Sinkhole and Washout Repair for Commercial Properties
A hole or dip that opens in a parking lot, drive or lawn is usually a sign that soil is washing away underneath. Kuesel repairs sinkholes and washouts for property owners, facility managers, HOAs and municipalities across the St. Louis region, with our own union crews. We fix the cause, not just the hole. Emergency calls answered 24/7. Call (636) 978-3478.
Signs to watch for
- A new hole, dip or soft spot in pavement or turf, often over or near a storm pipe, inlet or water line
- Cracked or sagging pavement around inlets, manholes or curb
- Soil, gravel or pavement base washed into a storm inlet or pipe
- Water running where it shouldn't, or a wet spot that never dries
- Eroded slopes, outfalls or ditch banks after heavy rain
Common causes
- Failed storm pipe or culvert joints: water carries soil into the pipe through open or separated joints until the ground above gives way.
- Water main or service line leaks: escaping water saturates and washes out the soil around the pipe.
- Concentrated runoff and erosion: downspouts, inlets or outfalls that dump water in one spot.
- Karst (natural sinkholes): much of Missouri sits on limestone and dolomite, where water slowly dissolves the bedrock and soil drops into the voids.
The Missouri Geological Survey notes that a sudden collapse is more often caused by failed infrastructure than by a natural sinkhole, and that exposed pipe, brick or debris in the hole points to a man-made cause. The USGS also says to rule out leaking underground pipes first.
What to do first
- 1. Keep people and vehicles away. Barricade or rope off the area at a safe distance; the edges can keep caving.
- 2. Call 811 before anyone digs, and call your water utility if you see or hear running water.
- 3. Don't fill it with trash or loose dirt. Missouri DNR warns that sinkholes can connect directly to groundwater.
- 4. Call Kuesel at (636) 978-3478 with the location, size and what's nearby (inlets, pipes, building).
How we repair it
- 1. Find the cause: utility locates, then we excavate to the source. Our hydrovac trucks expose nearby lines where appropriate.
- 2. Fix what failed: repair or replace the storm pipe, culvert joint, inlet or water line, or redirect the runoff that caused the washout.
- 3. Rebuild the ground: remove soft and washed-in soil, then place backfill compacted in lifts. Where the subgrade is weak, soil stabilization can strengthen it. For a natural karst sinkhole, the repair is designed with a geotechnical engineer or registered geologist, as Missouri DNR recommends.
- 4. Restore: pavement, curb, turf and erosion control.
Examples of our underground repair work: a retail fire main repair in St. Peters and an industrial sanitary sewer replacement in St. Louis.
Related work: culvert installation, storm sewer, water main break repair and soil stabilization.
FAQ
- Is it a sinkhole or a broken pipe?
- Often a broken or separated pipe. If you can see pipe, brick or debris in the hole, a failed utility or drainage line is the likely cause. We excavate to find out.
- Who is responsible for the repair?
- It depends on what failed and who owns it. Private storm pipe and service lines are generally the owner's. Public mains and sewers belong to the utility or district, so call them too.
- Can you just fill the hole?
- Filling without fixing the cause usually means it opens again. We repair the pipe or drainage problem first, then rebuild the ground.
- Do you handle emergencies?
- Yes. Emergency calls answered 24/7 at (636) 978-3478. Keep vehicles off undermined pavement until it's checked.
Sources: Missouri DNR: Sinkholes · Missouri Resources: Getting to the bottom of Missouri's sinkholes · USGS: I think I have a sinkhole on my property · FHWA Culvert Assessment and Decision-Making Procedures Manual
Sinkhole or washout on your property?
Emergency calls answered 24/7. Office hours Monday–Friday 7:00 AM–4:00 PM.