The concrete walls surrounding your crawl space or basement, also known as your home's foundation, support the whole weight of the house. If you find cracks in the foundation, you might be shocked and wondering what steps you should take next. Oftentimes, many cracks in the concrete are not serious enough to get a professional repair by a waterproofing company, and can actually be fixed on your own.
These cracks can be an eyesore and are usually non-structural shrinkage cracks (hairline cracks). They are normally caused by shrinkage during the concrete curing process, and will not affect your home's structural integrity. However, a structural crack is more serious and needs to be repaired by a professional. In order to determine what type of foundation crack you have, we recommend that a foundation contractor or basement waterproofing specialist come take a look at it. However, before you start calling, we will go over both non-structural and structural cracks so you know exactly what to look out for.
What Causes Foundation Cracks?
A lot of different factors cause foundation cracks to form, some include but are not limited to:
Structural Cracks Vs. Non-Structural Cracks
Not all foundation cracks should cause alarm, as there are different types of cracks. Structural cracks are more serious and are caused by foundation movement. If not repaired properly and immediately, the cracks will eventually cause damage to the foundation. Non-structural cracks, however, are caused by concrete shrinkage during the curing process and do not affect the home's structural integrity. However, if you have non-structural cracks, that does not necessarily mean you are in the clear. Vertical basement wall cracks can allow water to seep into your home, leading to wet basement walls and sometimes even flooding and mold growth.
Structural Cracks
Structural cracks are found in poured
concrete walls and
concrete block foundation walls. If you notice structural cracks in your
basement walls, we highly advise you to call a
professional waterproofing company right away to come in and find a solution to the problem.
Non-Structural Cracks
Non-structural cracks do not threaten a building’s structural integrity and oftentimes are caused by concrete shrinkage. These cracks may be unpleasing to the eye, but they will not cause immediate damage to your home's foundation. However, this does not mean they cannot still cause damage later on. If you notice any of the following, this may indicate that the non-structural crack is getting worse and we recommend calling an experienced foundation repair contractor.
How To Prevent Foundation Cracks
Our number one tip in preventing any sort of foundation crack is to have good drainage around your home's foundation. After all, most foundation issues are caused by water. If there is nowhere for the water to drain off, pressure can build up against the wall. If the pressure is not relieved, cracks will form and the wall can eventually cave inward.
If you believe you have a foundation crack in your basement that could cause harm to your home's foundation, call the experts at Waterproofing Parsippany today! We have all the tools, knowledge and experience to come and diagnose the problem. Give us a call today for a fast, free inspection and quote.
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