Could Oversaturated Soil Be to Blame for Your Sinking Concrete?

Jul 12, 2018 | Leveling Sinking Concrete Houston

Have you started to notice that you have sinking concrete surfaces around your Houston-area home? If so, there is a possibility that the soil around your property is oversaturated. This can be a common problem in our region given our high water table and unique clay composition soils. When you need a reliable concrete leveling service, Tilted Concrete Solutions is here for you. As Houston’s trusted concrete leveling company, you can count on us to restore your sinking concrete surfaces back to their former glory. Call us today to request your free estimate, and in the meantime, check out five warning signs of oversaturated soil below.

5 Warning Signs of Oversaturated Soil

Water Pooling Around Your Foundation

Have you ever taken the time to inspect your property after a rainstorm to see whether or not there is standing water near your foundation? Under normal circumstances, water is either carried away from your home or absorbed into the ground. Whether it is caused by clogged gutters, misdirected downspouts, or poorly graded landscaping, pooling water near your foundation could indicate that the soil beneath has reached its maximum saturation point.

Pooling Water in Your Lawn

A lush, green lawn is something that most proud homeowners strive to attain. Watering your lawn regularly is an essential part of lawn maintenance, especially during the heat of the summer. Many homeowners have sprinkler systems that allow them to set a watering schedule. Though convenient, this can also lead to overwatering. If you begin to notice pooling water in your yard after routine watering, you may have oversaturated soils.

Sinking Concrete Surfaces

Uneven driveways, sidewalks, and pool decks are unsightly and they can pose a tripping hazard for you, your family, and guests. There are many reasons why concrete sinks, including oversaturated soil and subsequent soil shrinkage when it dries out. If you begin to notice cracks in your sidewalk or larger gaps between your garage door and the driveway, this could be a sign that the soil beneath has been exposed to too much moisture.

Soil that has experienced multiple cycles of expansion and contraction due to oversaturation and subsequent drying becomes unstable, and it often no longer has the ability to support heavy concrete slabs. We use a lightweight, self-expanding polyurethane foam that helps stabilize the soil while lifting the slab. This product is manufactured right here in Texas with the unique characteristics of our clay soil in mind, so you can rest assured our concrete leveling services are designed to last.

Cracks Inside of Your Home

In addition to causing uneven concrete surfaces, oversaturated soils can wreak havoc on the surfaces inside of your home as well. Your interior walls and your ceiling may begin to develop cracks, and your tile floors may experience cracking if the soil beneath your home is too saturated to support the weight of the structure. Additionally, countertops may begin pulling away from your walls. Discovering these issues upon close inspection of doorways, upper interior corners, and countertop caulking could indicate that you have oversaturated soil.

Water in Your Basement or Crawlspace

This might seem like a no-brainer, but one of the most obvious signs of oversaturated soil is excessive moisture or standing water in your crawlspace or basement. These areas are designed to be dry, but when the soil on the other side of the wall has too much water in it, it could permeate the walls and leak through. Having a persistent musty odor, sightings of mold and mildew, and water on the floor could mean the soil around your home has a high water content.

Houston Concrete Leveling Services

Whether your property has sinking concrete surfaces because of oversaturated soil, poor compaction, or another reason, Tilted Concrete Solutions can help. Our team of experienced technicians is happy to come and inspect the area of concern and provide you with a free estimate for our concrete leveling services. Our polyjacking process is minimally invasive when compared to traditional mudjacking, and it helps prevent future subsurface erosion. We are so confident that you’ll be pleased with the quality of our workmanship that we provide a two-year, industry-leading warranty on all of our work. Contact us today to get started — we look forward to speaking with you!