I finally understood why my boss always checks for frost heave in early spring

Last Tuesday in Grand Rapids, we set a 40-foot section of cedar privacy fence that looked perfect by 5 PM. Came back the next morning and the whole line had shifted almost two inches out of plumb. The ground had thawed overnight and the frost pushed the posts up. My boss just pointed at the ground and said, 'Told you so.' Has anyone else had a job ruined by a quick thaw like that?

4 comments

4 Comments

carter.cora2mo ago

Disagree completely, since a good forecast and prep work prevents that, unlike @laura667's patio.

jenkins.elizabeth2mo ago

Honestly, I've found a good pre-thaw inspection usually catches those issues.

taylor9577d ago

Duluth in March is basically a gamble every single year. I remember one time I did a full pre-thaw check on my own driveway and still ended up with a crack big enough to lose a golf ball in, so I feel your pain. @carter.cora probably has a perfect slab that never sees a thaw, but some of us are just out here losing slabs like we lose umbrellas.

laura6672mo ago

We lost a whole patio slab in Duluth last March. The ground just turned to soup overnight. I mean, you can check the forecast, but that quick thaw will get you every time.