I recently discovered a sinkhole or pothole right in front of my garage. There's a substantial gap where the gutter downspout runoff is visible, and I'm concerned it might affect the structural integrity of my garage floor. What material do you think would be best for filling this hole? I'm considering sand because it seems like it drains better and won't compact as much as soil. Do you think I should just try to fix this myself or call in a professional because of the potential structural issues? By the way, outside of this hole, the ground appears to be sloped properly away from the house.
5 Answers
Is that pipe you're looking at the downspout or a subsoil drain? If it’s a subsoil drain, be careful because a missing geo textile fabric could be letting soil wash in. If it’s just a downspout, keep an eye out for cracks and consider patching those up.
Make sure to check how big the hole really is. They can be deceptively large! Also, don't drive over the exposed pipe until you know what's going on. I found that sometimes dirt gets pushed out the back or side of the garage, which could mean a big opening underneath. If you're curious, you might even want to grab an endoscope to take a peek!
I'd recommend starting with compacted crushed stone at the base of the hole. Then, you can layer it with gravel or road base, making sure to tamp each layer well. If the hole is deep or close to your foundation, definitely think about calling a pro. Oh, and don't forget to redirect that downspout to prevent future erosion!
Before you patch it up, figure out what's causing the issue with the soil. It might be related to a cracked drain tile, which could mean your soil is washing in when it rains. If you just fill the hole without fixing that problem, you'll end up doing it all over again. You might also want to use washed angular gravel for backfilling because it's better for packing under the slab. If the void goes deeper than about 6 inches from the slab edge, structural fill could be a good idea to avoid cracking.
Great point! I've seen that happen before, and it can create a bigger mess later. Totally recommend getting to the root of the issue first.
You could try Aquaphalt for your repairs; it works pretty well for potholes. Just make sure to shake the product well and pour it slowly to get the best results. Check it out here: https://aquaphalt.com/
Totally agree! I'd check up on that pipe closely—looks like there might be some holes in it. Better safe than sorry!