Foundations

Do cracks in your basement walls keep have you worried about what’s to come? A lot of homeowners may not notice a hairline crack or two right away, which may not be a major issue. However, understanding what causes foundation cracks can help you know how serious your structural damage is and how to address it the right way.

What you should look for

You might find the first warning signs of structural damage in the interior of your house. Besides drywall cracks you may witness signs such as bowed walls, gaps where walls and floors meet, nails popped out of drywall, bouncy or tilting floors, jammed doors or windows, or cabinets that open by themselves.

Turning to the outside, small cracks in the exterior walls of the structure typically aren’t serious. The most prominent and least severe kinds of cracks are vertical in nature. They run up and down and are often caused by foundation settlement. The good news is that foundation settling is common – even in newer construction.

You might also see diagonal cracks that run at an angle. This type of cracking is the result of differential settling. In this instance, one side of a house’s foundation is sinking lower than the rest of the structure.

The most serious type of cracking run horizontally. These cracks are a symptom of a more serious structural issue, such as soil pressure or hydrostatic pressure that cause the basement walls to tip, bow and buckle. The weather in your area can be a factor as ice and snow, excessive heat or rain, or extensive flooding and droughts can lead to the contraction and expansion of soils.

How to make repairs

The first method is you can do it yourself.

The process of patching cracks can range from a quick trip to Home Depot or Lowe’s to paying hundreds of dollars to professionals that specialize in basement repair.

Hairline cracks generally don’t require professional assistance. With a small amount of online research and a couple video tutorials, you can find out how to patch tiny cracks on your own.

There are a many substances that can fill smaller cracks. They are polyurethane, silicon or latex concrete caulk, and hydraulic cement, to name a few. However, the best method for fixing hairline cracks is an epoxy injection that is flexible, lightweight, and waterproof. These injections can provide permanent sealing of foundation cracks.

If you believe the are more widespread and severe, and indicate other structural issues in the foundation or somewhere else in the residence, or are symptoms of larger complications, it’s wise to consult with a professional contractor. In this case, filling cracks with epoxy and hoping it holds for years to come is not a wise plan.

If your foundation problems are more advanced, it’s time to call in the pros. Call up a reputable foundation repair contractor (like Buffalo, NY Foundation Repair) and have them carefully inspect your concrete slab, crawl space, foundation or basement. The contractor may call in a structural engineer to provide a detailed report.

The contractor will discuss repair options with you. Make sure to get a written estimate prior to anyone doing work on your home. It’s worth it to aske ask if the contractor offers a warranty, or a transferable lifetime warranty, which add value your home.

Finally, be ready to pay a lot for repairs. Most homeowners will shell out $3,000 or more for foundation fixes. Repairs involving major stabilizing work can cost even more.