Foundation Repair Case Studies: Frost Heave System Helps Retain Home Value in Newmarket, Ontario
Challenge
It kills our plants, lets us know that winter is around the corner, and is a sign to put the lawnmower away and warm up the snowblower. While frost may seem like a pristine, picture-perfect aspect of winter from the surface, it can have devastating effects on your home. While you may not see it, it could be lurking beneath the structure of your home just waiting to show its icy face. Each year we see more and more households with frost issues in Ontario, and for a customer in Newmarket, Ontario, the time had come to do something about it.
The customer had previously done work with us where we installed CleanSpace® Vapour Barrier over a repair completed by a different company. Water was entering the basement, but with a sump pump already present it was a quick job to waterproof the interior section of foundation. More recently, the customer had started to notice the brickwork covering his garage was beginning to show step cracking. Looking to sell his home in the near future and unsure of what the problem was, he reached out to Clarke Basement Systems for an answer to protect his investment.
Solution
System Design Specialist Chris Luke met with the customer and inspected the home. Upon reviewing the situation and speaking with the customer, Chris determined that the problem was frost heaving. Not only was this problem affecting the customer's home, but it was also plaguing almost every house on his street. Frost heaving happens due to several reasons. When homes are built, most of the time a perforated footing drain is installed around the perimeter. This drain helps move water away from the foundation, helping to prevent water damage.
But, when home garages are built, the footing drain isn't installed since there is no basement in the garage. Over the years, moisture builds up in the fill soils surrounding the garage foundation. When the temperatures drop these fill soils expand up to 9%. While 9% may not sound like a lot, it can be devastating to concrete and structures. The frozen soil pushes upward on the garage foundation, causing it to shift unevenly. These shifts are often seen above and below the surface in the form of cracks. These cracks can even show themselves on interior walls. When Spring rolls around and the garage settles, it doesn't return to its original position due to the settling of the fill soils. The expanding and contracting not only shifts the garage foundation, but it can also squeeze it.
Each year we see more and more frost heave issues. That's why Clarke Basement Systems developed an innovative process to stop frost heaving in its tracks, while also preventing future problems from burdening your home.
Foreman Brendan Marciano and his team started by excavating the entire area surrounding the garage and its foundation. From there, we injected any cracks with high-density polyurethane. Injecting the caulking creates a robust and lasting seal, compared to merely covering the outside of the cracks. Once the area is excavated and injected, we install a moisture barrier along the entire foundation, along with a layer of insulation. This protects, insulates and waterproofs the foundation, while also leading water away from the structure. To ensure water stays away from the foundation and doesn't settle the same way it did before, we install C Channels. The C Channels sit between the insulation, and ensure any moisture is drained correctly. Lastly, we fill the excavated area in with a drainage stone rather than the previous dirt filling. This allows moisture to drain instead of saturating the soil.
With his garage finally on steady ground again, the customer is delighted. He plans to fix the brick cracking and can do so with peace of mind knowing the problem won't return. He is preparing to sell his home in the Spring, without having to lose value on his investment.