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.
While frost heave may not be at the top of your list of winter woes, it can lead to harmful foundation cracks and costly repairs.
This page explains freeze thaw cycles, frost heave, foundation cracks, and the repair methods that address damage.
Understanding Frost Heave and Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Understanding frost heave and freeze thaw cycles will help you protect your property during the cold winter months. Here’s what to know:
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?
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 are susceptible to frost heave because they retain water.
- Temperature Changes: Rapid freeze-thaw cycles exacerbate frost heave.
- Frost Depth: The deeper the frost penetrates, the more significant the heave potential.
- Moisture Content: High moisture levels increase the risk of frost heave.
- Foundation Design: Poorly designed foundations without proper initial processes are more vulnerable to frost heave.
- Inadequate Insulation: Foundations without adequate insulation or frost wall installation may be at risk of concrete heave.
If you discover signs of frost or foundation heave, contact a foundation repair expert like Groundworks for a free inspection. Foundation damage requires prompt attention to prevent further deterioration and safety hazards.
What Are Freeze-Thaw Cycles?
Freeze-thaw cycles occur when water in the soil freezes and expands during freezing temperatures, then thaws and contracts as temperatures rise above freezing. These cycles can repeat throughout winter and spring, causing soil to shift and pressure foundations. Over time, it leads to cracks, structural instability, and water infiltration.
How Do Frost Heave Foundation Cracks Occur?
Let’s be honest: no foundation crack is good, especially when caused by frost heave. Frost heave-related foundation cracks occur for the following reasons:
- Upward Pressure: Freezing and expanding ground presses upward on the foundation, potentially causing it to lift or shift, leading to cracks.
- Soil Erosion: Repeated freeze-thaw cycles can cause soil erosion, weakening, and increased foundation heave susceptibility.
- Differential Movement: When frost depth is uneven, different sections of soil experience varying degrees of uplift, causing cracks.
- Foundation Settlement: Frost heave can cause uneven foundation settlement, leading to cracking.
Signs of Damage Caused by Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Freeze-thaw cycles cause frost heave foundation cracks and other issues, including:
Prevention is the first defense against foundation damage. Regular inspections and maintenance ensure your home remains safe and stable. If you notice signs of damage, contact a foundation repair expert for a free inspection.
How to Prevent Winter Damage to Foundations
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. Taking proactive measures can help prevent winter damage to foundations. These strategies include:
Install Proper Drainage Solutions
Proper drainage systems like gutters, French drains, and downspouts ensure water flows away from the foundation. Ensure gutters are cleaned and maintained and extend downspouts at least 10 feet away from the home.
Ensure Proper Insulation
Insulating the foundation helps minimize heat loss and reduces frost heave risks. This approach includes thermal crawl space insulation and basement wall insulation. Vapor barriers also control moisture.
Maintain Yard Grading
Landscape and yard grading should slope away from the foundation to encourage proper drainage.
Replace the Soil
Replace and compact the backfill soil around the foundation with porous alternatives, like gravel or fill sand containing a sand, soil, and clay mix.
Manage Soil Moisture
Reduce water in the soil around the foundation by addressing leaks. Avoid planting water-intensive vegetation near your foundation.
Seal Foundation Cracks
Address frost heave foundation cracks as soon as possible. Repair small cracks with sealants. More significant cracks should be addressed by professionals for an effective long-term solution.
Schedule Inspections
Regular foundation inspections, especially before and after winter, help identify potential issues before they cause trouble. Groundworks offers free foundation inspections and tailored repair plans for your needs and budget.
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.
Foundation Heave Repair Methods
Frost heave caused by freeze-thaw cycles causes severe damage if not addressed in time. Professionals install specialized foundation heave repair methods, including:
- Wall Stabilization: Hydrostatic pressure caused by freeze thaw cycles cracks bowing walls. Carbon fiber straps stabilize minimally damaged walls, while wall anchors and wall braces potentially realign walls over time.
- Foundation Piers: Foundation settlement requires another set of tools: foundation piers. Helical piers, push piers, and slab piers permanently stabilize settling foundations and often return them to their original state.
- Crawl Space Supports: Adjustable crawl space support jacks reinforce and lift sagging floors, restore stability, and potentially lift them over time.
Addressing harmful winter damage to foundations is best left to professionals. Foundation experts ensure the proper solutions, addressing all aspects of the issue.
Contact Groundworks for Specialized Foundation Heave Repair
Don’t let winter’s freeze-thaw cycles compromise your home’s foundation. Early intervention can save you time and money. Contact Groundworks for a free inspection and tailored repair plan. We are the nation’s leader in foundation and waterproofing services, and we’re ready to help you safeguard your home.
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, repair professionals need 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.
