Foundation cracks may appear for various reasons. Any crack that admits water is cause for concern and should be investigated further.
Thin vertical cracks that run up and down foundation walls typically do not pose a threat. However, if they widen beyond the width of a coin, they should be monitored and repaired as soon as possible.
Remember, when it comes to foundation cracks or any plumbing issues, keeping an eye on them and addressing problems promptly is key – for plumbing services, you can trust Clover Services.
1. Soil type and movement
The soil around and underneath your foundation may shift due to erosion, water infiltration, poor construction or tree roots, creating voids where foundations may sink into or push against them and cause cracking.
Therefore, the soil surrounding your foundation must be tightly compacted to prevent leaks, flooding, plumbing leaks, evaporation, expansive soils or large trees causing flooding or excessive moisture in basements or crawl spaces from damaging it further.
Small cracks formed as concrete cures and contracts typically don’t pose much of a structural threat and can usually be repaired with epoxy injection.
If your cracks widen significantly or shift in a direction suggesting foundation shifting, it would be prudent to contact a professional immediately, as this could indicate significant structural issues that cannot be rectified through patching alone.
Expansive soils like clay tend to expand and contract when their moisture-retaining capacity fluctuates according to changes in the weather, which can cause their volume to change with weather conditions. Swelling in summer and fall months can result in upheaval of foundations, resulting in cracking.
This issue can be resolved by having professional tests run on soil samples before construction and compacting them properly before the building commences.
Furthermore, installing an effective drainage system – including guttering, downspouts and creating 2% slopes along the foundation – will ensure water drains away from homes without pooling pavements or displacements caused by soil expansion or contraction cycles.
This will keep pooled water from pooling under structures to help drain away from homes during the construction phase project.
2. Tree roots
Tree roots are one of the main sources of foundation issues, as their water-sucking capabilities rob water from the soil beneath your home. When this happens, strain is placed on the soil surrounding a home, which could result in shifts to concrete foundation slabs and shifts of existing ones.
Furthermore, loose soil around foundations often results in imbalanced pressure that causes cracking or other forms of damage within its walls and results in cracks forming within them, eventually causing cracking due to pressure imbalance.
Contrary to popular belief, tree roots don’t usually press directly against foundations to cause them to crack or move upwards; rather, they take advantage of existing cracks to widen them further. Moisture-sapping trees may draw moisture out of the soil, which further weakens its masonry and causes cracks.
Numerous types of trees that can damage homes and structures – including water oaks (water oak, red oak and live oak) as well as black locusts, sweetgums, box elders (tulip trees and sycamore) which have all proven problematic in recent times.
3. Cold weather
Cold temperatures, while not directly linked with expansive soils, have the ability to cause cracks in foundations when temperatures remain very cold for extended periods.
Temperature drops can cause water in the soil surrounding your foundation to freeze, expanding as its moisture expands and pushes against your foundation – this process is known as frost heave and can create new or worsen existing cracks in your structure.
Once frost heave has occurred, it can happen again as the ground thaws out during spring thaw out. This constant cycle can significantly damage your home’s foundation and worsen existing cracks further.
If you detect signs of foundation problems in your home, you must reach out to a professional as soon as possible for assessment and repair options. Cracked or non-structural foundation issues must be addressed promptly to avoid further structural damage to the structure and water intrusion, which could require costly repairs down the line.
4. Water infiltration
Moisture infiltration causes concrete to expand and contract beyond its limits, leading to cracks. Horizontal cracks signal hydrostatic pressure that threatens foundations; typically, they appear near the base of foundation walls and could potentially lead to extensive structural damage throughout a home.
Leaky plumbing and poor drainage around a home can contribute to water infiltration, as can poor construction design and workmanship during its building, leading to unstable foundations that become vulnerable due to cracks.
Diagonal and stair-step cracks running diagonally along the foundation walls usually indicate that it has settled, which could be caused by expansive clay soils that expand and contract depending on weather conditions, improper compaction during excavation, or poor construction of foundation footings.
Cracked foundations don’t necessarily signal an issue; however, the larger and more frequent the crack is, the more likely it is that professional inspection and repair is warranted.
Non-structural cracks wider than a hairline can usually be repaired using polyurethane expanding caulk or epoxy sealant; however, it is essential to monitor cracks for signs of further damage or shifting in foundational support systems.