driveway sinkhole
 

There appears to be a sinkhole forming on the side of my driveway,
about half in the yard and half in the driveway. Right now it's only a
couple of feet wide and maybe 6 inches deep at the lowest point. I
imagine this is a root or something decomposing underneath? My
questions:

1-Am I going to wake up one morning and find that my truck has been
swallowed up?

2-Is this something I can fix myself? If not, do I call a driveway
specialist? An excavator?

Don't know if it makes a difference, but I live in Massachusetts, so
the ground will be freezing soon.

On 14 Dec 2004 10:20:44 -0800, wrote:

There appears to be a sinkhole forming on the side of my driveway,
about half in the yard and half in the driveway. Right now it's only a
couple of feet wide and maybe 6 inches deep at the lowest point. I
imagine this is a root or something decomposing underneath? My
questions:

1-Am I going to wake up one morning and find that my truck has been
swallowed up?

2-Is this something I can fix myself? If not, do I call a driveway
specialist? An excavator?

Don't know if it makes a difference, but I live in Massachusetts, so
the ground will be freezing soon.


First don't park your truck over it. geez....

Second, have the water company check if one of their supply lines to
your house is leaking.

Third, get hot, it will only get worse if you don't move on getting it
checked out.


hth,

Tom @ www.URLBee.com

Third, get hot, it will only get worse if you don't move on getting
it
checked out.



Thanks for the reply...if it is not the water, who should I call to
check it out?

On 14 Dec 2004 10:20:44 -0800, wrote:

There appears to be a sinkhole forming on the side of my driveway,
about half in the yard and half in the driveway. Right now it's only a
couple of feet wide and maybe 6 inches deep at the lowest point. I
imagine this is a root or something decomposing underneath? My
questions:

1-Am I going to wake up one morning and find that my truck has been
swallowed up?

2-Is this something I can fix myself? If not, do I call a driveway
specialist? An excavator?

Don't know if it makes a difference, but I live in Massachusetts, so
the ground will be freezing soon.

Do you hve a septic system...and if so do you know where it is?


*-------------------------------*
NEVER FORGET!!!
http://cf1.newsday.infi.net/911/vict...me.cfm?id=2105

wrote in message
oups.com...
There appears to be a sinkhole forming on the side of my driveway,
about half in the yard and half in the driveway. Right now it's only a
couple of feet wide and maybe 6 inches deep at the lowest point. I
imagine this is a root or something decomposing underneath? My
questions:

1-Am I going to wake up one morning and find that my truck has been
swallowed up?

2-Is this something I can fix myself? If not, do I call a driveway
specialist? An excavator?

I have a similar problem. I know of a couple of sinkholes tat formed from
trees that were buried 24 years ago when the house was built. Mine is small
enough right now that I think I can fill and patch it myself. If it gets
larger I'm going to call a driveway paver for some digging, filling,
paving. FWIW, I'm not far from you over the border in CT.

Third, get hot, it will only get worse if you don't move on getting
it
checked out.



Thanks for the reply...if it is not the water, who should I call to
check it out?

Third, get hot, it will only get worse if you don't move on getting
it
checked out.



Thanks for the reply...if it is not the water, who should I call to
check it out?

On 14 Dec 2004 15:23:15 -0800, wrote:


Third, get hot, it will only get worse if you don't move on getting
it
checked out.



Thanks for the reply...if it is not the water, who should I call to
check it out?

Cross that bridge when you get to it, but for now you want to call the
water company/city works.

later,

tom @ www.WorkAtHomePlans.com

wrote:
Third, get hot, it will only get worse if you don't move on getting

it

checked out.




Thanks for the reply...if it is not the water, who should I call to
check it out?


My city has civil engineers who, of course, do engineering for city
projects. When I contacted a landscape architect about a drainage
problem, he told me that the city engineer reviewed some problems when
the problem was a complex one. So...I called, he came out, checked out
the situation and gave some helpful tips. It was more of the "CYA"
variety, on his part, because the problem potentially involved the
city's inspections done during construction of neighboring condo (which
drains onto our property :o)

If your sinkhole is in the path where there is rapid runoff from rain,
that could possibly be a cause. I have found "mystery" holes, probably
from rotted stumps. Have also found "tunnels" under the sod where water
washed out soil along our seawall, which was the reason for calling on
experts.

In Florida, sinkholes take out whole neighborhoods, and insurance
companies can have a guy with the right gadget check out the ground.

I'd be inclined to get some heavy topsoil, pack it in good, and do some
watchful waiting if you don't have sinkhole problems in the
neighborhood. Your city/county can give you info on that.

wrote:

Cross that bridge when you get to it, but for now you want to call
the
water company/city works.

later,

tom @ www.WorkAtHomePlans.com

The town just checked it out, it's not the water. And I do not have a
sepitc sysetm. The town suggested, based on the path of the water
pipe, that the trench for the pipe was not filled well enough.

.. The town suggested, based on the path of the water
pipe, that the trench for the pipe was not filled well enough.

My thoughts also. A common problem is loose soil thrown into an excavation
that settles when it becomes wet. If that is the problem, poke the garden
hose into the settling soil (water turned on). This will consolidate the
soil as the water drains out. After it has settled, pack in more soil to
restore the surface level.