Frozen Fill Soils Below Garage Lead to Step Cracking in Foundation in Janetville, Ontario

When cracks form in your home's foundation and drywall, you know something isn't right. You don't necessarily know what it is right away, but typically something is wrong with your home's foundation or footing.

A customer in Janetville, Ontario, reached out to Clarke Basement Systems after discovering step cracks in his foundation. He knew his foundation had shifted but was concerned about the longevity due to the cracking.

System Design Specialist Chris Luke met with the homeowner and inspected his home. He found that the house was suffering from a phenomenon called a frost heave. Garage foundations typically are built without a drainage system, and when water saturates the fill soils below and freezes, it expands and causes the garage to shift. This can put stress on the entire home, leading to the foundation cracks. 

Foreman and company owner Don Clarke and his crew worked hard repairing the garage. The foundation's exterior was excavated before drainage panels were installed, along with drainage matting and foam panels. This will guide any water away from the foundation. We backfilled the area with drainage stone and graded the topsoil. 

The customer is thrilled that his garage and home is repaired. He had no idea this phenomenon existed but is glad he chose a company that knows exactly what they're doing.