur for the following reasons:
- Upward Pressure: When the ground freezes and expands, it presses upward on the foundation. This pressure can cause the foundation to lift or shift, leading to cracks.
- Soil Erosion: Repeated freeze-thaw cycles can cause soil erosion, weakening, and increased crack heave susceptibility.
- Differential Movement: When frost depth is uneven, different soil sections can experience varying degrees of uplift, also known as differential movement. This causes cracks, especially at weak or stressed points.
- Foundation Settlement: Frost heave can cause uneven foundation settlement. This settling leads to cracking.
How Do You Know If You Have Frost Heave?
Frost heave causes exterior foundation cracks in your house or commercial property, but it can also cause interior damage. Frost heave problem signs include:
- Floor and wall cracks
- Uneven or sagging floors
- Cracked siding and stucco
- Window or door gaps
- Bowing walls
- Misaligned or sticking doors and windows
How to Prevent Frost Heave and Foundation Cracks
If you don’t think foundation repair can be done in winter, think again. Builders can help prevent heaving year-round by installing insulation, frost walls, or other methods to protect the foundation from freeze-thaw damage. Here are additional precautions to take:
Replace the Soil
While not ideal for every property, replacing and compacting the backfill soil around the foundation with porous alternatives, such as gravel or fill sand containing a sand, soil, and clay blend, can be beneficial.
Install Drainage Solutions
Proper foundation drainage, such as gutters, French drains, and downspouts, ensures the water exits the foundation’s surrounding area, preventing soil saturation and frost heave.
Ensure Proper Insulation
Minimize heat loss between the foundation and soil with insulation. Heat transfer enhances the freeze-thaw cycle and increases the chance of frost heave, leading to foundation shifting and cracks.
How to Ensure Long-Term Foundation Protection
Maintaining a damage-free foundation is possible with the proper proactive steps. These measures include:
- Regular Inspections: Foundation inspections identify early signs of damage early.
- Manage Water: Address water leaks and drainage problems before they worsen and affect the foundation.
- Maintain Landscaping: Trim shrubbery and avoid planting trees and other vegetation near the foundation, as their roots can cause damage.
Prevent Foundation Damage with Groundworks’ Solutions
Contact Groundworks if you notice signs of frost heave or aren’t sure. We provide free inspections to identify and diagnose signs of frost heave and foundation distress. If we determine your property would benefit from our foundation repair solutions, we will create a customized repair plan tailored to suit your property, needs, and budget.
Contact us today to learn more about frost heave, foundation repair, and our financing options.
Foundation Repair FAQs
While issues that appear minor on the surface might seem to be DIY-friendly, foundation repair can be a complex process. It’s best to consult professionals like Groundworks for structural foundation problems, ensuring accurate diagnosis and lasting repairs.
While many types of foundation damage repair are not covered by homeowner’s insurance, coverage varies by policy. Check with your insurance provider for specific details about your policy and coverage.
DIY fixes are not the answer. To get to the root of the problem, it’s important for repair professionals to inspect your foundation.
Depending on where the cracks are, what they mean, and the extent of the damage, your house could benefit from a variety of solutions.
For example, if your house is settling, helical piers will be used to stabilize and potentially lift it. For significant wall issues, repairs like wall anchors or beams can be used as reinforcements.
