Garage Sunken Corner Help

Apr 2nd, 2021 12:13 pm

#1

Bottomlesspit [OP]: Newbie; Mar 16, 2019; 36 posts; 17 upvotes

Apr 2nd, 2021 12:13 pm

Hi,
I noticed a few days ago a corner of my garage has sunken down. It must have happened over the past 3 months because it was not there in December. Any ideas what the cause would be and what I should be doing or who I should contact?

House was built in 2010

Thanks in advance

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Apr 4th, 2021 8:37 am

#2

tempperm: Sr. Member; Mar 10, 2004; 740 posts; 262 upvotes

Apr 4th, 2021 8:37 am

Any cracks on the wall? I d be more concerned about wall cracks than floor cracks. If no wall cracks i wouldn t be too concerned. You might want to look outside for potential water damage.

Apr 4th, 2021 11:13 am

#3

Bottomlesspit [OP]: Newbie; Mar 16, 2019; 36 posts; 17 upvotes

Apr 4th, 2021 11:13 am

tempperm wrote: ↑Any cracks on the wall? I d be more concerned about wall cracks than floor cracks. If no wall cracks i wouldn t be too concerned. You might want to look outside for potential water damage.

Thanks for the response. There is no crack on the wall.
I did find outside of the garage the area also sunken down.

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Apr 4th, 2021 11:28 am

#4

fergy: Deal Addict; Sep 27, 2006; 3913 posts; 929 upvotes; Not so easy there Ma…

Apr 4th, 2021 11:28 am

Do you have a rain downspout that exits to the ground nearby? If so that could be the possible issue.

+1

Apr 4th, 2021 11:30 am

#5

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 21118 posts; 8010 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Apr 4th, 2021 11:30 am

Username check out

I wonder of the ground settled. You might consider having an appropriate engineer check things out, though that would have a cost involved.

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

+1

Apr 4th, 2021 9:22 pm

#6

Bottomlesspit [OP]: Newbie; Mar 16, 2019; 36 posts; 17 upvotes

Apr 4th, 2021 9:22 pm

fergy wrote: ↑Do you have a rain downspout that exits to the ground nearby? If so that could be the possible issue.

Thanks Fergy
There is downspout on the other side of the wall. I have the water flowing away from the house.

Apr 4th, 2021 9:24 pm

#7

Bottomlesspit [OP]: Newbie; Mar 16, 2019; 36 posts; 17 upvotes

Apr 4th, 2021 9:24 pm

Quentin5 wrote: ↑Username check out

I wonder of the ground settled. You might consider having an appropriate engineer check things out, though that would have a cost involved.

Thanks Quentin5, I’ve reached out to some foundation repair companies just waiting to hear back

Apr 5th, 2021 1:48 am

#8

Quentin5: Deal Expert; Feb 8, 2014; 21118 posts; 8010 upvotes; Socially Distanced

Apr 5th, 2021 1:48 am

Bottomlesspit wrote: ↑ Thanks Quentin5, I’ve reached out to some foundation repair companies just waiting to hear back

Thats a good idea but bear in mind they won't be actual engineers.
In my experience proper training and credentials makes a big difference when dealing with big unknowns.

In fact in Rand McNally they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people

+1

Apr 5th, 2021 1:54 am

#9

cba123: Deal Addict; Jun 8, 2004; 1544 posts; 464 upvotes; Oakville

Apr 5th, 2021 1:54 am

Are you sure it was the foundation that sank vs the garage floor has heaved upwards?

Foundations are usually set deep below frost line, and shouldn't heave up or down. On the hand, the garage floor is normally just poured over top of a gravel base and can heave up and down in the winter. The garage floor is not normally tied into the foundation, and is poured separately after the foundations are poured.

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+2

Apr 5th, 2021 9:29 am

#10

Bottomlesspit [OP]: Newbie; Mar 16, 2019; 36 posts; 17 upvotes

Apr 5th, 2021 9:29 am

cba123 wrote: ↑ Are you sure it was the foundation that sank vs the garage floor has heaved upwards?

Foundations are usually set deep below frost line, and shouldn't heave up or down. On the hand, the garage floor is normally just poured over top of a gravel base and can heave up and down in the winter. The garage floor is not normally tied into the foundation, and is poured separately after the foundations are poured.

Hi CBA123,
you could be right, I'm not sure. Its just that one corner that is affected from what I can tell.

Apr 8th, 2021 9:20 pm

#11

tempperm: Sr. Member; Mar 10, 2004; 740 posts; 262 upvotes

Apr 8th, 2021 9:20 pm

Bottomlesspit wrote: ↑ Hi CBA123,
you could be right, I'm not sure. Its just that one corner that is affected from what I can tell.

Outdoor pic shows wall sunk a little which is consistent with inside pic. I d probably just take measurements and make sure gaps aren t growing or wall cracks. Definitely have the downspout moved further away from wall and make sure slope down and away from walls.

Apr 9th, 2021 8:25 am

#12

Jerico: Deal Guru; Jan 25, 2007; 10365 posts; 5570 upvotes; Paris

Apr 9th, 2021 8:25 am

Friends of ours had a hole so deep in the centre of their garage lady of the house could stand in it and her head was level with the proper floor height. Was a hell of a mess to fix.

Apr 9th, 2021 9:24 am

#13

baymoe: Deal Addict; May 24, 2004; 2167 posts; 360 upvotes

Apr 9th, 2021 9:24 am

That sounds like a sinkhole.

OP, perhaps look into a company that does mud jacking. What they'll do it is drill a series of hole and pump mud underneath to raise the garage floor back to level. Once they're done, they clean out the hole and fill it with cement.

Apr 9th, 2021 11:28 am

#14

Bottomlesspit [OP]: Newbie; Mar 16, 2019; 36 posts; 17 upvotes

Apr 9th, 2021 11:28 am

thanks everyone for your input. greatly appreciate it

Apr 13th, 2021 7:58 pm

#15

matrixfwd: Sr. Member; Oct 4, 2010; 666 posts; 302 upvotes; Surrey

Apr 13th, 2021 7:58 pm

Foundation company may install push piers under the affected spots of the foundation to raise it back up . Think of it like a permeant car jack