Concrete is a more malleable substance than you might imagine. Though it is hard and does set, it can sink and rise depending on the conditions that are presented. Knowing what might be causing your concrete to shift can help you prevent it and can help you keep it in place. Here are some reasons why your concrete may be rising and sinking.
Why Is My Concrete Raising?
One main reason that your concrete is rising is that it is being manually shifted by roots. Roots can come up under a concrete pad and cause cracks and chips and can even cause the entire slab to move. Roots can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your concrete and can cause you to need to have it fully redone. Another cause for rising concrete can be the type of dirt that it is on.
Dirt that absorbs more water may be likely to expand and can cause the concrete to rise. Your concrete may also not be mixed properly and can swell with water. Another thing to keep in mind is that with concrete that has cracks, water can get into the cracks and can freeze and expand which can then cause the concrete to shift.
Why Is My Concrete Sinking?
Similarly, concrete can also sink. When concrete sinks it is often caused by a void that is created beneath the concrete after it has set. This can be caused by a ton of things. First, it can be caused by flooding. If your area floods and the ground beneath the concrete gets very wet and washes out, it can cause a void that can cause the concrete to sink. If the ground beneath the concrete sinks or settles, it can also cause the concrete to sink.
You may also notice that the concrete itself has marks or sunken spots. This can be the result of improper mixing and installation. It is important that if you notice any changes with your concrete, you contact a professional quickly to get the issues resolved.
Contacting a professional concrete contractor is going to be the best option that you have in terms of making sure your concrete is taken care of and that it is not going to keep shifting. Shifting concrete can lead to major damage that requires the concrete to be busted up and redone entirely. If you allow your concrete to continue shifting, you will likely need it fully redone at some point.