Soil Washout Leads to Cracked and Sinking Concrete

Wednesday, February 9th, 2022 by Morgan Kenney

Challenge

Angela and her husband had some washout under the concrete around their home. The concrete was starting to sink and crack in the lower part of the driveway with the main concern being near the home. Their front porch had also settled due to the washout under the concrete. Angela and her husband were not planning to stay at this Kalamazoo Michigan home forever but wanted to get the problem fixed sooner rather than later.

Gage went out to do an inspection of the issues for them and see what was causing the issue. When he finished the inspection, he found that the downspout was not buried correctly which is what was causing the soil beneath the concrete/porch to be washed away.

Solution

We had just the solution to keep the concrete free of hazards and the soil safe from any more washout.

We started with PolyLevel which is a faster and more affordable solution than other options for concrete repair. This foam is injected under the concrete to lift it back up to the original level and support the weight of any vehicle on the driveway. PolyLevel is lightweight so it does not put added pressure on the unstable, or missing, soil but it is also very strong. The foam is waterproof and stable, so it won’t get washed away or react with the soil surrounding it. The best part is that it has a quick curing time so getting the concrete fixed is not an inconvenience to the homeowner.

To protect the concrete and seal the cracks, we used NexusPro. NexusPro sealant is a silicone-based filler that keeps debris from getting through the joints or cracks and degrading the concrete slab from below. It is designed to withstand harsh weather and is resistant to UV rays so it will not crack or bubble. It dries in about an hour and can be done the same day as PolyLevel injection to make the process simple!

With the concrete lifted and cracks sealed, the home is ready to be put on the market once the owners are ready. It also keeps the driveway and front porch safe for them and any visitors!

This was some of the cracking that the homeowner had in the driveway at the lower corner.

Here is a picture of what it looked like under the concrete slabs. You can see a 'tunnel' through the soil which is where the water was running and took the soil with it.