Cracks In Concrete Foundation

Repair a foundation crack with an epoxy sealer photo geoffrey gross.

Cracks in concrete foundation.

We repaired a foundation wall which had an 8 ft long crack that leaked water into the basement during periods of heavy rainfall. Concrete slabs are essential to the structural stability and design of modern buildings. A single thick concrete slab is often used as the foundation for large buildings called slab on grade foundation resting on compacted subsoil and ensuring the building stays level read this post to know how to fix cracks in slab foundation. Therefore you can t just ignore cracks in a foundation or concrete slab.

A vertical foundation crack is a crack that goes straight up and down or slightly diagonal within 30 degrees of vertical. Hairline cracks in the mortar between concrete blocks are rarely worth worrying about. Correction of foundation and structural problems can be very costly and occasionally foundation cracks will be a warning sign of other structural issues with a home. Stepped cracks along block foundations or brick walls may be caused by upheaval.

The best way to stave off major repair work is to monitor the crack. Cracks often originate in 90 degree corners so check those places carefully. To permanently patch the crack we used an epoxy injection system from polygem called the liquid concrete. As concrete and mortar between blocks dry it shrinks.

Minor cracks though unsightly are not normally cause for alarm. In fact it is a very rare in this area to have a concrete foundation that does not have one or two vertical cracks. These aren t a structural issue though you might need to plug them to keep the. Vertical cracks are of least concern and are commonly seen almost all houses.

Repairing a foundation crack in this width range is a simple diy project that involves filling the crack with caulk compatible with concrete such as ge s concrete and masonry silicone ii caulk. Foundations are rigid and tend to crack over time. 98 of the homes in the united states have foundations constructed out of concrete masonry blocks or brick all of which tend to crack when there is movement and excessive stress. Major cracks on the other hand indicate substantial movement and can undermine the home s structural integrity.

Cracks can form in both poured concrete and block foundations. While these cracks are sometimes seen in homes with poured concrete foundations they are most common in homes with concrete block or brick foundations. Cracks at an l shape section such as where a foundation steps down to follow a hillside are probably shrinkage cracks especially if they meander and taper down to a hairline.