How Does Frost Heave Affect Your Home’s Foundation?
When winter rolls into Northern Virginia, it’s not just your heating bill you need to worry about; frost heave can quietly wreak havoc on your home’s foundation. This natural, freeze-driven process may sound harmless, but over time, it can lead to cracks, misaligned doors, and even structural instability.
At DESKA, we specialize in identifying and solving foundation issues like frost heave before they turn into major (and expensive) problems. Here’s what every homeowner needs to know.
What Is Frost Heave?
Frost heave occurs when moist soil beneath your foundation freezes and expands, causing the soil and anything on top of it to be pushed upward. As water in the ground turns to ice, it creates ice lenses that grow and lift the surrounding soil and concrete. This lifting isn’t always even, which is why differential movement becomes such a big issue.
When the ground eventually thaws, the soil doesn’t always settle back uniformly. The result? Uneven floors, foundation cracks, and shifting walls.
How Frost Heave Damages Foundations
The damage from frost heave is rarely immediate, but the cumulative impact over multiple freeze-thaw cycles can cause:
- Cracked Foundation Walls – Especially in basements or crawl spaces, where lateral pressure builds.
- Vertical Movement – Slabs, piers, and footings can rise unevenly, leading to cracked or sloped flooring.
- Gaps Between Walls and Floors – As the foundation moves, you may notice separation where walls meet floors or ceilings.
- Sticking Windows and Doors – Frame distortion from shifting foundations can make doors and windows hard to open or close.
In homes with crawl spaces, frost heave can also contribute to joist movement, affecting the stability of your flooring.
Signs of Frost Heave Damage
Not sure if frost heave is affecting your home? Look for these red flags:
- New or growing cracks in foundation walls
- Uneven or heaving concrete slabs
- Floors that feel bouncy or sagging
- Doors and windows that suddenly don’t shut properly
- Water intrusion in basements or crawl spaces after the thaw
How DESKA Fixes Frost Heave-Related Foundation Issues
We take a comprehensive approach to resolving frost heave damage and preventing it from coming back.
1. Foundation Repair & Stabilization
If the movement has caused structural damage, we may recommend:
- Helical Piers or Push Piers to anchor your foundation into deeper, stable soil layers below the frost line
- Carbon Fiber Reinforcement for bowed or cracked basement walls
- Slab Lifting for uneven concrete caused by frost-heaved soil
2. Crawl Space Encapsulation
In homes with crawl spaces, encapsulating the area helps:
- Control moisture (which contributes to frost heave)
- Improve insulation
- Reduce temperature swings that cause the soil to freeze and expand.
3. Exterior Drainage Improvements
Proper water drainage helps limit moisture buildup around the foundation. We may recommend:
- French drains
- Gutter extensions
- Grading corrections around the home
Moisture Control Is Key
Moisture is the hidden fuel behind frost heave. Excess groundwater saturates the soil, freezes, and drives the whole cycle. By managing moisture levels year-round with dehumidification, encapsulation, and drainage solutions, you reduce the chance of future damage.
Protect Your Home Before Winter Strikes
Don’t wait for foundation cracks to tell you there’s a problem. The freeze-thaw cycle is relentless in our region, and it doesn’t take a blizzard to do serious damage.
Call our team at 703-665-1456 or click the button below to schedule a free estimate.