Snow-ly Moly: What the Snowstorm Means For Your Home

So, how about that snowstorm?

You might be thinking, “At least it wasn’t rain”, because while it has the benefit of not being blinding white, rain is notorious for causing a myriad of other problems. You’re not necessarily safer in the snow, especially not at this time of year, because it’s going to be above freezing in lower Michigan for the next two weeks and that snow is going to melt quickly and cause havoc in your home.

With the rapid cycling between freezing temperatures and unseasonably warm days like last Saturday and the upcoming few weeks, we’re in prime time for major problems.

Foundation

First, let’s talk about frost heave. You might also know this process as ice lensing, or you might not know about it at all - that’s totally understandable. I’ll make it simple. When water below the surface of the soil freezes, it expands in volume by about 8-9%. But because it’s below the surface, the weight of the soil above it tends to flatten it into disks - hence “ice lenses.” But as these lenses grow, being fed by new groundwater (like when the snow melts), they can’t help but push up, displacing soil in their wake. This frost heave can damage the foundation by adding pressure as it rises while also leaving parts of the foundation newly unsupported. This is where you get poured concrete walls leaning or bowing, and even block walls developing major cracks.

Flooding

If your basement or crawl space has any water issues, through cracks, poorly sealed windows, or anything else, the amount of snow about to melt - quickly - will expose them. If the soil stays frozen, water will need to go somewhere, and it naturally follows gravity. When it meets resistance, it will follow the path of least resistance - into your basement. And even if the soil isn’t frozen, it has a saturation point at which it can no longer absorb water and the water will, you guessed it, follow the path of least resistance.

Solutions

If you’ve noticed cracks in your walls or a visible bowing or leaning, you should call sooner than later. Addressed early, walls can be stabilized and secured, but ignoring the problem can lead to total wall failure. That is, your wall will be in a pile on your basement floor, along with your garden. And while they won’t destroy your basement as quickly as foundation issues, flooding should not be ignored either. And if you have any of these issues, you can be sure that this snowstorm will bring them to light.

As spring approaches, it’s only going to get wetter and you’re only going to get busier, so take care of winter’s lovely gifts now and spend the summer with peace of mind. Call us today at 1-800-638-7048 to schedule a free estimate with one of our specialists!