When the ground freezes in winter, it can have undesirable effects on your property. If you live in a colder climate, you should review the basics of frost heave. Without taking preventive measures, this cold-weather phenomenon could cause extensive damage that requires costly stone foundation repair.

Understanding Frost Heave

Fine-grained soil that holds moisture is prone to freezing when the temperature drops. When this happens, the water and dirt separate, with the water forming “ice lenses” beneath the surface of the ground. As these lenses draw up groundwater, they get larger. And if it stays cold for long enough, they’ll thrust upward, dislodging any structures above.

Known as frost heave, this poses a severe issue for property owners. Depending on the extent of the thrusting, the heave can cause cracks that jeopardize the structural integrity of the building.

Preventing Frost Heave

While there’s no way to prevent the ground from freezing, homeowners can take steps to make their properties less susceptible to damage. For example, insulating support structures or extending them below the frost line will keep the foundation from heaving with the soil. Laying down coarser, more granular soil will also mitigate freezing by facilitating drainage.

Insulating the base of the foundation is another viable way to protect a structure from frost heave, as it will maintain a higher temperature. Should any frost heave occur on the underlying ground, it will happen farther away, preventing the need for stone foundation repair. 

If your property needs stone foundation repair despite your best efforts to prevent frost heave, contact Hicon Inc. This paving, masonry, and restoration contractor has served homeowners throughout the greater Cincinnati, OH, and Northern Kentucky area since 1977. With a one-year warranty on all work, labor, and materials, you can ensure reliable work when you turn to them. To request a free quote, call (513) 242-3612. For a full list of their services, visit them online.