As we all know, no home is perfect. Whether your home is old or newly constructed, it is prone to developing cracks in the foundation due to various reasons. After construction, every building shifts into position.
You can find cracks in your homes either in its structural components or cosmetic finish and most of them do not really affect the structural integrity of the building. However it is in your interest to avoid water seepage into the basement and accompanying health related problems. Those living in your home could develop conditions such as allergies and asthma attacks due to the molds and mildews formation in damp environments.
There are different types of foundation cracks:
Shrinkage Cracks – Shrinkage cracks usually occur in newly poured foundation. This happens during the process of shrinking and curing of the concrete. Though shrinkage cracks are not structurally damaging, they result in water seepage into the basement. Shrinkage cracks in a poured concrete foundation can be recognized with ease.
- Shrinkage cracks are usually smaller than 1/8th inches.
- They are vertical occurring only in the wall of the foundation and do not extend along the structure.
- Usually, you can find shrinkage cracks in the centre of the third length of the foundation wall.
Horizontal Cracks – Horizontal cracks can be found in houses that have a basement usually on the concrete wall of the foundation. If you locate a horizontal crack that runs through the foundation along the basement length usually indicates a major problem where the foundation is unable to bear the weight of the soil surrounding it. The crack is a result of the huge pressure applied on the foundation by the soil.
Foundation walls are usually built in such a manner that they take enormous pressure loads. However due to any reason, if your foundation develops a full length horizontal crack, then it is time to act immediately and seal the crack.
Settlement Cracks – Settlement cracks in the foundation are generally vertical and extend completely through the structure. The cracks usually follow the mortar joints in walls made of bricks.
Short term settlement is the cause of most of the settlement cracks we find. It is very rare to find a building affected by ongoing settlement. If you are planning on purchasing a home, it is essential taking a home inspector with you to identify if the settlement is ongoing on one time before closing the deal.
You can differentiate between one time and ongoing settlement with the help of the settlement crack size. If the crack is larger in size, it is most probably due to an ongoing movement. If, on the other hand, the crack is sized lesser than ¼ inches, then it may be due to a one time crack.
You can also identify a settlement crack with the direction of movement. For instance, a vertical crack is a typical example of a settlement crack. Crevices and bumps you can find here fitting like puzzle pieces.
You must be concerned about ongoing movement if the settlement crack repaired earlier re-cracks. These are some of the major types of foundation cracks. After identifying them, it is important to call in experts or repair them with the help of our top quality DIY foundation crack repair kits.