(Oct. 13) - Many residents have not heard of street creep, but it is a problem that can cause cracks in a home’s foundation.

Street creep, which is also known as concrete creep or driveway creep, occurs when the concrete street expands during hot months, putting excess pressure on driveways and in turn, a home’s foundation.

“We can’t stop streets from moving,” said Sikeston Public Works Director Jay Lancaster, who added that curved sections of roads are more prone to the street creep.

Most common signs of street creep include:

• Foundation wall movement and cracking
• Cracks in the garage wall
• The floor of the garage pulling away from the wall
• Gaps around the garage door
• Cracks at the edge of the driveway

In most cases in Sikeston, the concrete street was designed and constructed prior to the placement of structures and driveways (both residential and commercial). It is the responsibility of the property owner to ensure that their concrete driveway is designed and constructed properly.

Lancaster said that includes that the proper allowance has been made for expansion joints. At a minimum, one inch of expansion joint material should be placed at both the structure and at the street joints. For best results, an additional joint with one inch of expansion joint material should be placed midway for driveways that are up to 80 feet in length, especially when in a section of curved street. Driveways longer than 80 feet in length may require additional expansion joints.

The expansion joints should be inspected on a regular basis and may require maintenance repair or replacement over time. In some extreme cases, additional expansion joints may be needed.

Lancaster said if you notice signs of street creep, contact a local concrete contractor or civil engineer. They can determine the cause and potential methods of repair.

NOTE: The City of Sikeston is not responsible for damage sustained on concrete driveways or structures that could be the result of concrete movement within the right-of-way. Concrete will move from time to time, especially in very hot summers, and it is critical that property owners allow for adequate movement through the number and location of proper expansion joints. In some extreme cases, sections of driveways may require ongoing maintenance, possibly even replacement. This would include broken sections of curbs located in the driveway path.