Concrete Cracks

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DEALING WITH CONCRETE CRACKS

Sooner or later, concrete cracks.  Sadly, there is not a lot of ways around it. There is technology to control where concrete cracks and fix them when they happen but there is not a lot of tactics for preventing cracks. However, when it comes to your foundation it is important to understand what causes foundation cracks. That way you may be able to control some of the elements to prevent cracks before they happen. Here are some of the common causes of foundation cracks:

Tree Roots

Trees and bushes that are planted too close to the foundation wall can cause foundation cracks.  Basically, the roots keep growing naturally and when they hit the concrete wall they keep pushing against the foundation causing it to crack.  To prevent this scenario, avoid planting trees and deep root bushes too close to the foundation wall.  It is easier to remove the tree than it is to move your house.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure happens when water builds up in the soil. As water saturates the ground, the soil expands and increases the pressure that is pushing up against the foundation wall.  This pressure can crack the foundation wall which typically manifests itself in horizontal cracks.   To prevent this, don’t let excess water build up along the foundation wall.  Make sure the gutters and downspouts are working together to channel the water away from the house.  The soil grade should angle away from the house to let any water fall away from the foundation not toward it. French drains can also help relieve hydrostatic pressure by channeling water away from the house.

Freeze/Thaw Cycle

Concrete naturally expands and contracts with the elements.  As the ground around the foundation freezes and thaws the concrete expands and contracts often causing small vertical hairline cracks.  Most of the time, these cracks are not serious but should be fixed before they let in water, soil gases, or insects and pests.  Sometimes when a contractor pours a concrete foundation they include expansion joints to allow for the natural movement of the concrete to happen without causing the concrete to crack.  If your foundation cracks due to the freeze and thaw cycles, just get the fixed as soon as possible so they don’t get worse or cause other problems.

Settlement

Soil settlement can also cause foundation cracks.  This usually happens if the footing was not properly supported, backfilled, or if the soil under the foundation was not properly compacted.  Settlement cracks can also happen if there is excavation work going on in the area.   This sometimes will change the soil environment and cause the ground to shift under the footing.  You can know if the crack is from a settlement issue if the crack is actively moving.  It is hard to prevent this from happening but if it does foundation repair contractors have systems to stabilize the foundation and prevent the crack from moving anymore.

If you have a foundation crack, it is important to call a professional to repair the crack and assess the situation. If it is a structural crack that is affecting the integrity of the building or house, you may have to consider shoring up the foundation with anchors, underpinning, or carbon fiber systems.  A professional foundation repair contractor can help diagnose the problem and recommend the best systems for your situation.

Basement Cracks and Finished Basements

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basement cracksBasement wall cracks are the most common source of seepage problems.  If you have a foundation that is constructed of poured concrete, there’s a very high likelihood there is a crack somewhere in your foundation.  If your basement is finished, it can become a challenge to find them.

Before you start ripping down your drywall or paneling, take a walk outside.
Walk around the exterior of your home.  It’s best if there is still daylight.  Otherwise, grab a powerful flashlight.  And make sure to bring your eyeglasses with you.

The first thing you want to do is locate the top of your foundation wall.
Ideally, it should extend above your grading at least a few inches.  If not, grab a shovel and pull back the soil enough so you can expose the top of the foundation.

Once the foundation is exposed and identified, clean off the surface of the wall.
A wire brush will usually do the trick.  Now, slowly scan the exposed portion of the foundation and look for hairline cracks.  When I say hairline, some cracks are just 1/16 of an inch wide.  Now you know why I said grab your glasses!  Here’s a photo to give you a better idea:

Spend some extra time on the sections of the wall that correspond with basement seepage.
Say, for instance you noticed the carpeting was wet about ten feet to the left of your chimney inside your basement.  When you go back outside, measure ten feet to the right of the chimney.

Don’t expect to find cracks all over the place.
The average house has between two and eight foundation cracks.  Don’t be fooled by form lines in the foundation.  They are superficial and don’t leak because they don’t go all the way through the wall.  Form lines are left in the concrete when the wood forms are pulled.  They are found at fixed intervals.

Don’t Patch Your Cracks

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foundation crack patchThere are a lot of companies that do foundation wall cracks and repair them from the inside or outside with a patch method. If the basement is unfinished (no drywall or paneling) and the crack is exposed on the interior, companies typically recommend epoxy/urethane injection process. This is a two step process which involves sealing the crack on its inside face with an epoxy paste and injecting a urethane resin which fills the entire crack to the outside soil.

If the crack is obstructed by paneling or drywall, then companies address the problem from the exterior utilizing wall-clay process or using the epoxy/urethane injection process. This involves coring a small hole in the earth at the crack location and filling the hole with a granular clay to form an impermeable water barrier or injecting the urethane and using the epoxy paste.

Both foundation crack repair processes are minimally invasive and minimally effective. Most foundation wall cracks do not pose any structural concerns, but solving them correctly the first time will prevent any future needs or worries about the cracks. Certain crack pattern formations and those wider than 1/8”, however, can be a sign of a structural problem that should be further evaluated by companies who offer foundation crack repair and structural repairs.

 

Tips For Choosing A Foundation Repair Contractor

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foundation repair contractor

We know choosing a foundation repair contractor can be a bit difficult as well as nerve wrecking.

Here are ten questions to ask the company. These will help you make your decision a little easier:

1.)  Years in the Business?
2.)  What Is Their Warranty?
3.)  What Type of System Do They Use?
4.)  Are They Insured?
5.)  Part of any Affiliations/Associations?
6.)  Price Compared to Benefits?
7.)  Sales Rep Certifications/Awards?
8.)  Sales Rep Knowledge?
9.)  Sales Rep Badmouthing Competition?
10.)  Companies Reputation?

The answers to these ten questions will give you all the answers you need to make your decision if the company is right for you. For more      information about foundation repair contractors, visit our homepage stablwallcarbonfiber.com or give us a call at 866-782-5955.

Side Effects of a Bowing Foundation Wall

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bowing-foundation-walls

We all understand the importance of repairing our broken, bowing foundation walls for the sake of fixing them up and making them nice; but often we don’t consider the consequences of NOT taking action.

As cracks expand, and joints open wider, you could be opening your home up to the outside elements, putting the health of your home and your family at risk.

  1. Unwanted pests. This is something we see often in older homes with bowing foundation walls and foundation cracking. As the wall shifts, bows, and cracks, gaps open up allowing unwanted bugs and rodents access to the warm, comfortable confines of your basement or crawl space.
  2. Moisture and seepage. All walls crack and push in, it becomes easier for moisture and water from the soil outside to invade your living space––in fact water pressure is often the cause of inward bowing walls.
  3. Mildew and mold. Often, with water and moisture comes mold. It only takes between 24 and 48 hours for toxic black mold to begin to colonize in your home under the right conditions. It’s important to address moisture and water intrusions as soon as possible.
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In addition to the side effects listed above, you may have also noticed drywall cracking, or windows and sliding doors becoming harder to open. These are all indications that your foundation may be due for an inspection from a structural engineer or foundation professional.

Drought Prevention

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Foundation RepairIt’s pretty common knowledge that drought can be tough on plants and wildlife, but a lot of homeowners are shocked to learn that a house can also be seriously damaged by even a year or two of persistent drought. You don’t have to be a Weather Channel addict to know that most of Texas is already in a state of severe to extreme drought. According to forecasts from NOAA and USDA research partners, conditions are expected to get even drier over the summer.

Luckily, there are TWO silver linings in this missing rain cloud.

First, there’s still plenty of time to prepare for the worst and there are practical steps you can take now to protect your home. Second, even if signs of drought damage are starting to show up, they’re relatively easy to recognize and a few simple repairs are often all you need to prevent things from getting worse… and more expensive.

This is your house in a drought

Most people expect to see lawns and gardens turning brown during a drought, but as the soil beneath your house starts to harden and shift there can be problems above ground as well. The trouble begins when a receding water table causes the ground to sink or pull away from your foundation. This can cause parts of the foundation to twist or collapse, leading to more serious (and costly) kinds of structural damage over time.

Early signs of drought damage

Cracks are usually the first warning that drought could be harming your foundation. Here are some of the most common places they’ll show up:

•    Radiating out from the corners of windows and doors
•    Along caulked surfaces or in drywall and plaster
•    As a stairstep outline along concrete blocks
•    In siding, brickwork or ground level flooring
•    As gaps around cabinets, baseboards or exterior trim

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•    On exposed areas where the foundation meets exterior walls

A few superficial cracks happen normally as new building materials settle or cure, but if you’re seeing more than one of these symptoms or a recent change, it’s a good idea to have a qualified inspector give you an opinion. In general, slab on grade foundations are more resistant to drought damage than homes with basements, but they’re still at risk when soil starts to sink.

If foundation cracks are lengthening or widening, or if the surfaces on either side of the crack aren’t on the same plane when you run your fingers over them, it’s possible that your foundation is experiencing problems. Look for areas where soil or concrete may be pulling away from the foundation. Inside the house, doors and windows may be sticking or hardware may not line up.

Time to Start Paying Attention To Your Aging Foundation?

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Carbon Fiber Wall Repair

According to a recent American Housing Survey administered by the United States Census Bureau, the average age of a home in the US is approximately 38 years old.  Considering the life of the average concrete footing/foundation is considered a single lifetime by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB––source), 38 years is a significant portion of the life of a foundation!

It’s clear our homes are getting older, and the increased extremity of droughts and rains in recent years certainly hasn’t made things any easier on our foundations. Droughts can cause excess soil shifting, while excess moisture can put dangerous amounts of pressure on your foundation walls, causing them to bow inward. Homeowners are increasingly turning toward carbon fiber wall repair, steel beams, and wall anchors.

The good news is, there are often early warning signs that can point to a larger potential structural issues. The bad news is, many of us simply ignore them! Here are some things to be aware of:

  • New or Worsening Leaks From Walls or Floor
  • Vertical Hairline Cracks
  • Horizontal Cracking
  • Cracking of the Block Mortar Joints
  • Doors and Windows Out of Jamb
  • New Cracks in Drywall Throughout Home
  • Shifting/Separating Floor Slab

Avoid unwanted surprises, and develop a system of checking your foundation walls a few times a year. You may just save thousands of dollars and tons of stress and hassle!

Learn More About Carbon Fiber Wall Repair»

Potential Causes of a Failing Foundation

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Foundation wall repair  becomes more and more of an issue the older your foundation becomes, and with so many aging foundations in many areas throughout the U.S., it’s no surprise many homeowners are turning to more and more solutions for their failing foundations.

But what causes a foundation’s structure to fail over time? Water is actually an important piece in the puzzle when it comes to structural foundation damage. Below we will go over some scenarios in which the structural integrity of your home may be affected over time.

1. Addition of water to the surrounding soil. Soil expansion can be attributed many foundation problems, including cracking along the mortar joints, horizontal cracking, and walls bowing inward. These are considered potential serious structural risks, and should be addressed immediately.

2. Subtraction of water form the surrounding soil. In some cases, a home’s foundation can be damaged by over-settling due to water leaving the soil around the home. This over-settling can large cracks in the concrete floor slab, as well as large diagonal cracks near the corners of your foundation.

3. Poor construction. Sometimes, a home is built upon soil that was poorly compacted, setting the home up for continued foundation troubles for decades to come.   Poor wall construction methods and materials can also contribute to ongoing structural damage.

The earlier you can identify and resolve a structural foundation issue, the better. For the most part, the problem will only become worse, forcing you to pay for more expensive repair solutions or worse–a total wall rebuild. If you have any questions about your foundation wall repair options, feel free to contact us!

DIY Foundation Repair

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DIY Foundation Repair

For the past forty years or so severally bowing walls, from water damage, were stabilized by one of two methods. They were either dig out on the outside where the soil is, which was putting the pressure against the wall, was replaced with crushed stone (which can absorb the expansion of the adjacent soil by movement of the spaces between the stones), or by steel braces which were used inside the basement to reinforce the wall.

Since the advent of carbon fiber reinforced mesh, which have extremely high tensile strengths, new materials have become available to waterproofers which can be used along with traditional steel braces or in place of them to reinforce bowing walls.

This carbon fiber reinforced fabric is epoxied to the wall. They can be installed by a waterproofer, or the homeowner – in a kit form. This solution is less costly than traditional solutions. One of the advantages of such a system is that it is flush to the wall and can be painted over, thus is much less obtrusive in the room than steel beams.

With the StablWall Carbon Fiber foundation repair kit, you can have the carbon fiber sheets installed in less than a day in an easy seven step process.