The soil around your property is always changing. There are times, though, when those changes can destabilize your home and cause a significant amount of damage. If professionals are going to repair your damaged concrete slab and stabilize your soil, they’re going to need to determine why it is that your soil’s started to wash away. Some of the most common forces behind soil loss on private property include:
Moisture and Your Soil
Moisture and hydrostatic pressure have the most obvious influence on the stability of your concrete slab. Heavy rain and snowmelt, for example, both drive loose soil away from the perimeter of your home while also exposing your concrete slab to unwanted hydrostatic pressure. Before long, your slab may start to crack, causing parts of your home to sink and suffer as a result.
The good news is that moisture and soil damage give themselves away when they work in tandem. Look out for rivers of soil drifting away from your home. You can follow these conditions back to the primary damage sites within your foundation or slab.
Other Forces at Work in Your Yard
Moisture isn’t the only force that can destabilize your soil. Tree roots and burrowing critters create hollows beneath your home and your concrete can sink as a result. You’ll need to work with professional landscapers and exterminators if you want to keep these forces from costing you a pretty penny down the line.
That said, the composition of your soil may also damage your concrete slab. Certain soils in Ohio absorb more moisture than others, causing significant shifting whenever it rains. If these soils push up against your concrete slab, you may find yourself dealing with a one-two punch of hydrostatic pressure and soil creep.