Sinkhole Repair

A sinkhole is best repaired by excavating to rock then building an aggregate filter in the hole.

Step 1. Excavate the sinkhole down to rock if possible.

Step 2. Put a layer of large stones in the hole (cabbage size).

Step 3. Put a layer of smaller stones on top (fist size).

Step 4. Put a layer of gravel on top of the small stones.

Step 5. Cover the gravel with a geotextile fabric. This prevents the next layer (sand) from being lost through the gravel.

Step 6. Cover the geotextile fabric with a layer of coarse sand.

Step 7. Fill the remainder of the hole with soil. This can be layered to match the existing soil profile.

Ideally each layer is six inches to two feet thick. When solid rock is encountered near the surface drop off the bottom layers (that is start with a smaller stone size) or use thinner layers. It is important that the bottom layer be larger than the solution channel opening in the bedrock. The objective is to provide an open path for percolating water so that it cannot carry away soil and cause another sinkhole. The repair, as described, also provides good filtration of infiltrating water.