Why Worry About Sunken Concrete Slabs?

The presence of sunken concrete slabs in a home is always a bad sign, of course, but the reasons to worry about it can be split into personal and structural issues.  

Sunken Concrete Slabs are a Personal Hazard 

One of the biggest reasons to be concerned about the presence of uneven or sunken concrete slabs inside your home is the fact that they can present a tripping hazard. Any kind of unevenness or even an obstruction on the floor can cause a tripping hazard, but sunken or uneven concrete slabs are one of the most serious potential tripping hazards which can exist in a home.  

Anyone can be at risk of tripping, but those who are already vulnerable are by far the most at risk. This means that anyone in your home or family who has mobility issues, who is elderly, or who is very young (for example toddlers) will be at heightened risk of accidental falls and injury when there are sunken slabs in your home. What’s more these people are also more likely to face severe injury if they fall on concrete flooring. This means that slab levelling and repair should be a priority.  

Sunken Concrete Slabs Can Hide Larger Issues 

Sunken, uneven, or damaged concrete slabs inside a home can be the tip of a proverbial iceberg. The underlying issues which this kind of damage can be an indicator for ranges from localized issues like burst pipes and flawed slabs to wider structural issues like foundation damage and structural movement. There is also a high chance that these underlying causes can lead to secondary issues, too.  

The most common co-occurring and underlying issues which may be present in homes which have damaged or sunken interior slabs are foundation settlement, foundation subsidence, bowing walls, and dampness and humidity. Dampness and humidity are likely to be present in any home with structural issues, and will lead to tertiary issues like mold formation and wood rot.