Is your concrete heaving up during the winter in the Omaha, NE area? ConcreteMedic would love to help you.
ConcreteMedic can help with all your concrete problems, though heaving is a problem that manifests specifically in the winter months.
Like many parts of the U.S., the Omaha area has been dealing with the consequences of a cold winter, in the form of heavy frost heaving on driveways and other concrete flatwork. We’re happy and surprised that we’ve seen fewer reports of frost heaving this year (even given the colder-than-normal temperatures), though the problem persists. We’re happy to share that we can help reduce or eliminate it on your concrete driveway or sidewalk.
This is an example of frost heaving that moves and damages concrete each winter in the Omaha area. ConcreteMedic can help mitigate the problem.
Why does concrete frost heaving occur?
Frost heaving is a common problem that occurs due to extreme cold weather and moisture in the soil beneath the concrete. When the soil freezes, so does the moisture in the soil. The water beneath the concrete expands approximately 9% when it freezes, pushing up (and frequently damaging) the concrete. If left untreated, heaving can cause concrete driveways to lift (then sink), crack and split apart.
The problem can be exacerbated by having a high clay content in the soil (as we do in the Omaha area) as well as by voids beneath the concrete, which are very common as well. When water sits pooled in a void beneath the concrete (and not just saturating the soil) it can have an even more damaging effect on your concrete.
The State of North Dakota (a state that experiences a lot of frost-heaving problems each year) has published this paper which goes into further detail about the causes and solutions to the problem of frost heaving. If you’re interested in learning more about the phenomenon, this is a paper you’ll want to read.
As the temperatures drop each year, we see an increase in calls from homeowners in our area looking for ways to prevent concrete from frost heaving. We typically see the worst of the problems occurring in February, though “heaving season” can start as early as December and last through the first part of March.
ConcreteMedic can provide solutions that help mitigate the effects of frost heaving in the Omaha, Nebraska metro area.
The service solutions that we provide take place in the spring, once the concrete has had a chance to settle back down into its proper, original position (although sometimes, the concrete doesn’t settle back down).
If we can be of any help with your concrete frost heaving problems (or any other concrete problems you might have) around the Omaha, Nebraska metro area, please don’t hesitate to contact us at 402.619.6116 or reach out to us via our website contact page. We look forward to serving you!