Geotechnical Drilling Nassau Village Ratliff Sinkholes: Do you know the warning signs?
Potential sinkhole sites are often identified by geotechnical drilling. Nassau Village Ratliff natives may also wonder what additional signs can be detected as an underground void forms, posing a serious danger of a future sinkhole. So that’s precisely what we’ll explore in today’s article.
The warning signs of a sinkhole are many and varied. And while many do invest in geotechnical drilling, Nassau Village Ratliff residents will typically see many other subtle signs in and around their home. In fact, in the case of a large sinkhole, you may see damage beyond just your home. The damage may impact other nearby homes as well, signaling the presence of a large void.
A sinkhole forms when an underground void forms and then collapses. In Florida, this void usually forms in the limestone bedrock, which is eroded by the mild acids that are present in the groundwater.
Some of the most common warning signs of a sinkhole include:
Cracks. The formation of cracks in your home’s walls – both interior walls and exterior walls. This is particularly problematic in cases where the damage is symmetrical (i.e. the entire western portion of your home appears to be sinking.)
Windows and doors. You may notice that your windows and doors start to jam and become more challenging to open or close. Homes with primarily pocket doors may not notice this issue, but traditional doors very often display this symptom of a shifting home.
Your yard. There are depressions or new dips forming in your yard, in your driveway or in the street. You may notice these depressions most when it rains, as you may notice flooding in an area that never flooded previously.
Driveway and walkway. Deep cracks form in paved areas, such as a driveway, street or walkway. This may be especially indicative of a potential sinkhole site in cases where the damage spans a large area (i.e. the crack extends into your neighbor’s driveway, showing that a large area has shifted.)
New shifting, sinking and other sinkhole danger signs are most common after a period of heavy rain, which adds to the weight of the earth that’s overlaying the underground void. This can place added pressure on the void, resulting in more and more degradation over time until it finally collapses into a sinkhole.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*
