Sinkhole Repair and Remediation
Quite often you hear horror stories of the ground opening up around a Florida home. Unfortunately, sinkholes are a common problem in our state. The ground in the state of Florida is full of limestone, which is highly soluble in water.
Rainfalls in Florida eat away at the ground and create voids in the ground.
Eventually, the ground above collapses into those cavities, thus forming a sinkhole. Sinkholes can be man made, too.
Sinkholes can occur after heavy downpours or flooding, as well. Due to unpredictable rain patterns and a rapidly growing population, sinkholes are frequent and hazardous in Florida.
What are the Signs of Sinkhole Development?
The signs that a sinkhole may be developing are similar to other common signs of foundation failure. If you are able to catch a developing sinkhole before it collapses, you may be able to save yourself a world of trouble. Keep an eye out for the following issues:
Cracks – Every home impacted by sinkhole activity shows cracking. The cracks will be in the walls, floors, or ceiling either on the interior or exterior of the home.
Sloping Floors – Sinkhole activity causes one part of your home to sink or drop slightly lower than the other part.
Floor Cracks – Floor tiles are often the first part of a home to show sinkhole activity. Tiles that become loose or pop up can be a sign of sinkhole activity.
Interior Wall Separation – Look for interior walls separating from the ceiling.
Window and Door Frame Cracks – Cracks that form in the corner areas of doors or window frames indicate that this area is structurally weak.
Nail Popping – If drywall nails are popping out or pushing through, it could be a sign of sinkhole activity.
Sticking Doors and Windows – If doors or windows stick or get stuck, this can be due to weak parts of a wall and show signs of stress and cracking.
Higher Water and Power Bills – Sinkhole activity can cause a structure to shift. Even a slight shift to the foundation can cause a home to lose some of its energy efficiency.
Ground Surface – If you notice holes, depressions, dead spots, or very soft soil in the ground surface, it could be a sign of sinkhole activity
Leaning Fence – If you notice that your fence is leaning or dipping, it could be sinkhole activity.
Driveway Cracks – Normal driveways will often be level or slightly sloped towards the street. If there is a dramatic slope or has patches or holes in it, this may indicate sinkhole activity.
If we are able to spot a sinkhole before it becomes a real issue, we can take steps to stabilize the soil around the area and prevent any real damage.
Typical Methods
We mostly use these methods for sinkhole remediation.
Jet
Grouting
Cement
Hollow
Tube
Slab
Jacking
Our Professional Sinkhole Repair Services in Florida
When faced with a sinkhole, there are a couple possible solutions. Compaction grouting solidifies the soil around the area and fills the hole so there is no longer a danger of it collapsing. Compaction grouting is the method of injecting a polyurethane foam into the loose soil. The foam expands rapidly and compacts the surrounding soil, increasing the strength and stability.
We also offer void filling services to repair more serious sinkholes. Here at Foundation Professionals of Florida, we use polyurethane solutions to fill voids and stabilize foundations.
We notice that these solutions last longer than other typical mud-jacking jobs. Our void filling requires very few small holes, so there is little to no disruption to the installation site.
Foundation Professionals of Florida has been repairing sinkholes all across the state since 1980. We have an A+ rating with the BBB. Our team is well trained in all current techniques of sinkhole repair and remediation. We will be more than happy to come provide you with a permanent sinkhole remediation solution that will rectify all damage and prevent any problems for your Florida home. Contact us today for more information!