The Hazards of Frost Heave

Most people underestimate the destructive forces of frost heave, good thing we are here to set the record straight. Frost heave is a force to be reckoned with!

What Is Frost Heave?

By definition, Frost heaving (or a frost heave) is an upwards swelling of soil during freezing conditions caused by an increasing presence of ice as it grows towards the surface, upwards from the depth in the soil where freezing temperatures have penetrated into the soil (the freezing front or freezing boundary).

How Does Frost Heave affect Me?

When the ground freezes around your footers, unless the proper pier footer is used, it will essential pull your footer towards the surface. Any and all movement will cause long lasting issues, or eventual structural failure, for your deck or sunroom. You might not think that a few inches of movement will be that much of an issue, but it can be devastating. Frost heave can lead to the following problems:

Uneven and slanted stairs
Gates and doorways that improperly close
Pulled out nails and hardware
Eventual Header board failure

Check The Map To See How Deep You Need To Dig To Avoid Frost Heave.

How Do I Protect Myself From Frost Heave?

The first step in protecting yourself from frost heave, is to choose a pier footer that has a wide or bell shaped bottom; simply using a straight post or concrete tower in the ground is not enough. Having a bell shaped bottom will ensure that there is soil on top of the base. This soil will act as a barrier and help anchor the cement into the ground. The next step is to make sure that you dig below the frost line. (See map above) Having the base of your pier footing below the frost and in unfrozen ground is VERY IMPORTANT!