When the ice melts, structural damage, potholes could be left behind

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- When this ice finally does melt, it could leave behind structural damage and potholes. Damage stems from snow expanding when it freezes, leaving behind cracks.

You might’ve seen ice melting a little bit throughout the day, only to freeze again overnight. When water freezes and expands, the building most impacted is your home.

“Roof collapse is one of the biggest concerns when it comes to structural issues and, you know, snowstorm cycling-related structural damage," said structural engineer for Alpha Structures Kyle Tourje.

The weight of this ice could be weighing on your roof. Tourje said if you hear creaks and groans, having an expert take a look can go a long way.

“Always good if you have, you know, a licensed civil engineer, a professional engineer come out, for even just a basic visual inspection," he said.

The freeze thaw cycle could impact your basement the most. Buildings could begin tilting, walls could even collapse. 

But even if your home is in the clear, the roads could be a different story. 

“You get a pothole that’s eight inches deep going 35 miles an hour it’s like, you know, getting bounced out of your bed in an earthquake," Tourje said.   

They city gets around $28 million state dollars for general street maintenance each year. To report a pothole, you can submit a service report to RVA311. In Henrico, you can call or email the Department of Public Works, and in Chesterfield County reports go through the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Our StormTracker8 team is predicting one to two inches of snow over the weekend in the metro Richmond area.