How to Fix Heaving Foundation in Fredericton?

Necessary steps before fixing heaving foundation

Identifying and addressing the cause

Before grabbing your tools or calling foundation repair contractor in Fredericton, you need to pinpoint why your foundation is heaving in the first place.

1. The most common reason for foundation heave lies beneath your feet – the soil. Expansive soil acts like a sponge that expands when wet and shrinks when dry. When rain comes down heavy or snow melts, this expanding soil can exert tremendous pressure on your foundation, pushing it upward.
2. Look around your home’s perimeter after heavy rainfall. Do you see water pooling near your foundation? This excess moisture is often the primary culprit behind heaving.
3. In Fredericton, freeze-thaw cycles create what experts call “frost heave.” When water in the soil freezes, it expands about 9% in volume, pushing everything above it – including your foundation – upward.
4. Plumbing issues can also trigger heaving. A leaking water line beneath your slab foundation saturates the soil, causing it to expand. Check your water bills – unexpected increases might signal an underground leak.
5. Tree roots present another sneaky cause. Those beautiful shade trees? Their root systems might be disrupting the soil beneath your foundation or sucking too much moisture from it, creating uneven conditions.
6. To identify the specific cause at your home, walk around your property after rainfall to observe water patterns, check for cracked water pipes or damp spots in basements, monitor doors and windows that suddenly stick, look for diagonal cracks in walls or where walls meet ceilings, and measure any uneven floors with a level.

Understanding what’s causing your foundation heave shapes your repair strategy and helps prevent the problem from returning.

Controlling moisture

Water management forms your first line of defense against foundation heave. Since most heaving happens when soil gets soaked, controlling moisture around your home prevents many issues before they start.

Begin with your gutter system. You’d be surprised how many homeowners ignore this simple fix. Make sure your gutters aren’t clogged with leaves or debris. Downspouts should extend at least 5-10 feet away from your foundation, directing water away from vulnerable areas.

Next, examine the grading around your house. Proper grading means the ground slopes away from your foundation at a rate of about 6 inches over 10 feet. This subtle slope makes a huge difference in keeping water away from the foundation.

Consider installing a comprehensive drainage system if you live in an area with heavy rainfall or have persistent moisture issues. French drains or surface channels capture water before it reaches your foundation and redirect it safely away.

Check for plumbing leaks regularly. A small drip can saturate soil over time, causing it to expand and push against your foundation. Inspect water bills for unexpected increases – they often signal hidden leaks.

For homes with crawl spaces, proper ventilation prevents moisture buildup. Consider installing a vapor barrier to keep ground moisture from affecting your home’s structural integrity.

Some homeowners find success with installing root barriers to prevent tree roots from disturbing the soil near their foundation. If large trees grow close to your home, consult an arborist about whether they pose a risk to your foundation.

Remember, water management isn’t a one-time fix but an ongoing maintenance routine that protects your home year after year.

How to repair heaving foundation?

Once you have identified and addressed the causes of your foundation heave, it’s time to fix the damage. Several repair options exist, ranging from simple DIY fixes to complex professional solutions.

Grinding and patching

For minor heaving where concrete has lifted slightly, grinding down high spots offers a quick fix. You can use a concrete grinder to level raised areas, then patch with a quality concrete repair product.

This approach works best when the heave damage appears minimal, you are dealing with cosmetic issues rather than structural problems, and the underlying cause has been completely resolved.

Be aware that grinding and patching treats symptoms rather than the underlying condition. If expanding soil or moisture issues persist, heaving will likely return. Consider this a temporary solution while planning more comprehensive repairs.

The process typically involves marking high spots, grinding them down carefully, cleaning the surface thoroughly, then applying a patching compound. Its relatively inexpensive but requires careful work to achieve a level result.

Polyurethane grouting

This modern technique has revolutionized foundation repair. Technicians inject high-density polyurethane foam beneath your foundation through small holes. The polymer expands, filling voids and lifting settled sections back to their original position.

Polyurethane grouting offers several advantages: it’s minimally invasive with tiny injection holes, provides quick results – often complete in hours, offers long-lasting stabilization when done correctly, and works well with multiple soil types.

The foam creates a water-resistant barrier that helps prevent future moisture problems. While more expensive than simple patching, polyurethane grouting costs significantly less than full foundation replacement and causes minimal disruption to your property.

Foundation underpinning

For serious foundation heave, underpinning provides a permanent solution by transferring the weight of your home to more stable soil layers deep underground.

• Helical Piers: Screw-like devices twisted deep into stable soil to support the home’s weight, resisting both downward pressure and upward heaving. The number needed is determined by engineering analysis of soil and structure.
• Push Piers: Straight steel shafts hydraulically pushed into strong soil or bedrock. More effective for settling than heaving due to potential unlinking during upward movement.
• Slab Piers: Specialized piers for concrete slabs, installed through small access holes to stabilize and often lift sunken concrete.

The underpinning process typically takes several days but provides decades of stability when properly installed. While expensive, this method resolves even severe foundation problems.

Slab replacement

In extreme cases where heaving has caused extensive damage to your concrete slab, partial or complete replacement becomes necessary. This procedure involves removing the damaged concrete sections, addressing all underlying soil and moisture issues, installing proper drainage and moisture barriers, and pouring new concrete designed to resist future problems.

Slab replacement costs more than other repair methods and disrupts your home significantly. However, when substantial damage exists, it provides a clean slate and opportunity to incorporate modern construction techniques that prevent future heaving.

Installing a drainage system

A key repair strategy involves preventing future heaving by diverting water away from the foundation.

• Effective Drainage Components:
  • Surface Drains: Collect and redirect rainwater away from the structure.
  • French Drains: Capture groundwater before it reaches the foundation.
  • Sump Pump Systems: Actively remove water from problem areas.
• Professional Installation: Ensures proper grading and water flow for year-round dry foundations.
• Enhanced Repair Longevity: Combining drainage systems with other repair methods significantly extends their lifespan.

Stabilizing the base

After addressing the immediate heaving issues, focus on long-term stabilization of your foundation.

Underpinning

By connecting your foundation to stable soil below the frost line or ideally to bedrock, steel piers provide exceptional stability. Engineers analyze soil samples to determine ideal pier placement and depth. The goal? Creating a foundation support system that resists both upward and downward forces regardless of seasonal changes.

Hydraulic lifting

When sections of your foundation have moved significantly, hydraulic jacks can gradually restore proper alignment. This delicate process requires expert supervision to prevent additional damage. Technicians raise the foundation in tiny increments – often just millimeters at a time – allowing the structure to adjust gradually.

Filling gaps

Once your foundation reaches the correct position, technicians fill voids beneath it with specialized materials that solidify and support the structure. These fillers prevent soil movement while providing a stable base. Modern materials resist water penetration, breaking the cycle of moisture absorption that leads to heaving.

For maximum stability, combine these approaches with ongoing maintenance.

• Monitor your property regularly for signs of water accumulation.
• Check for new cracks in walls or floors, and maintain proper drainage systems.

This vigilance helps you spot potential issues before they compromise your newly stabilized foundation.

Remember that stabilization is not just about fixing current problems – it’s about creating a resilient foundation system that withstands changing soil conditions for decades to come.

Expert heaving foundation repair awaits – Get your free estimate!

If you are facing any type of foundation damages, Atlantic Brick And Stone offers specialized heaving foundation repair with local soil conditions. Our team understands the unique challenges of the Fredericton’s climate cycles and how they affect foundations.

Unlike national chains with one-size-fits-all approaches, Atlantic Brick And Stone tailors solutions to your specific situation, using repair methods proven effective in local conditions. Our foundation contractor not only fixes immediate problems but helps you develop maintenance plans that prevent future issues.

With 15+ years of combined experience, we have seen virtually every foundation heave scenario in the region and developed specialized techniques that work with Fredericton’s specific soil composition and moisture patterns.

Summary

• Foundation heave is usually caused by moisture issues and expansive soil, so managing water is key to prevention.
• Early detection through regular checks for sticking doors, cracks, and uneven floors can save significant repair costs.
• Choose foundation repair methods that address both the visible damage and the root causes of heaving to avoid future problems.
• Professional assessment is generally necessary for serious foundation issues, as DIY repairs are often inadequate.
• Long-term protection involves preventative measures like proper drainage, moisture barriers, and regular maintenance.