Heave potentially poses a plethora of major problemas for your foundation, sidewalk, and pool patio. The good news ( the gradient gospel, if you will) is that there are ways to mitigate heave.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our articles What is Foundation Heave & Is My Foundation Heaving
If you don’t have time to read those articles right now, here is a brief recap on heave to catch you up to speed.
Heave 101
Heave heads heavenward. Foundation heave is the uplift, elevation of a foundation precipitated by soaked, expanding soils and can generally be attributed to a seasonal increase in moisture, a shallow frost line, water leak, and/or underground aquifers.
This expansion of soil exerts undue stress on the home’s foundation, often culminating in drywall cracks, sloping floors, and sticking doors/windows.
In this article, we are going to cover how you can mitigate heave:
- Find, fix leaks
- Ensure there is adequate drainage
- Plant shrubbery
Yes, it’s as expensive and stupid as it sounds. Rule of thumb when it comes to heave: dry, don’t water.
Find, Fix Leaks to Impede Foundation Heave
Moisture is Public Enemy Number 1 when it comes to foundation heave. Leaks around the property provide a constant, steady supply of aqua, translating to a constant, and steady expansion.
This expansion loves to lift concrete, causing trip hazards. While walking around your property, look for damp/wet spots, sitting water, and sections of the yard that are greener than the res t.
Common culprits include:
- Busted water main
- Leaking water pipes (check for wet/damp spots in the crawlspace)
- Broken underground sprinkler system
Turn off all of the water in your home and check your water meter. If the numbers are still moving up, you definitely have a leak.
Once you have found the source of the water leak, call a repairman or repair it yourself. Give your yard time to dry out and see if the heave subsides. Often, targeting in on leaks is a great start, but is not a fix-all measure.
Install Proper Drainage
Proper drainage is one of the most imperative steps to combatting heave. The soil on your property is similar to a waterbed. Drained, the top section decompresses. Filled, the water table expands.
When seasonal rains arrive if there is no proper outlet for excessive runoff. And, unlike our waterbed analogy, the soil does not pop. The earth has no choice but to continue to expand, exerting more and more upward pressure onto your foundation.
Different Drainage Options:
French Drains prove the industry favorite when it comes to common drainage systems. French Drains create a gravity-fed channel for excess water to drain through. The excess water is filtered through a gravel permeated trench, then flows into a perforated pipe, and is finally deposited at a safe distance away from the home/structure. Often, French Drains are directed to a street, drainage ditch, or dry well.
Footing/Foundation drains are installed around the perimeter of your foundation and are typically comprised of flexible ABS pipe and/or perforated 4, 6-inch plastic utilized underground.
Gutters guide rainwater away from your home. Ensure these downspouts are pointed away from your home/footing to avoid washout and water damage.
Gardening & P Lanting Shrubbery
You can also plant shrubbery and small trees to help soak up the water with their root systems. We here at Dalinghaus do not recommend planting big trees directly adjacent to your home, due to gnarly root systems which can cause heave on their own.
Instead, we suggest planting small trees and shrubbery to help soak up any extra moisture the drain system hasn’t redirected away.
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Weeping Willow
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Red maple
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Bald Cypress
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White Cedar
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River Birch
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Oriental arborvitae
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Summersweet
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Red twig dogwood
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Black chokeberry
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Buttonbush
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Inkberry
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American cranberry bush
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Blue elderberry.
Dalinghaus Can Help With Heave
Feel free to try out these three measures on their own before reaching out or, why wait? If you live in SoCal and Central Arizona, book a FREE evaluation now by clicking the link below
Schedule a Free Evaluation
Foundation movement is easier to judge in person than from a photo. Schedule a free evaluation and a Dalinghaus specialist will walk the property with you and explain what the evidence shows.
Next Step
Schedule a Free Evaluation
A local specialist will evaluate your foundation, walk you through the findings, and send a clear estimate. No cost, no pressure.
Learn more about our foundation repair services.
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Written by
Brian Dalinghaus
Co-Founder, Dalinghaus Foundation Repair
Brian Dalinghaus founded Dalinghaus Foundation Repair with his brother Brad in Southern California in 2011. The brothers built the company on a Midwest work ethic and a single standard for every job: Never Settle.
More about Brian
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A local specialist will evaluate your foundation, walk you through the findings, and send a clear estimate. No cost, no pressure.
