What Is Street Creep?

Street creep isn’t necessarily a common occurrence, but it does happen sometimes to homes all over the Seattle and wider Western Washington region. It’s a phenomenon that can push your foundation out of alignment, spelling trouble for your entire home. Ignoring signs of street creep means that a world of basement wall cracks , tripping hazards, and expensive repairs is likely in your future.

So, if you’re seeing sign of street creep, Matvey Foundation Repair can help. We fight back against street creep by reinforcing your foundation walls and installing new expansion joints—and we do it quick and clean.

In this article, you’ll find out everything you need to know about street creep and what Matvey can do to help.

What Is Street Creep?

Street creep occurs when the concrete roads and sidewalks around your home expand and contract due to temperature changes over time. Because concrete expands in hot weather and shrinks when it’s cold, contractors often place expansion joints in concrete slabs between a driveway and a garage to prevent both of them from cracking.

Still, this process can put a lot of pressure not just on your driveway but on your foundation too. In the winter months, the gaps in expansion joints widen and can fill with sand, gravel, and other debris. But when the summer rolls around, all that debris gives the expanding concrete more of a foothold to push against your garage slab. While it can take years for this to happen, it will happen.

The results? Foundation cracks , leaks, or even collapse. That’s why it’s important to act now before you see major types of damage.

What Are the Signs of Street Creep?

You may already notice some signs of damage on your driveway or in your home, but if you’re not sure what to look for, look for these signs:

• Driveway or garage floor cracks
• Sticking doors and windows
• Uneven or sloping driveways
• Damaged expansion joints
• Gaps between your driveway and garage floor

If you experience any of the above, it’s time to contact a foundation repair expert like Matvey Foundation Repair. Our team can identify the extent of your damage and recommend the best solutions based on your needs.

Preventing and Repairing Street Creep

Matvey Foundation Repair has a lot of tools and techniques in our repertoire to help prevent damage to your driveway, garage, and foundation, and we have just as many ways (if not more!) to repair your home if damage has already set in.

In most cases, our solutions will involve installing a combination of our industry-leading concrete leveling and foundation repair solutions:

Prevention: Installing New Expansion Joints

There’s no way to prevent concrete from expanding and contracting in different weather conditions. However, it’s possible to stop it from causing damage.

Our team can install one or more new expansion joints in your driveway. These joints allow individual concrete slabs to move without pushing against your garage slab or compromising your foundation. We’ll fill each joint with a backer rod and polyurethane sealant.

Repairing: Installing Foundation Wall Anchors and Foundation Piers

If you’re seeing damage to your foundation already, it usually requires the installation wall anchor system and/or foundation piers to stabilize and potentially straighten your foundation and the walls supported above it.

We can place piers into the soil under your garage and anchors (if your garage is semi-underground) through the walls out into the soil around them. Piers will attach to the footing of your foundation and protect it from sinking deeper into the soil, and anchors will prevent the walls from bowing and cracking further.

Once everything is in place, we’ll tighten, lift, and restore your foundation’s structural support. After that, we’ll carefully patch the holes in your garage slab floor, and the job’s done.

Contact Matvey Foundation Repair to Save Your Foundation

In the worst-case scenario, street creep can cause your foundation to collapse, endangering the safety of your loved ones. That’s our biggest concern.

Our repair system involves strengthening your foundation walls and installing new expansion joints, bringing stability back to your home. With over 20 years of experience, we provide foundation repair solutions for homeowners across Western Washington.

Get in touch for a free inspection and estimate.

FAQs

How long does it take to repair street creep?

We can solve this problem in as little as a day. For a more accurate time estimate, contact us for a free inspection.

How do I know if I have street creep on my property?

Look for damaged expansion joints, driveway and garage floor cracks, and other signs. During our free inspection, we’ll confirm if you have street creep and recommend the best repair solutions. 

How long until street creep damages my foundation?

Street creep is a slow process but can eventually cause your foundation to leak, crack, or collapse. Swift action can prevent this, so contact a foundation repair expert like Matvey Foundation Repair as soon as you can.