Concrete is an excellent building material. It is long-lasting, strong, simple to manufacture, and cost-effective. As a result, it is the most widely used building material in the world for pavements, however, concrete can crack, chip, crumble, and sink.
Is concrete sinking normal?
When a concrete slab sinks or settles noticeably over time, the cause is either poor construction or water intrusion. Concrete is only as good as the foundation it was built on, just like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Concrete issues are common, and any concrete can fail at any time since concrete slabs are massive. When concrete is poured on top of the soil, it has the potential to sink. The slab sinks when the soils beneath a concrete slab can no longer support its weight.
Why it is sinking?
Sinking concrete is affected by soil shrinkage, compaction, and settling. If the soil beneath the slab is not compacted, the concrete may begin to sink as the soil solidifies and hardens. Concrete can sink if the soil is either too wet or too dry.
What causes the sinking?
There are several reasons why concrete may sink. It is frequently found in the form of uneven, cracked, or sunken concrete.
Inadequate slab support
If some sections of the concrete slab are supported by soils while others are not, the unsupported pieces may slip away from the other sections of the slab, resulting in unlevel concrete, cracking, and crumbling.
Compaction and shrinkage of soil
Sinking concrete is affected by soil shrinkage, compaction, and settling. If the soil beneath the slab is not compacted, the concrete may begin to sink as the soil solidifies and hardens. Concrete can sink if the soil is either too wet or too dry.
Soil kinds
The load-bearing capacity of various soil types varies. When the heavy concrete on top of the soil exceeds its load-bearing capacity, the soil compacts and settles, causing the concrete to sink, crack, crumble, and become uneven. For example, if the concrete is poured on fill soil that surrounds a new build (rather than native and well-compacted soil), the fill soil will become more compact over time and may cause the slab to sink.
It’s also possible that the soil beneath a slab will settle and compact on its own. When soil with a high concentration of clay and/or silt dries, it shrinks significantly. As the soil beneath a concrete slab compact, the unsupported slab sinks, usually cracking in one or more places.
Burrowing animals
Several animals, including rodents, will actually burrow beneath concrete slabs. or near foundations Once a significant amount of soil has been displaced, these rodents will make their home in the voids or holes under your concrete. Also, as previously stated, once there is no soil beneath the concrete to support it, the concrete will most likely sink over time. Or they create a large enough gap for water to enter, causing even more soil displacement over time.
How to fix sinking concrete?
If you have existing concrete and want to ensure that it does not sink or deteriorate further, here are some low-cost, simple things that any homeowner with some time can do.
- Use a polyurethane or silicone caulk to seal all open cracks and joints. Large gaps can be filled with a backer rod before caulking on top.
- Check that downspouts are at least five feet away from any concrete slab – the farther away, the better.
- Fill any open sides of a slab with soil to prevent runoff water from entering the concrete.
- If you install new concrete, make sure the base is at least 4″ of gravel and compacted. When you stomp your feet on the base, it should not move. In addition, all downspouts near any slab, such as a walkway, should be installed below the concrete and extended into the yard.
Contact Evansville Concrete Contractors
Uneven, cracked, and damaged concrete is a major issue for many homeowners. If you are looking for the best concrete contractors in Evansville, contact us today! We have the expertise to effectively level your concrete and fix your uneven and cracked concrete floors, driveways, patios, or sidewalks.
