Erosion Under My Driveway

[wood714]

Was talking to the man from our county storm water department when he was checking out the house being built next door.

He saw the sand build up in the culvert pipe running under my driveway. Said that was due to erosion under my drive.

I checked it out, and there is about a half inch space in some areas where the dirt has been washed away.

I put a tiny fiber optic camera thru it one night and it looks like it may be an inch space in places.

I moved the downspout I had running onto my driveway so the water goes out in the yard. Checked it a few nights ago during a heavy rain, and didn't see a flow down the side of the drive anymore.

That side of my driveway the grass is about 4" lower than the grass on the other side. I can fix it so the erosion stops, but wondering if I should fill the void under the drive first.

Saw where they pump some kinda foam under it that spreads out and fills all the voids, but I think it's mass bucks.

What's y'all's thoughts? Driveway is in perfect condition right now.

 

[DeathGrip]

I had the foam done in my back porch and it worked well. I think Bufo's got it started. Another thing doing damage is moles.

 

[Targets Guy]

I am having a company (Thrasher) from Omaha out to do mine later this spring. They are going to level my 100+ year old sidewalks using PolyLEVEL and repairing cracks using NexusPro Crack Repair. Five year guarantee the walks will remain level.

 

[Rudi]

Is that what they call slab jacking?

 

[wood714]

My driveway is level. When they put the dirt and sod down they put it lower on the left side of my drive looking from the house.

Called my insurance company, but erosion isn't covered.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Perhaps investigate some of commonly available, pourable self-leveling concrete, available from companys like Sakrete to grout under the driveway. Block off the open edge under the driveway, except for a path to pour the liquid concrete under the slab, maybe through a length of pipe to inject at the furthest cavity.

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[H Richard]

I have heard good reviews regarding "Mud Jacking" under concrete.

 

[wood714]

Perhaps investigate some of commonly available, pourable self-leveling concrete, available from companys like Sakrete to grout under the driveway. Block off the open edge under the driveway, except for a path to pour the liquid concrete under the slab, maybe through a length of pipe to inject at the furthest cavity.

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That was my first thought, but not sure how to get it under there.

The man from the Storm Water Dept. said his was so bad he dug it out and put those bags of concrete that you just pour in a hole and add a gallon of water for posts and mailboxes.

If you leave them lay out in the bag, the moisture in the air will harden them, then the paper bag just rots off.

Mine aint near that bad thou.

 

[Jon651]

Was talking to the man from our county storm water department when he was checking out the house being built next door.

He saw the sand build up in the culvert pipe running under my driveway. Said that was due to erosion under my drive.

I checked it out, and there is about a half inch space in some areas where the dirt has been washed away.

I put a tiny fiber optic camera thru it one night and it looks like it may be an inch space in places.

I moved the downspout I had running onto my driveway so the water goes out in the yard. Checked it a few nights ago during a heavy rain, and didn't see a flow down the side of the drive anymore.

That side of my driveway the grass is about 4" lower than the grass on the other side. I can fix it so the erosion stops, but wondering if I should fill the void under the drive first.

Saw where they pump some kinda foam under it that spreads out and fills all the voids, but I think it's mass bucks.

What's y'all's thoughts? Driveway is in perfect condition right now.

Something like this happened to my parents house many years ago. Turned out to be a leaking line connecting their house to the sewer. The original builder used clay pipe, which slowly eroded over the years. They had to get the entire driveway removed, a new sewer pipe installed and everything backfilled and replaced. In the end, the insurance company actually got the city to pay for it!

 

[bigwheelzip]

That was my first thought, but not sure how to get it under there.

The products I've seen used pour practically like water. Maybe a length of 1/2 copper pipe will fit all the way to the back of the narrow confines of the void, and allow the material to flow to the farthest recess. Turn the pipe end beyond the driveway edge up with an elbow and pipe, high enough that when you fill the end with a funnel, the head will force it to fill the cavity thoroughly.

If I had a driveway in perfect condition, I'd make the effort to fill it.
Good luck.



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[Farmer17]

I've had large areas wash out under driveways and always just packed in some dirt and clay using a shovel, 4 x 4 post, and a sledge hammer.

 

[coltle6920]

Filling in under the driveway is a temporary solution so long as the lawn is that much lower than the driveway.

I would raise the lawn up to or above the driveway level using topsoil and pack it down so it doesn't sink later. Pack the soil into any open spaces under the driveway. I'm thinking water is running off the driveway and settling where the lawn meets the concrete causing the erosion.

It's your money but I think the lawn fix would be cheaper and would fix all your problems. Packing anything under the driveway would just cause the runoff and erosion to go deeper.

Think it over. Fix it right and be done with it. I'm no expert but that driveway picture suggests what it would be like if you took the gutters off your house. Only one place for the water to run.

 

[wood714]

Filling in under the driveway is a temporary solution so long as the lawn is that much lower than the driveway.

I would raise the lawn up to or above the driveway level using topsoil and pack it down so it doesn't sink later. Pack the soil into any open spaces under the driveway. I'm thinking water is running off the driveway and settling where the lawn meets the concrete causing the erosion.

It's your money but I think the lawn fix would be cheaper and would fix all your problems. Packing anything under the driveway would just cause the runoff and erosion to go deeper.

Think it over. Fix it right and be done with it. I'm no expert but that driveway picture suggests what it would be like if you took the gutters off your house. Only one place for the water to run.

Called the guy that does my landscape work...trimming trees, and putting rock beds around my house, I cut my yard.

Asked him about adding dirt, and re sodding that part of the yard to be level with the drive way. He's coming out in a couple days to give me a price.

Just wondering if I should fill the void or leave it be.

 

[wood714]

The products I've seen used pour practically like water. Maybe a length of 1/2 copper pipe will fit all the way to the back of the narrow confines of the void, and allow the material to flow to the farthest recess. Turn the pipe end beyond the driveway edge up with an elbow and pipe, high enough that when you fill the end with a funnel, the head will force it to fill the cavity thoroughly.

If I had a driveway in perfect condition, I'd make the effort to fill it.
Good luck.

What kind of cement is that thin? It would have to be near water to run thru a 1/2" pipe.

 

[coltle6920]

Looking again at your first post you don't mention how far under the driveway the erosion goes. Might make a difference what your options will be or the opinion of others in replying here.

 

[wood714]

Looking again at your first post you don't mention how far under the driveway the erosion goes. Might make a difference what your options will be or the opinion of others in replying here.

I was able to force a tape measure 5 foot under it where the seam is in the pic I posted.

About 2 foot in a couple other places.

I was only able to get the small fiber optic camera about a foot every where I tried.

Worst places the dirt is about a 1/2" from the bottom of the driveway.

 

[coltle6920]

This is my last thoughts on this subject.

Personally I wouldn't try to fix it myself. You really have no idea how bad the erosion is under the driveway. You can't "pour" concrete/cement horizontally and expect it to fill in everywhere it's needed. The Pros will likely drill holes in the driveway in a few spots and use pressure to fill in any and all gaps whether they use foam or cement.

Your driveway was probably poured over rebar. Unless you know that the erosion covers most of the area under a slab you should be fine. Right now it's level so fix the lawn and don't worry about the driveway If you were to notice any changes down the road take care of it at that time.

 

[bigwheelzip]

What kind of cement is that thin? It would have to be near water to run thru a 1/2" pipe.

There are several common variations of pourable concrete with a water-like consistency, typically under the category of "self-leveling".

This shows one type of self-leveling concrete in use.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GyXWeSzY_0[/ame]

 

[federali]

Caution

My son had a similar problem with erosion leading to large void under a corner of his driveway. Just be aware that that these voids make excellent hiding places for snakes and you should not probe them with bare hands.
We live in the Apex/Cary area of NC and we do have copperheads.

 

[wood714]

My son had a similar problem with erosion leading to large void under a corner of his driveway. Just be aware that that these voids make excellent hiding places for snakes and you should not probe them with bare hands.
We live in the Apex/Cary area of NC and we do have copperheads.

It was around 1AM when I was out there with my fiber optic camera and tablet trying to see under the driveway.

Trust me, snakes were on my mind. Kept thinking all the snakes that lived in the woods next door had to go somewhere when they cleared it out. I've checked under my shed a few times, and aint seen any yet.

Amazon dropped the camera off when I was at my folks, didn't get home till around 9, and thought I'd wait till the next day.

Then I thought there would be no way to see anything on the tablet in daylight due to glare.