Seeing cracks in your foundation walls or floor? Cracking can be the result of site conditions, building history, normal curing processes, changes in temperature, foundation settlement, or applied loads, among other issues. While care needs to be taken in diagnosing these cracks, your foundation may not be in such dire straits as you think.
Non-Structural Cracks:-
Non-structural cracks in the foundation wall can occur anywhere on a foundation wall, though they often occur where an opening created a variance in the reinforcement in the concrete, such as around the windows, doors, and pipes. Non-structural cracks are the result of lateral pressure from the soil outside the foundation, and will typically leak when the soil is saturated. Types of non-structural cracks can include cracks that appear along form seams, shrinkage cracks, and hairline cracks.
Non-structural cracks in the foundation wall can occur anywhere on a foundation wall, though they often occur where an opening created a variance in the reinforcement in the concrete, such as around the windows, doors, and pipes. Non-structural cracks are the result of lateral pressure from the soil outside the foundation, and will typically leak when the soil is saturated. Types of non-structural cracks can include cracks that appear along form seams, shrinkage cracks, and hairline cracks.
Shrinkage Cracks and Hairline Cracks:-
Shrinkage cracks and “hairline” cracks (cracks that are less than 1/16″ wide) common occurrences in poured foundations. Shrinkage cracks occur naturally in poured concrete during the curing process as the concrete is losing its moisture. On foundation walls, shrinkage cracks are often vertical in nature, may not be one long continuous cracks, and may meander instead of follow a straight line. Shrinkage cracks also appear in poured slab floors. These shrinkage cracks may need to be sealed to keep water from pushing up from below the foundation, as well as to stop radon gas from leaking up into your home. The good news, shrinkage cracks do not signify structural damage and can be easily repaired.
Shrinkage cracks and “hairline” cracks (cracks that are less than 1/16″ wide) common occurrences in poured foundations. Shrinkage cracks occur naturally in poured concrete during the curing process as the concrete is losing its moisture. On foundation walls, shrinkage cracks are often vertical in nature, may not be one long continuous cracks, and may meander instead of follow a straight line. Shrinkage cracks also appear in poured slab floors. These shrinkage cracks may need to be sealed to keep water from pushing up from below the foundation, as well as to stop radon gas from leaking up into your home. The good news, shrinkage cracks do not signify structural damage and can be easily repaired.
