Photo courtesy of Hernando Today
Known to many as “Sinkhole Capital of the World”, Spring Hill, Florida has just released a report on the effects of sinkholes on the economy. Although homes with sinkholes cause Hernando County to loose revenue on residential taxes, it seems to have no effect on the commercial growth of the County.
So what is the damage of having a sinkhole?
The market value of properties with unrepaired sinkholes are depreciated 50 percent. Once those properties are repaired, the value is increased to 90 percent of its full potential value.
Grout has a wide array of applications, mainly in construction, due to its ability to fill gaps and make a foundation or structure more patent. Grout has also proven to be an effective deterrent to sinkholes, which are always a matter of grave concern in Florida, as its geological features provide the ideal conditions for these problems. If not executed correctly, however, grouting can be as much of a problem as the sinkholes it aims to prevent. Eric Glasser of WTSP 10News reports that the sinkhole fix to a 76-year-old woman’s home “did more harm than good.” (more…)
The sudden appearance of a hundred-foot-deep sinkhole in a Guatemala city street in 2010 alerted the whole world to the danger of these perilous pits. This small country in the Caribbean isn’t the only sinkhole-prone place in the world. Tampa Bay Times’ Caitlin Johnston reports that the danger of sinkholes is present much closer to home, with several communities in central Florida possibly sitting on top of a future hole. In fact, two thirds of all reported Florida sinkholes in recent years have occurred in just three contiguous counties, from the Tampa Bay area up through the most high risk county, Hernando, where news coverage has mentioned specific preventive sinkhole repair in Spring Hill as critical to saving homes (and possibly lives). (more…)
Beautiful Spring Hill in Hernando County has a disconcerting side, the unseen underground erosion activity of the limestone and other weak soils on which it is built. The probability of a sinkhole’s development in Hernando County is high due to the area’s geological composition. This is especially true in the rainy season, when more than twice the number of sinkholes occurs as in the dry period. Above is the sinkhole that suddenly disrupted a runway at the Hernando County Airport following the massive rains of Tropical Storm Debby in June 2012. While your individual risk still remains low, vigilance is important and fast action can often prevent a nightmare. (more…)
A property appraiser in Florida’s Hillsborough County has called on the county leadership to consider creating a tracking database for all sinkhole inspections and repair assignments. Bob Henriquez said a “start-to-end tracking method” identical to measures in Pasco and Hernando counties will require sinkhole investigators such as geologists or geotechnical engineers to apply for permits before working onsite. The information will also help house hunters check if their prospective home is endangered by potential sinkhole formation before making the purchase. (more…)
A new five-year permit issued February 28th from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Jacksonville District) now allows the City of Cape Coral to process new seawall repair, maintenance and construction applications, as well as applications for their single-family docks.
Read the Full Article on Ocala.com
Foundation Services was highlighted on the front page of the August 9th, 2010 Ocala Star Banner news article about sinkhole insurance. (more…)
“Although other companies made proposals, we kept reflecting on how knowledgeable, professional, and efficient Robert was. Never-the-less, we spent weeks researching the grouting process, the standards of the industry, and contacting references provided before entrusting the remediation of our home to Foundation Services. …We were in awe of how smoothly the drilling and grout injection process went…at the conclusion of the job, the home site looked exactly as it did at the job’s inception.”
