Street Creep can rattle your Driveway and Foundation and be very Costly if Ignored!
Here in Des Moines, we are subject to a lot of seasonal changes. In the summer, the soil around the city becomes dry. Then, in the rain-heavy or freezing cold days, the soil can expand like crazy. Experiencing each season is part of life here, but did you know the changes could be affecting your foundation? Among other things, seasonal changes in soil density can put unwanted pressure on your home. One of the primary ways these changes directly affect your home is through a phenomenon known as “street creep.”
Street creep is a truly relevant and common issue. If you don’t detect street creep symptoms and fix them early, they can cause severe damage to your home and become a very costly foundation repair to fix.
What is Street Creep?
Street Creep, also called Concrete Creep, occurs as a result of the unpredictable movement, shift, and expansion of concrete streets. Extreme pressure, due to traffic and natural settlement, pushes the concrete street against the driveway moving it into the home’s foundation producing serious cracks in foundation walls. When concrete and streets are poured on virgin soil, the soil underneath that concrete, then, is subject to changes in density depending on weather conditions. When soil expands, it can push the concrete from the street into your driveway, which then pushes into your foundation. Pressure from the street can cause anything between minor foundation cracks to a collapsed garage.
Homes near cul de sacs, busy intersections or other high-traffic areas are at risk of street creep because the increased activity heightens the likelihood the concrete will shift. Finally, homes built below hills are also particularly susceptible to this problem due to gravity.
Your foundation could be in a lot of trouble if it is absorbing too much pressure from the street. Given the potential implications of street creep in your neighborhood, it is important to understand what it looks like.
Signs, Symptoms and Red Flags
Knowing what to look for in your driveway and garage can help you determine if street creep is impacting your home.
One of the first things to look into is the sidewalk. If a sidewalk runs through your driveway, check to see if the sidewalk concrete is aligned with your driveway’s concrete. If they are at odds in any way, that is the first sign the street is shifting your concrete.
Another important thing to look at is the apron of your driveway. The front of your driveway is the point of contact between the street and your foundation. If street creep is a problem, you should be able to see visible cracks at the edge of your driveway. These cracks are merely a symptom of a much larger issue, so fixing them is just one step toward a safer foundation.
Classic Street Creep sign: Cracking in your driveway’s curb
Finally, the last place to check is your garage’s concrete for irregularities. Walk to your garage from your driveway, step inside and take a look at the point where the concrete slab meets the home’s foundation. Ideally, these two fundamental foundation pieces should be touching, or near touching. If there is a gap between them, however, it is time to call a professional. This is a clear sign that your concrete is shifting right under your feet. Other signs include bowed or bent basement walls or garage wall cracks.
A Solution
The first thing a professional will want to do is stop the pressure. There are a few ways to do this, but the most common is to install a membrane to absorb some of the weight. A membrane acts as a buffer between slabs of concrete, limiting movement in the process. Properly installed, these tools shrink and expand along with the concrete, significantly reducing stress on your foundation in the process.
This preventative measure is much more desirable than making repairs after a disaster occurs. While it is almost always preferable to take preventative measures, it is especially true with street creep because of the added costs.
You don’t want to have added costs if the garage collapses, foundation starts bowing or cracking due to street creep. That is why it is so important to call a professional and take care of this issue before more damage occurs.
Here at BAM Basements and Mason of Des Moines we pride ourselves on finding the correct solution for your home’s foundation and help homeowners avoid costly repairs. Give us a call to get your free estimate and solution for your foundation and driveway needs. We are the Premier waterproofing and Egress window company serving the Des Moines, Iowa area. If you’re located in Des Moines, Ankeny, Bondurant, Altoona Pleasant hill, Ames, Adel, Waukee, Indianola, Grimes, Urbandale, Johnston, West Des Moines, Clive, or the surrounding areas, we’re the place to call.