20.02 2026

Heaving of frozen soil - why it occurs and how to deal with it

Heaving of frozen soil is one of the most dangerous threats to building foundations. Traditionally, it is believed that the main cause of this phenomenon is a shallow foundation. This is true, but still there is more than one reason.
The problem may be deeper, in an error in the design of the foundation. For example, the depth of the foundation in the project may seem sufficient, but the type of soil was not taken into account.
For a better understanding, let’s consider the mechanism of such freezing and how exactly it is possible to correct the problem and strengthen the foundation.

How does soil heaving occur?

In severe frosts, the soil begins to freeze from top to bottom. At the same time, there is moisture in the porous (cracks, capillaries) structure of the soil. It freezes and expands. Moreover, the freezing and thawing of the soil itself increases the rarefaction of the soil. It reduces its density, increases its volume.
Thus, the mechanism of cryogenic water suction is triggered. Water in the process rises from a lower level, filling the cavities and freezes. That is, the water freezes faster than the soil itself has time to freeze in depth.
Ice lenses begin to form in the soil. Depending on the type of soil and conditions, the increase in volume can be in the region of +15%. The effect of the swelling force can reach 15 tons per sq.m.
The increase in the volume of the soil exerts pressure on the foundation, lifting it, often unevenly. As a result, cracks can occur not only in the foundation itself, but also in the walls of the house.

Why does frost heave occur?

One of the features of this process is that for its occurrence it is not necessary to have a large amount of moisture in the upper layers of the soil. Most of the water will come from the levels below – groundwater.

Let’s analyze what negative factors had to happen:

1. Soil type – high content of clay, loam or sand. Such soil is able to retain a large amount of water in itself and freeze quickly. The very structure with microcracks or fine dispersion of sand contributes to this.
2. The presence of groundwater or a source of soil waterlogging due to errors with drainage systems.
3. The foundation level ends at a depth above the level of soil freezing.

Sometimes the second point may be absent at the time of laying the house. But the change in the groundwater level occurs later due to neighboring structures, drainage systems and other external factors.

Regarding the first point. Often this is savings during construction or underestimation of risks. When it is necessary to remove the weakened soil and take it out. Then fill the pit with sand and crushed stone to create a non-heaving cushion. This stage is abandoned either because of the high cost or insufficient risk assessment.

How to fix the problem with Georesin

We would like to emphasize right away. A real technical solution that is applied individually to your case can only be developed based on the results of the examination by our specialists. Below we provide examples of solutions for the occurrence of frost heaving:

Soil characteristics

The technology of injecting geopolymers into the soil is ideal for changing the quality of the soil. Polymer resins fill cracks and pores in the soil, binding it into a more monolithic structure. This is one of the few ways to change the characteristics of the soil under an existing building. its bearing capacity.

Even if the soil was saturated with water at the time of injection, it is displaced under pressure from the expanding hydrophobic polymer.

Drainage

It may not always be possible to make effective drainage for load-bearing soils using classical methods. Sometimes this is prevented by dense development, sometimes by the structure of land ownership, sometimes by technical impossibility.
In such cases, injection of polymer resins also helps, by injecting them into problem areas, a waterproof barrier is created, blocking the ingress of water into the area under the foundation.

Conclusions

Thus, using Georesin technologies, the key causes are eliminated – the quality of the soil changes, its bearing capacity, and the saturation of the soil with water is blocked. The mechanism of cryogenic water seepage and the formation of ice lenses is blocked, since the bearing soil under the foundation becomes isolated from groundwater and monolithic.
Even if the foundation is damaged, the possibility of zonal lifting of the bearing soil and leveling allows you to stabilize the situation and stop the destruction of the building.
As an additional measure that does not require complex and expensive work, it remains not to forget about the insulation of the existing foundation.