As the earth crumbles beneath your valuable property, managing sinkhole risks requires careful planning and responsive intervention to prevent potential disasters. The appearance of an ominous sinkhole can be a stressful experience, and without the proper guidance, costly property damage and serious safety concerns can arise. Fortunately, if you’re concerned that your property may be at risk, a skilled geotechnical team can safely evaluate and guide to repair the dangerous subsurface conditions before disaster strikes.
What Causes Sinkholes?
Several conditions lead to the formation of sinkholes. Factors such as soil erosion, underground caverns, or leaking pipes and sewers can compromise the underlying foundation over time. Depending on the severity of the underlying surface conditions, sinkholes can form rapidly or gradually across a variety of terrains.
Throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, many counties contain underlying bedrock composed of limestone and other carbonate rocks. These types of soluble bedrock formations naturally dissolve over time, so you must understand the common warning signs to proactively protect your property.
Early Sinkhole Warning Signs to be Aware of
Early detection of sinkholes prevents additional damage, hazardous safety concerns, and greatly reduces repair costs. Contact experienced sinkhole repair companies in NJ and PA immediately if you notice any of these common sinkhole warning signs:
- Circular Depression on the Ground Surface
- Appearance of a Hole in the Ground
- Cracks in the Foundation or Walls of Structures
- Trees, Fences, & Other Tilting or Falling Objects
- Cracks or Crevices Opening in Terrain
The Best Sinkhole Management Options
After discovering a sinkhole on your property, our professional geotechnical engineering firm in NJ and PA provides responsive surface analysis and a variety of cost-effective sinkhole repair techniques. Adequate sinkhole repair is paramount since improperly repaired sinkholes filled with just soil or concrete are almost guaranteed to reoccur in the future. To minimize long-term sinkhole recurrence, our skilled geotechnical engineers provide proven recommendations to safely and effectively repair sinkholes the first time.
After carefully evaluating, our geotechnical experts provide planning and recommendations for sinkhole stabilization with:
- Excavation & Replacement Operation: Compromised sections of subsurface soil are removed and replaced with a combination of quarried aggregates, geotextile fabric, and compacted fine-grained soils. This more cost-effective repair is primarily utilized in open areas, roads, or shallow sinkholes away from structures.
- Subsurface Grouting Operation: Hollow steel casing is installed within and around the sinkhole to buffer the at-risk perimeter. Following the casing install, a fluid grout mix is pumped into the subsurface. This method adequately fills the voids in the underlying foundation, while strengthening the surrounding soils for long-lasting sinkhole prevention. This method is preferred when sinkhole formations involve nearby structures.
If you’re concerned about a potential sinkhole on your property, get in touch with Earth Engineering Incorporated for professional guidance today. Backed by years of experience in the field, our cost-effective sinkhole repair solutions lead to lasting sinkhole prevention and peace of mind.
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