Foundation Cracks: Common Causes

As a homeowner, it can be worrisome to come across any type of damage in your living space. Especially when that damage includes foundation cracks. The foundation of your home is what holds it together to help it stand strong. Without a sturdy foundation, many severe issues can arise.

We know how frustrating it can be to see damages throughout the home that you worked hard to maintain. If you’ve noticed cracks within the foundation of your home, you might be wondering what exactly caused them.

At Crackmasters, we’ve dealt with thousands of different foundation crack repairs. Below is a list of possible causes that may lead to most home foundation cracks.

Concrete Curing and Foundation Cracks

According to the Portland Cement Association, “Concrete curing plays an important role in strength development and durability of concrete. Curing takes place immediately after concrete placing and finishing, and involves maintenance of desired moisture and temperature conditions, both at depth and near the surface, for extended periods of time.“

To be more specific, wall shrinkage cracks mainly occur during the process of concrete curing. While curing causes internal stress, shrinkage foundation cracks form to relieve the stress. In some cases, these types of cracks can even be caused from the original construction.

Depending on what type of foundation walls your home has, the size, shape and cause of shrinkage cracks can vary. For example:

• Block Foundation Walls
  Wall shrinkage cracks typically form from the centre of a block foundation wall. This can be a result of the curing process and various temperature changes.
• Poured Concrete Foundation Walls
  Shrinkage cracks can also be caused by rapid curing, poor mix and steel reinforcement. With consistent temperature swings and seasonal weather changes, concrete can expand and cause shrinkage cracks.
• Brick Walls
  Though present-day foundations don’t use bricks, many older buildings still have structural brickwalls in order to support the first floor. Normally, brick walls don’t shrink. However, they can continue to expand forever.

Plumbing Leaks

For many homeowners, leaking pipes or failed plumbing is a horrible nightmare. One faulty pipe can be difficult to track down and find, which means that the leaking water is able to drip its way down to the soil underneath your home’s foundation.

Before you know it, this can cause foundation cracks.

Spoil Beneath Foundation

According to Jim Lucas owner of Crackmasters, it can be nearly impossible to tell what causes certain foundation cracks if you’re not an expert in engineering and foundation crack repair. However, there are common root problems that can be damaging enough to cause your home’s foundation to pull apart or shift. Many of these problems can be traced back to soil moisture.

Though it may not seem important what type of soil the foundation of your home sits on, it can make a dramatic difference in the stability of your home.

If your soil is settling, you can likely blame your homebuilder, as it is the result of poorly tamped footers. Settling soil can also be a cause of loose fill-dirt used to level out the ground beneath your foundation.

Another example is expansive soil, which can lead to changes in moisture over time, causing the above foundation to crack. Similarly, dry soil can also cause foundation cracks due to soil shrinkage.

Repairing Foundation Cracks

Unfortunately, repairing foundation cracks requires precision and expertise in order to be carried out effectively.  If you’re unsure about the severity of your houses foundational cracks, Crackmasters can inspect your home and provide details on potential causes of the damage. Our team has 20+ years of professional experience with state of the art waterproofing systems and repairing foundation cracks.

Our services also include basement waterproofing, foundation repair and basement crack repairs. Serving the GTA and surrounding cities, we can assure you that your home is in good hands.

For a free estimate and inspection, contact us today.