how to repair soil erosion around foundation

Foundation Erosion Repair Options

• Soil Stabilization. Foundation soil stabilization chemicals can be injected into loose soil to achieve better compaction, fill sub-surface voids and minimize erosion.
• Polyurethane Foam Void Filling. With defects beneath concrete foundation slabs, an effective method of repair is polyurethane foam void filling.
• Foam Jacking Foundation Repair. ...

Full Answer

How can I protect my foundation from soil erosion?

The best way to protect your foundation is to prevent soil erosion from occurring in the first place. We recommend the measures outlined below. 1. Install a Surface or French Drain Surface drains and French drains are common and effective solutions to drainage issues.

How can I control erosion?

To control erosion there are a number of things you can do. For one, you can look into specific landscaping and gardening plansthat increase the firmness of the soil. The roots of the plants work to hold the soil in position and prevent its loss. To achieve this, you can plant grass and flowers strategically around your home.

How does soil erosion affect your foundation?

Little by little, the erosion may end up washing away large chunks of soil. Eventually, leaving your house or building with failing foundation. That being said, let’s move on to another important question.

What causes soil settlement under slab foundation?

Soil settlement develops slowly and is worsened by the erosive behavior of poorly drained water. For some drainage tips, see our blog post about ways to prevent soil erosion around your house foundation. Does a Void Under Your Slab Foundation Need to be Repaired?

How do you fix a foundation washout?

To fix a washout, the material beneath the home must be replaced to bring the foundation level once more. Since the house may already be sagging, the replacement material must be strong enough to fill the washed out void and push the house back to a level state.

How do you build soil around foundation?

Spread 3 inches of fresh topsoil over the surface and till it in to the existing soil. Spread an additional 3 inches of topsoil and rake it into a smooth surface, sloping it away from the house.

What is foundation erosion?

Foundation erosion can occur when water collects and pools next to and under the foundation. If your home does not have a good exterior drainage system, this may be a problem. Any time downspouts are not connected to gutters and/or diverted away from the house foundation, water can pool.

How do you fix ground erosion?

For heavy erosion in areas of concentrated flow, the most effective solutions are check dams or terraces.Replant Vegetation Suited to Site Conditions. Well-established vegetation can stabilize the soil in cases of light erosion. ... Footpaths with Exposed Soil: Cover with Mulch or Gravel. ... Terraces. ... Build Check Dams.

What is best to put around foundation of house?

Mulch retains moisture and will be beneficial to your plants and your foundation in the summer months by preventing the soil around your property from becoming too dry. Exceedingly dry soil can harm your foundation by causing movement. Make sure flower beds slope away from your foundation.

Should I put rocks around my foundation?

Be sure to only use rocks for drainage if your soil slopes away from your home's foundation. If your home is situated in the direction of water flow, keeping rocks at your home's foundation will do little to help as the water will have nowhere to flow.

How do you fix erosion under concrete?

Fixing Erosion Under Concrete The best way to fix erosion under concrete is to fill voids with material that's resistant to erosion. This is usually done with the slab jacking process. Scritchlow Concrete Lifting and Slab Jacking uses only crushed limestone and Portland cement which is not susceptible to erosion.

What dirt do you put around foundation?

Foundation Soil Grading If your foundation soil is pitched towards your home, it's recommended that you add dirt to the area until the slope moves away from the house (this is known as “grading”). This soil should be dense- preferably clay soil.

How can you help minimize the effects of soil erosion at home?

5 Ways of Preventing Soil Erosion (for Homeowners)Mulch. ... Matting. ... Ground Cover. ... Terracing. ... Retaining Walls.

Does gravel help with erosion?

Gravel used for erosion control comes from mines and quarries. These small but sturdy rock types are for layering and holding soil in place, just like mulch would be used to hold a new tree in place.

How do you keep soil from washing away on a slope?

1:413:51How to Control Erosion - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd others are temporary planting soil building cover crop to overwinter in your garden after allMoreAnd others are temporary planting soil building cover crop to overwinter in your garden after all the crops are harvested. Will build your soil. And keep it from being washed away eh in winter storms.

Do rocks help with erosion?

Rocks are typically used to prevent erosion by water, not wind. Rounded stones are not as effective as rocks that are jagged or angular in shape that tend to “knit” or lock together. Rocks should be less than one-third as wide as they are long.

Should I build up soil around foundation?

If your foundation soil is pitched towards your home, it's recommended that you add dirt to the area until the slope moves away from the house (this is known as “grading”). This soil should be dense- preferably clay soil.

What do you fill around foundation?

Topsoil, in contrast, can and should be used as the top layer (roughly 5 to 10 inches above your fill dirt) when you build up the area around your foundation. Topsoil has minerals and organic matter in its composition, making it the ideal soil to use when trying to create a garden or to plant flowers.

How do you compact soil around the house?

The Typical Dirt Compacting & Settling MethodGround excavation or removal of current dirt.Wet the soil to reduce the dust. ... Lay drainage pipes to reduce the risk of sinkholes.Lay the foundation.Lay a plastic or moisture barrier and set forms in place.Set rebar and do anything else you need to.More items...•

How much dirt should be around your foundation?

Soil Grading Around Your Home To fix or improve the grading, you can add soil next to the foundation and slope away from the house, however, you should have at least four inches of your foundation (concrete, block, or stone) showing above the soil.

How to keep foundation safe from erosion?

Clearly, being proactive is the best way to keep your foundation safe from erosion damage. The best part is that all the measures above are quite easy to carry out. All you need is some free time and a little know-how, and you’ll be all set. Reader Interactions.

How to prevent soil erosion?

To control erosion there are a number of things you can do. For one, you can look into specific landscaping and gardening plans that increase the firmness of the soil. The roots of the plants work to hold the soil in position and prevent its loss.

Why do you need gutters and downspouts?

Gutters and downspouts not only help to prevent rainwater damage to the foundation but also make it easier to direct the water to a safer disposal area.

Why is it important to keep your foundation in good condition?

This means regularly inspecting it for cracks, damages, and any signs of soil erosion. This brings us to a few critical questions regarding erosion;

What happens when you strip soil?

If you strip it away, not only does the weight of the house become particularly concentrated on a small area, it also leaves the foundation exposed. This, in turn, increases the rate of erosion.

Can you put a moisture barrier on your foundation?

And if that’s not possible, you can opt to create a moisture barrier or a slanting swale to your foundation. This helps to direct water away from your house.

Is prevention better than cure?

The old adage “Prevention is better than cure” always holds true. The same thought applies to soil erosion. The best way to shield your foundation from future damage is to ensure that the soil around it doesn’t get eroded. You are probably wondering how.

What happens when a house foundation is eroded?

After all, when erosion occurs and soil is displaced, house foundations are exposed to the elements, including wind and water. Worse yet, it can lead to foundation settling and the need for foundation repair.

How far should soil be graded from foundation?

The general rule of thumb is that soil should be graded at a 3-6% slope away from your foundation. This pertains to the first 10 feet of ground. It is crucial that your foundation is not positioned at a negative slope. 5. Check for Plumbing Leaks.

Why are piers and beams damaged?

Pier and beam foundations can also be severely damaged due to soil erosion caused by water. Terminating plumbing leaks beneath your foundation is just one way of stopping erosion. Soil should never be extremely wet.

What happens when water creeps under a foundation?

When massive amounts of water are allowed to creep beneath your foundation, soil can be washed away. Water carries a great deal of weight and slowly, but surely, it can have a devastating effect on your structure.

How to find out if your foundation is good?

The best way to find out is to visually inspect your foundation. If you pull back the hedges and see less than 4” of your foundation showing, keep an eye on things. You don’t want the soil to get any lower than that. If it does, have a landscape company add native soil around your foundation. (This is not a service we provide.) It’s wise to also be on the lookout for any sources of unwanted moisture.

Why are roots important in landscaping?

It’s important that you have the proper landscaping along the perimeter of your foundation. Plants are an excellent, relatively inexpensive way of halting soil erosion.

Is it a good idea to tie gutters into French drains?

It is wise to tie your gutters into a French drain, where the water will then be released a safe distance away. In the event that standing water is an issue, a surface drainage system might also be required. Drains are an excellent way to prevent soil erosion and foundation damage. 4.

What to do if your foundation is eroded?

If you notice the soil around your foundation has eroded, you should consider regrading it and planting landscaping with good surface roots to hold the new graded soil in place. However, you will also want to monitor that area of your foundation to see if problems have already started due to the previous erosion.

What happens if moisture sits up against foundation?

If enough moisture was sitting up against the foundation, it could cause shifting and new settling that may cause problems. If you notice any sinking or new cracks, it would be best to call a foundation company. While foundation companies can’t help with regrading your soil, if you are having any foundation problems, contact us today. ...

Why is soil grade important?

The soil grade around your foundation is meant so that water flows down the slope and away from your foundation. When the soil erodes, it can cause that water to instead pool by the foundation and may invite potential problems. Soil erosion typically happens when there is nothing to hold the soil firm. This is why landscaping around ...

What does a roof leak mean?

Roof Leak? It Could Be a Sign of a Foundation Problem

Can foundation companies regrade soil?

While foundation companies can’t help with regrading your soil, if you are having any foundation problems, contact us today. Steady House Foundation Repair can help get your home back on a steady foundation.

How to stabilize soil?

The soil can sometimes be stabilized and strengthened by adding cement-like materials (chemical stabilization), or that section of foundation can be made deeper to reach stable, undisturbed soil — or the footing made wider at the base to spread the load over a larger area. Other more exotic (and expensive) solutions include special steel pins and helical piers engineered to support weight in poor soils.

What are some examples of soil that has not been compacted?

Examples include filled soil that has not been properly compacted, organic materials such as peat, or places where the soil under the foundation has been eroded or disturbed, as in this case. Leaks in the water pipes under a slab foundation can also destabilize or erode the soil. There are a variety of solutions depending on the specific situation.

What is underpinning in building?

Underpinning is required when the soil beneath a foundation cannot support the load. Examples include filled soil that has not been properly compacted, organic materials such as peat, or places where the soil under the foundation has been eroded or disturbed, as in this case. Leaks in the water pipes under a slab foundation can also destabilize or erode the soil.

How far away from the foundation should you conduct water?

On flat or hard-to-drain sites, conduct water at least 10 ft. from the foundation to a dry well or daylight.

What is needed to drain water from a flat site?

Sometimes a splash block or a short run of horizontal pipe (drain pipe or pvc) along the ground is all that is needed. On a flat site with poor natural drainage, a dry well located away from the foundation may be needed to safely discharge the water back into the soil.

Can you fill a void in a concrete footing?

Since it is difficult to replace and compact soil beneath an existing footing, filling the void with concrete may be the easiest and cheapest solution as long as you can fill down to undisturbed, native soil of adequate strength. And, of course, you need to redirect the downspout so the water drains safely away from the building without causing damage.

Do you need to repair footing drains?

Since you are excavating to repair the footings, you should make sure that the house has functioning footing drains, and to repair or replace them if needed. Footing drains provide a secondary line of defense by moving water away from the base of the foundation. However, managing the surface water from the roof and yard, so it flows away from the foundation, is your top priority.

Why does my slab foundation have voids?

There are two main culprits to voids under a slab foundation, and they both revolve around moisture. In some instances, these causes are unavoidable. However, there are some cases in which you can help prevent these problems from leading to foundation damage.

What is URETEK foundation repair?

URETEK is dedicated to providing the highest quality Houston foundation repair services. With our unique foam foundation repair technology for filling voids, you can rest assured that we’ll meet and exceed your foundation repair and maintenance needs.

What is sand cement slurry?

This mixture of sand, cement, and water is pumped through holes drilled in a slab foundation to fill voids underneath. While this type of slab jacking can be cost-effective, there are some potential drawbacks to going for this type of repair.

What causes voids in concrete slabs?

Faulty under-slab plumbing can also contribute to the formation of voids. Water build-up from leaky pipes underneath building structures will trigger further soil erosion .

Why is there a void under my slab?

Erosion from Plumbing Leaks or Poor Water Drainage. If your foundation wasn’t built to drain water away from your slab foundations, there is an increased chance of topsoil erosion that can cause a void under your foundation. Poor drainage channels and improper foundation sloping can result in a loss of structurally important foundation soil.

How to fill a void under a concrete slab?

The void is then filled with sand and sealed with a concrete mixture that is level with your slab. Sand filling must be properly compacted so that your under-slab void doesn’t reform.

How long does it take for concrete to cure?

The curing time for the filled concrete is extensive (approximately two to three weeks depending on airflow).