Why Your Garage Floor Is Sinking & What To Do About It
Sinking Garage Floor – Causes
As with most slab settling issues, voids and poor soil compaction are at the root of the problem. This is certainly the case with sunken garage slabs. They are typically constructed by backfilling the area after the foundation is poured (or blocked) and pouring the concrete on top. Achieving proper and adequate compaction is often difficult and just not achieved in many cases. This, combined with time and freeze/thaw cycles creates voids under the garage slab. Concrete itself is heavy and can settle, but when we park vehicles on top of a garage slab that has voids under it? It is obviously a recipe for disaster!
Sinking Garage Floor – Solution
Call GCS for a thorough site evaluation. We’ll take the time to properly inspect the issue, which generally entails probing the slab to determine if there is indeed a void and/or unstable soil (and to what extent). Gathering this type of information is key to designing a proper repair plan and calculating the material amount.
Depending on the conditions found during site evaluation, there are a couple of different techniques we use (and oftentimes both). If the soil under the garage slab is soft and unstable to a certain depth, GCS will opt for the Deep Lift® method using Alchemy-Spetec‘s high-density polyurethane. The expanding structural foam creates a squeeze effect in the loose soil, essentially forming added support footings under the slab. Our other injection method, Slab Lifting, entails going through ⅜ inch holes drilled directly through the slab. The same structural foam described above is used. The expanding foam travels the path of least resistance, therefore, filling all void areas as well as compacting any loose soil. Once the soil is compact, the expansion of the foam creates the power to lift the slab. Our high-density polyurethane cures to 90% in fifteen minutes – which translates to the slab being traffic-ready by the time we are packing up our equipment.
Recently Ground Consolidation Services was contacted by a South Carolina engineering and contracting firm for some help at an industrial food grade production plant. Due to poor compaction of the soils under the slab, cracking and settlement occurred. This was especially problematic because large injection mold machines sit atop this area and have to be level to work properly. Obviously having machines of this nature not running is quite costly to a production facility.
Unstable Garage Slabs = Danger
A family in Dunwoody, GA recently began the process of refinishing their basement. The contractor they hired quickly noticed that the corner of the house was sinking into unstable soil. He wisely recommended that they find a deep soil lifting contractor, and they ended up contacting GCS.
Own or manage a storage facility with concrete slabs? The last thing you want is sunken concrete creating trip hazards for your customers and employees. Reduce your risk with a concrete slab inspection from Ground Consolidation Services. Even if you don’t notice any sunken slabs on your property, GCS can identify dangerous voids underneath your concrete with the 
inking slabs or structures putting your commercial property at risk?
Ground Consolidation Services repairs slab and soil issues in both the commercial and residential sectors. Single homes, multi-unit residential complexes, factories, warehouses and retail showrooms are just a few of the property types we service. Slabs and structures are stabilized and/or lifted with 
Lifting Foundations
GCS recently performed a deep soil lifting job for a homeowner in the Decatur area. The homeowner noticed separation between the brick veneer on their garage and the surface of their driveway. In addition, the garage door was not closing completely due to a settled driveway slab.
In this 3 part blog series, we’re taking a look at the 3 advantages to doing business with GCS vs. common alternatives you may find in the market.