When it comes to your foundation, the weather has a major effect. One weather condition that can adversely affect the foundation of your home is frost heave. A condition that occurs in colder areas, frost heave consists of ice forming underneath the soil. As the soil beneath your foundation alternates between freezing and thawing, shifting occurs, which can lead to structural damage in your foundation. Read on to learn more about what frost heave is, how it damages your foundation, the warning signs of frost heave, and how Intech Anchoring can help.
Essentially, frost heave occurs because of pressure. When ice forms underneath the soil, that soil fluctuates between freezing and thawing. This causes the soil to be heaved, or lifted. Areas that have a deep frost line are most susceptible to frost heave. The frost line is the maximum depth at which water within the soil will freeze. While some areas of the country have no frost line (such as parts of Florida), other areas have very deep frost line. For example, the frost line in the Chicago area averages at about 40 inches deep.
Typically, frost heave happens in the late fall or early spring. Frost heave requires two elements that are abundant during this time period: freezing temperatures and soil moisture. For ice to form underneath the soil, not only does it have to be freezing, but the soil also has to have a constant supply of water. When frost heave occurs, the main cause of shifting soil is the formation of ice lenses. While ice lenses form underneath the soil, they themselves are free of soil and cause the soil above them to be displaced.
Frost heave foundation repair can happen in many forms – to determine the best solution for your home contact us at 800-223-7015.
When foundations become structurally damaged, one of the most common culprits is shifting soil. With frost heave, this is also the case. Frost heave damages your home’s foundation because it causes the soil underneath the foundation to shift, forcing parts of your foundation upwards while other areas do not move. This disparity leads to structural damage in your foundation, such as foundation wall cracks.
Fortunately, there are many warning signs that can alert you to foundation damage caused by frost heave before it is too late. Frost heave commonly leads to cracking throughout the interior walls of your home, and less commonly, it also causes exterior cracking. You can also tell if frost heave is damaging your foundation because you will see cracks within the concrete floor slab as well as sections of slab that are tilted or displaced.
Do you suspect that frost heave is causing damage to your home’s foundation? If so, Intech Anchoring can help. We offer a range of foundation repair solutions that can remedy the damage caused by frost heave and prevent future problems with frost heave. To learn more about how we handle frost heave and to arrange an inspection for your home’s foundation, call Intech Anchoring today at 800-223-7015.
Tim is the President of Intech Anchoring and has 25 years of experience in the Civil Engineering and Geostructural Industry. Tim has developed extensive industry knowledge by working to support the needs of specialty contractors at each and every business level. Tim’s diverse industry background has given him exposure to a wide variety civil construction projects, ranging from the simplest residential applications to the most complex commercial and industrial projects. Coupled with a highly skilled and educated team, Tim focuses on providing the highest quality products and solutions to Intech Anchoring’s customers in order to consistently exceed expectations.