There are a couple primary causes for concrete damage out there, and one of the most well-known – with good reason – is sinking. Often due to issues with the soil beneath your concrete slab or some related issue during slab installation, some concrete will, over a period of months or even years, shift and sink either partially or fully, and the resulting strain on the slab will often lead to major cracks, gaps and similar concerns.
At Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC, we’re happy to offer numerous commercial and residential concrete lifting and leveling services throughout Ogden and other parts of Utah, plus assistance with municipal jobs as-needed. One of our top related functions, however, is to also inform our clients of some general tips to avoid any concrete damage issues they’ve dealt with as they move forward, and down these lines, there are actually several steps you can take that will heavily reduce the chances of your concrete slab sinking or otherwise settling. This two-part blog series will go over a number of themes to keep in mind here.
Rainwater Direction
One of the top causes of concrete sinkage is erosion and settlement of the soil below the slab itself – and one of the top precursors to this event is moisture infiltration. Also known as washout, this describes a situation where the rainwater on your property is not being directed away from your concrete slabs by your gutters, but rather toward or even directly on top of it.
This leaves the surfaces at-risk of significant standing water, which can penetrate the inner parts of a concrete slab. This, in turn, heavily raises the risk of cracking or sinking in the concrete slab, and when moisture makes its way down into the soil below the slab, these risks only increase. For this reason, it’s vital to ensure you have a working gutter and drainage system that property directs water away from concrete surfaces, particularly your foundation.
Slab Edges and Runoff
Another moisture-related issue is the presence of standing water on the edges of your slab if it’s not sloped properly. The goal here is for water that hits your concrete to flow naturally off of it, but some slab edges actually slope upward and don’t allow this to happen easily. Take a look at the edges of your concrete and consider packing any open areas with soil to prevent moisture issues, plus think about changing your sloping if it’s moving in the wrong direction – you might be surprised how much impact a very simple leveling job can have on not only your slab’s practical value, but also its aesthetic qualities.
For more on how to avoid concrete sinking risks on your property, or to learn about any of our concrete lifting and leveling services in Ogden, speak to the staff at Lift-Up Concrete Lifting LLC today.
