There are areas of concrete flooring all around the typical home. One thing you have to remember with concrete flooring is that it can become damaged, and this is often the result of foundation issues. When you have a problem with the foundation of your home, it can cause areas of your concrete floors to sink, and this can bring with it all sorts of issues.
If this does happen at your home, you need to find concrete lifting services in order to get it sorted out. It is important to get this work carried out sooner rather than later because of the range of issues that it can cause in your home. It can affect everything from the aesthetic appeal of your property to health and safety levels and even the value of your property. So, getting this type of damage sorted out by professionals is vital. In this article, we will look at some of the areas of the home that can be affected by sinking concrete.
Which Parts of the Home Can Be Affected?
In short, all areas of concrete flooring can be affected by sinking concrete, and the damage can get worse over time if you do not get it rectified. When your concrete floors start to sink, you end up with very uneven floor surfaces, and these can be difficult to walk on. As a result, they can increase the risk of trips and falls, and those who succumb could injure themselves seriously on the concrete floor with problems such as head injuries.
Some of the areas of the home that may be affected are:
Your Driveway
One of the main areas that can be affected by sinking concrete is the driveway, and this can cause a number of issues. When the driveway becomes uneven due to sinking concrete, it can increase the chances of damage to your vehicle when you are driving onto or off the driveway.
If the concrete is really irregular and cracked, it could even cause some minor damage to your vehicle. It can also increase the risk of trips and falls when walking to and from the vehicle. Of course, it takes its toll on the appearance of the driveway too.
Floors
Obviously, as the foundation sinks, the floors in your home become uneven, specifically in older buildings. Again, it could be harmful to the inhabitants of the home, especially to children and elders. If it is not taken care of at the right time, it will emerge into a humongous issue.
The Patio
The patio is another area that can be affected by sinking concrete. It is the area of your house where you can sit and just enjoy your evenings and off-days. If the concrete here gets damaged, it causes issues like uneven flooring, chipped ground, etc.
Again, this can cause a lot of problems in terms of creating trip and fall hazards for members of your household and guests who like to sit out on the patio and enjoy the fresh air. It can also ruin the appearance of your patio area no matter how much you have spent on nice things such as patio furniture.
Steps to Your Home
If you have steps leading up to your home, these could also be affected by sinking, and this can make them particularly treacherous to walk on. For those who have mobility issues and for elderly or very young people, it could result in a serious accident. The steps to your home play a vital role – because you have to use them both while entering and exiting your home. And if the steps are sunken or broken, they can be very dangerous to use.
Walls
As the floors begin to sink, cracks will begin to appear in your walls. Mostly appearing near windows and doors, these cracks will eventually grow bigger if you don’t tend to them. This is because the sinking foundation exerts a lot of stress on walls, thus making them crack. Remember, even a small, insignificant crack could grow out into a very big issue.
Windows and Doors
Sunken concrete causes several structural damages, and windows and doors are one of the mainly affected areas. As the structure cracks, it causes the doors to stick. This means that you will be having trouble opening and closing your doors. It also makes the windows bend, thus making it almost impossible to use them.
Soon, you won’t be able to move the windows and doors in your home. This is also partially due to window sills and door frames getting damaged.
Pipes
When there are foundation issues, sometimes the water lines and pipes burst out. This causes water leaks and more cracks, thus adding more issues to the already damaged floor. What’s worse is that, if the water starts to seep into the foundation, it begins to become more fragile. It could also affect other parts of the structure.
How to Prevent Concrete from Further Sinking?
If your foundation is already sinking, and if you wish to prevent any more damages from occurring, there are some steps you can follow. But you have to keep in mind that these are just for the time being, and you will have to call an engineer to take a look at the sinking concrete. Given below are some easy and temporary repairs.
1. Seal all the cracks and joints by using silicone or polyurethane caulks.
2. When the downspouts are discharging, ensure that they are a minimum of five feet away from concrete slabs. If you can move them even farther, it would be for the better.
3. To make sure that runoff water is not getting below the concrete and damaging it, you should pack the open sides of a slab tightly with soil.
Final Words:
Sinking Concrete is very hazardous for a structure. These are some immediate alternatives that will help you to hold the concrete from sinking further. Make sure to contact a professional so that they can brief you on the gravity of the situation and start working on it.
