pou.netlify.com

Save Money By Repairing Cracks Yourself – Hiring a contractor to visit your home and repair a leaky foundation crack can get costly (the average cost for is around $300). Using the RadonSeal® Foundation Crack Repair Kits makes the repair of cracks in poured concrete walls easy and inexpensive. All you will need is a standard caulking gun! Foundations are rigid and tend to crack over time. Minor cracks, though unsightly, are not normally cause for alarm. Major cracks, on the other hand, indicate substantial movement and can undermine the home’s structural integrity. Therefore, you can’t just ignore cracks in a foundation. Repairing Foundation Wall Cracks. Whether the problem is expansive soils or unstable soils underneath your foundation, there are effective solutions that can permanently repair your structure. At Foundation Repair of CA, we use the following methods to restore structural integrity to compromised foundations.

1. Concrete Wall Crack Repair Lowes
2. Concrete Wall Crack Repair Methods
3. Foundation Wall Crack Repair Kits
4. Concrete Wall Crack Repair Home Depot

Foundation Crack Repair Made Easy for Homeowners

If your a homeowner that has settling cracks in your concrete foundation wall, you're not alone! Most homes, both new and old, will develop some foundation cracks eventually. If the cracks aren't leaking now, it is only a matter of time that they will as exterior waterproofing gradually deteriorates over time. If your basement cracks are currently leaking, now is the time to repair them to avoid further water damage and possible mold growth in the basement.

Many homeowners have learned the hard way that when it comes to repairing a crack in a basement wall, materials such as caulk, hydraulic cement, and patching compounds do not last forever. Caulk shrinks and will eventually lose adhesion and it's bond with the concrete. Hydraulic cement does not bond well to concrete and because it is a rigid material (like patching compounds), that natural movement of concrete will cause it to separate and leak again. All these type of waterproofing repairs are considered temporary 'band-aids' only.

• NO NEED TO EXCAVATE – Save serious money by repairing the crack from the inside out.
• NO DRILLING REQUIRED – Low-pressure injection eliminates the need for drilling holes into the wall.
• FILLS HAIRLINE CRACKS – Low-viscosity urethane is ideal for the repair of hairline cracks.
• NO SPECIAL TOOLS REQUIRED – The repair kits ship complete. All you need a standard caulking gun.

Save Money By Repairing Cracks Yourself – Hiring a contractor to visit your home and repair a leaky foundation crack can get costly (the average cost for is around $300). Using the RadonSeal® Foundation Crack Repair Kits makes the repair of cracks in poured concrete walls easy and inexpensive. All you will need is a standard caulking gun!

These kits have been successfully used for over 19 years by thousands of homeowners and basement contractors. Low-pressure crack injection repair works by filling the entire depth and length of the foundation crack (8-10' high) to stop water leaks permanently!

• POST a QUESTION or READ FAQs about the cause and repair of all types of building foundation and floor slab cracks.

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Dictionary of types of foundation cracks, movement, damage:

Guide to identifying & evaluating different types of concrete or masonry foundation, wall or floor cracks in buildings: this article series describes how to recognize and diagnose various types of foundation failure or damage, such as foundation cracks, masonry foundation crack patterns, and moving, leaning, bulging, or bowing building foundation walls.

Foundation cracks and movement are discussed by type and location of foundation cracks, vertical foundation cracks, horizontal cracks, and diagonal foundation cracks, and shrinkage cracking.

To be used properly, this information must be combined with specificon-site observations at the particular building in order to form a reliable opinion about the condition of that building's foundation. Anyone havingconcern regarding the structural stability, safety, or damage of a building, foundation or other components, should consult a qualified expert.

We also provide a MASTER INDEX to this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

How to Inspect & Evaluate Building Foundation Cracks & Movement & Foundation Crack Patterns

Foundation cracks, which are signs of foundation damage, can mean very different thingsdepending on the material from which a foundation is made, the location, size, and shape of the foundation crack, andother site observations.

The size, shape, pattern, location of foundation cracks on a building, along with correlation with other site and construction conditions helps distinguish among probable causes.

Strategy for Building Foundation or Floor or Slab Crack, Damage, or Movement Assessment

To understand the cause, effect, and remedy for all types of building foundation or masonry wall damage or movement we have categorized foundation damage assessment and repair into these broad categories:

1. FOUNDATION FAILURES by MOVEMENT TYPE: is the movement active or not, how is the foundation moving: bulging, leaning, settling, heaving, bowing, bending etc.
   The type of movement and the amount of movement determine the urgency of foundation repair.
2. FOUNDATION FAILURES by TYPE & MATERIAL: how does damage show up in different types of foundation material & what are the implications for collapse risk or repair need?
   Concrete, reinforced concrete, concrete block, 'cinderblock', wood foundations, monolithic slabs, floating slabs, footings, piers, etc.
   Also see FOUNDATION DAMAGE by MATERIAL or INCLUSIONS
3. FOUNDATION CRACK DICTIONARY, what are the different crack patterns that occur in building masonry or concrete: horizontal cracks, vertical cracks, diagonal cracks, stair-stepped cracks, cracks at stess points, windows, doors, corners, etc.
   Different crack patterns and locations often tell us the cause of cracking and thus suggest what repair is needed.
4. FOUNDATION DAMAGE SEVERITY - what is the severity of foundation damage, what is its effect on the stability of the structure, and how urgently are foundation repairs needed?
   How much foundation movement has occurred? Has movement broken structural connections? Is there a collapse risk?
5. FOUNDATION REPAIR METHODS discusses alternative ways to fix a damaged foundation or floor slab crack or movement.

This foundation crack diagnosis and repair article series discusses in detail the process of evaluating foundationcracks and signs of foundation damage by examining the crack size, shape, pattern, and location.

General Suggestions for the Evaluation of Foundation Cracks

By knowing the probable cause and history of foundation cracking or movementone can distinguish between continuing movement (more likely to be a problem) and single events which may,depending on extent of damage, not require repair. This chapter elaborates types and patterns of foundation cracksto assist in that evaluation.

Look at shape, pattern, frequency of occurrence, relationship to wall discontinuities and angles, placement of wall penetrations, correlation with cracks in floors, and location in the wall (corners, center), as well as length, width, continuity, age of wall, relation to site conditions (depth of backfill, blasting, rock).

Shrinkage cracks are usually uniform in width or (less common) vee-shaped, wider at top and diminishing or stopping before reaching the bottom of the foundation wall (where attachment to footing may tend to hold foundation wall materials in place). A wall crack which continues into the floor is likely to involve the building footings and may be a settlement crack of more structural importance.

Concrete shrinks as it cures. In poured concrete, shrinkage cracks may be non-uniform if wall components are held by footings/framing; very often there are minor shrinkage cracks which are hairline, random, intermittent, multiple, and meandering in the concrete, forming discontinuous cracks in the wall.

Shrinkage cracks occur as concrete cures, appearing more frequently and larger if the mix was improper and where control joints were omitted. Omission or pattern of placement of steel reinforcement may also be a factor in crack formation and location.

Poured concrete shrinkage cracks: usually shrinkage cracking is due to conditions at original construction: poor mix, rapid curing, possibly other conditions. Shrinkage cracks are less likely to require structural monitoring and repair in poured concrete as they would be expected to continue after initial curing.

Concrete block foundation walls shrink as they cure. They rarely expand much on exposure to moisture and temperature variations. In concrete block walls shrinkage cracks are likely to be uniform in width and usually occur towards the center of a concrete masonry unit (CMU) wall. The wall is stronger at the building corners.

Brick walls do not normally shrink, but rather, grow indefinitely. Bricks are not often used for below-grade foundations but were often used above-grade supporting the first floor of older buildings, and of course entire buildings may be constructed using structural brick walls (look for the bond courses).

If you see a crack in a brick wall it's more likely due to movement in the structure, a support problem, or due to thermal expansion.

Watch out: Cracks in structural brick walls may be very serious if the bond courses are broken as there is then a risk of sudden catastrophic wall collapse. Cracks and especially bulged cracked brick walls need immediate expert investigation.

Stone foundation walls do not normally crack through individual stones, but the interlaced stone layout of the wall may be bulged and cracked due to damage from frost, loading from driving vehicles near the wall, or by the removal of stones to pass piping or make doorways.

As with other cases of foundation movement, a diagnosis of the cause, amount of movement, and effects on structure are needed to decide what repair may be needed.

Vertical Foundation Crack Patterns

In the photos shown here, substantive cracks appeared and continued to increase in size in this poured concrete foundationused to support a modular home which had recently been completed. The cracks and foundation movement were probably due toa combination of: poorly prepared foundation footings, blasting on an adjacent building lot to prepare that site for new construction,and possibly omission of steel reinforcement in the poured wall.

The cracks in this building foundation wall were visible shortly after construction as vertical hairline openings (less than 1/16' wide) in the right handfoundation wall, above grade and inside in the basement. Within a year the owner reported several timesthat the cracks were becoming noticeably wider.

A careful inspection of the building interior suggested that thefront foundation wall and portions of the right foundation wall were settling. There were no corresponding cracks in the finishedsurfaces of the structure, probably because this was very stiffly-framed modular construction. Notwithstandingthe absence of damage upstairs, this was a problem that deserved further evaluation and repairs.

The builder may have repaired the foundation by supporting it from below using one of the methods described at FOUNDATION REPAIR METHODS.

This settlement crack probably occurred during initial footing settlement. Notice that it is wider at the top than the bottom of thecrack.

This suggests that the footing to the left or right of the crack has moved downwards, with further downwards movement as we movefurther from the crack itself.

If this is new construction and the crack does not change in width the site conditions may have stabilized.

Additional photographs of types of foundation cracks and other foundation damage: we have an extensive library of photographs whichwill be added to this document. Pending completion of that work, contact the author if assistance is required with images.

• In masonry between two structures - differential settlement or thermal movement
• Straight or wandering, in poured concrete, generally even width, intermittent, or more often straight - shrinkage / thermal - low risk
• Straight generally even width, in a masonry block wall, in mortar joints but possibly right through concrete block - shrinkage / thermal - low to modest risk
• Straight or stepped in brick, esp. near ends of wall - expansion / thermal, potentially dangerous if wall bond courses are broken, collapse risk.
• In wall, wider at bottom than top - settlement under building. These cracks may be less serious than horizontal when found in a masonry block wall.These cracks could be quite serious when found in a brick wall, especially if bond courses are broken and there is risk of collapse.

Note: vertical foundation cracks often appear in multiples multiple cracks in one or more area.

While a vertical foundation crack could be serious depending on its cause and on the type of foundation in which it appears(stone, brick, masonry block, concrete), these are often the least threat to the building.

If there is significant vertical dislocation or signs of ongoing movement, further investigation is more urgent. If the cause is shrinkage (concrete, masonry block) it is probably less of a concern than if due to settlement. A vertical crack due to earth loading or frost would be unusual.

Details about the causes & repair methods for vertical cracks in building foundations & walls are at VERTICAL FOUNDATION CRACKS

Diagonal & Step Crack Patterns in Building Foundations

This settlement crack probably occurred during initial footing settlement. Notice that it is wider at the top than the bottom of thecrack. This suggests that the footing to the left or right of the crack has moved downwards, with further downwards movement as we movefurther from the crack itself. If this is new construction and the crack does not change in width the site conditions may have stabilized.

Clues to help diagnose the probable cause of diagonal foundation cracks in buildings:

• From corner towards adjacent opening, wider at top than bottom - often due to foundation settlement, expansive clay soil, frost damage, ordamage from a shrub/tree close to the foundation wall.
• Under a ground floor window, from sill to ground, sill bowed up - often due to foundation heave, clay soil, frost, shallow or absent footings
• In the foundation wall anywhere, wider at bottom than top - settlement under building
• At building corners in cold climates - frost heave, frost lensing, shallow footings, water problem, or insufficient backfill. In a typicalraised ranch with a garage located in part of the basement, and with the garage entering at one end of a home, we often find step cracksin the front and rear foundation walls only on the garage-end of the home. These cracks may correspond to some related observations:
  (1) theremay be less backfill against the front and rear foundation walls where a garage entry is located between them;
  (2) the reduction in backfill combinedwith an un-heated garage may expose these building corners to more frost damage;
  (3) if a building downspout or gutter defect spills roofdrainage against the building wall, these forces will often combine to make more severe frost cracks appear on the garage-entry end of the home.
• Vertical or diagonal crack which over a short time - settlement over sink holes- serious, open suddenly after rain; or ravines, mulch, fill,organic debris (later rots and settles).
• Over window/door, straight or diagonal - loading/header defect - may appear as horizontal along top or bottom of header, vertical at ends of header(possibly due to differences in thermal expansion of different materials of header vs. wall) or vertical/diagonal at center of header (loading failure)or at corners (possible point-load failure)
• Cracks in a poured concrete foundation which are diagonal or vertical and which are generally uniform in width, or which taper to an irregular hairlineform, usually in fact a discontinuous crack in the hairline area, are usually shrinkage cracks and should not be ongoing nor ofstructural significance, though they may invite water entry through the wall.

Note that often at these foundation failures cracks are visible both outside and inside, but outside they may be covered by backfill.

For detecting evidence of sink holes in an area by visual inspection
see Sink Holes:Can X-Ray Vision [Advanced Building & Building Site Inspection Techniques] Warn of Sink Holes? in Florida or elsewhere

Details about the causes & repair methods for diagonal cracks in building foundations & walls are
at DIAGONAL FOUNDATION CRACKS

Horizontal Foundation Crack Patterns

These notes presume that you are examining a wall which is entirely or nearly all below-grade level.

Horizontal Foundation Cracks Located High on a Foundation Wall

Horizontal foundation cracks located in the upper third of a concrete block wall (presuming most of the wall is below grade)are most likely to have been caused by vehicle loading or in freezing climates, by surface and subsurface water combined withfrost. In northern climates if we see cracked mortar joints in the top third of a block wall, at about the same depth as thefrost line in that area the damage is almost certainly due to frost.

Often outside we'll find corroborating evidence such as driplines below the building eaves confirming a history of roof spillage against the building, and back inside we may see that thefoundation damage is occurring only at the building walls below roof eaves and not at the gable ends of the home.

• Cold climates- frost, possible displacement inwards
• Possible vehicle loading, displacement inwards

Horizontal Foundation Cracks Located at Mid-wall Height on a Foundation

Masonry block or stone walls which are cracked and/or bulging inwards at mid height on the wall are likelyto have been damaged by vehicle traffic or earth loading.

• Possible vehicle loading (look for a driveway near the wall or site history involving movement of heavy equipment near the wall)
• Backfill damage - excessive height or premature backfill before the first floor framing was in place.
• Hillsides - earth loading or earth loading exacerbated by water or frost
• Areas of wet soils - likely to be earth-loading or earth loading exacerbated by water or frost

Horizontal Foundation Cracks Located Low on a Foundation Wall

The forces exerted by soils against a foundation wall increase geometrically as we move from surface level of the soil againstthe wall to the areas near the bottom of the wall. In other words, earth pressure is greatest at the bottom of the wall. This facthelps us distinguish between frost or water-related cracking and simple earth loading in some cases since a wall which has becomedislocated laterally only at or near its bottom is likely to have been damaged by earth loading.

• Earth Loading, especially if in an area of dense or wet soils
• Horizontal dislocation of a masonry block or brick wall may appear first as a crack and thenlater as horizontal movement as a wall is pushed inwards by earth or wet soil pressure.

Horizontal Cracks in an Attached Garage Foundation

Construction methods for attached garages (as opposed to a garage located under a home and adjoining its basement) may create some specialopportunities for foundation cracks:

• Shallow garage footings: The garage foundation footings are less deep than the house footings, exposing the foundation to other risksof frost or settlement damage and movement.
• Garage additions: The garage may have been added after original construction, creating newly-disturbed soils around thefoundation and footings that have settled more recently than that of the original home.
• Garage slab settlement and cracking: A garage foundation is often constructed as a concrete footing and a low masonry block wall, followed bydumping fill inside this structure to raise the level of the garage slab to the desired height. A commonconstruction error is the omission of adequate soil compacting before the garage slab is poured.
  A related commonconstruction shortcut for these 'raised slabs' (on fill, higher than and not resting on the garagewall foundation footings), is the omission of pins connecting the slab to the garage foundation wall at its elevatedposition.
  The result of these details is that as the soils below the slab settle and compact the slab can moveand settle significantly. Depending on the amount of garage floor slab reinforcement (wire or re-bar or none),the slab may crack as well as tip and settle.
  How does garage slab settlement crack the garage foundation walls?The weight of a garage floor slab, combined with the weight of vehicles in the garage, compresses the soilbelow the slab. Soil pressure includes an outwards force which can cause horizontal cracks in a masonry blockgarage foundation wall. Look for these cracks outside the garage and above grade-level.
• Detecting soil voids below a garage slab is quite possible using this 'ghost busters' technique: draga heavy chain across the floor and listen to the sound it produces.
  If the chain moves across an area of soilvoid you'll hear a change in pitch in its sound, typically dropping lower. This is not a technique for everybuilding inspection but it is useful when evaluating garage floor slab movement, tipping, cracking, orfoundation cracks.

Where are Horizontal Foundation Cracks Visible?

Horizontal foundation cracks are usually visible only from inside a basement or crawl area unless building is all masonry.

Lateral or horizontal movement of a masonry foundation wall inwards from earth pressure will often be seen at the firstmortar joint above a basement or crawl space slab. Remember that the slab itself may be holding the very first course of masonryblocks or brick in place. This is a useful detail to keep in mind if you are using a plumb line and measuring tape to documentthe total amount and location of wall movement.

The bottom course of concrete blocks or bricks, held in place by the floor slab, can usually be taken as a baseline of zero movement, from which other measurements to the plumb line are compared over the height of the wall.

Details about the causes & repair methods for horizontal cracks in building foundations & walls are at

Shrinkage, Expansion, and Settlement Cracks: what's the difference?

General Comments about foundation expansion or shrinkage

Cracks will occur in masonry structures: Most solid materials may both expand and contract in response to temperature variations.Solid materials may be cracked by pressure from loading. In masonry foundations, bricks actually expand indefinitely, though probablyat a decreasing rate. Poured concrete shrinks after pouring.

Masonry blocks may shrink and expand. All of these materials respond to changes in moisture and temperature.

A long brick wall exposed to sunlight and cold weather and built without expansion joints will crack and fail.

Concrete block walls shrink but don't normally expand (below grade).

Poured concrete shrinks during curing but may also expand or contract in response to moisture.

Determining when action is needed: All cracks need to be separated into those which are expected to require no further repair except possibly cosmetic (which can help future monitoring), those which merit ongoing monitoring for change and possibly signs of worsening conditions, and those which are so significant as to require repair.

Setting priority of action: Repair work needs to be identified with respect to urgency, ranging from immediate (risk of collapse or other unsafe conditions) and less urgent.

To the extent that the inspector can see the extent of movement and the potential for damage to a building, and tothe extent that the inspector can make a reasonably confident guess about the cause of foundation damage or movement, s/he canestimate the chances of its continuance and thus help set a priority for further evaluation or repair, as well as setting the specificsof outside repairs to reduce further damage such as keeping water or vehicles away from the building.

Details about how we distinguish among cracks caused by foundation or masonry wall shrinkage, expansion, or settlement in building foundations & walls are at SHRINKAGE vs EXPANSION vs SETTLEMENT - below we continue with examples of each of these movement patterns.

Evidence of Foundation Shrinkage

A variety of site conditions can lead to cracks in a concrete or other masonry foundation walls or floor slabs.

Speaking generally, foundations may be damaged and cracks may appear from innocent causes unlikely to affect the structure such as concrete shrinkage cracks, initial settlement, or from potentially more serious causes such as ongoing settlement, unusual pressures or loading, or from improper construction.

Identification of Shrinkage Cracks in Poured Concrete Foundations or Slabs

Shrinkage cracks in poured concrete are easily recognizable and can be distinguished from other types of cracks that occurlater in the life of a foundation wall or floor slab.

Concrete shrinks as a natural process during its curing.You can see the shrinkage of even a perfect concrete floor slab with no visible cracks in its surface if it was poured inside of an existingfoundation.

Notice the gap between the edges of the slab and the foundation wall? Notice the stains or concrete debris on the wall at the slab level? These indicate that at the time the slab was poured it was touching the wall. A poured concrete wall shrinks as well.

Concrete curing is a chemical reaction, not just 'drying' or loss of water. But depending onthe concrete mix, amount of water, portland, aggregate type, temperatures, humidity, groundwater, sun exposure, groundwater, andother conditions, the amount of shrinkage that will occur in concrete as it cures varies.

In any case, this concrete shrinkage process causes the concrete to develop internal stresses.To relieve those stresses, unless control joints were included in the wall or floor slab design, thewall or floor is likely to crack in a classic 'concrete shrinkage pattern' as the concrete cures.

Cracks in a poured concrete foundation which are diagonal or vertical and which are generallyuniform in width, or which taper to an irregular hairlineform and stop entirely, which are usually discontinuous in the crack's finest or hairline area (the crack 'stops and starts'in the same area), are usually shrinkage cracks and should not be ongoing nor ofstructural significance, though they may invite water entry through the wall.

See our article on POLYURETHANE FOAM INJECTION CRACK REPAIRS.

Shrinkage cracks in concreterange in length from a few inches to the entire height of the concrete wall, extending fromwall top to bottom. Concrete shrinkage cracks virtually always extend through the full thickness ofthe foundation wall, which means they can provide a ready path for water entry into the building.

Common areas for a shrinkage concrete crack to developare under a basement window, above a doorway in the middle of a longwall or where the foundation 'steps down.' Shrinkage cracks also often occur near the middle of a large pouredconcrete wall [or floor] if no control joints were used. [Concrete control joints are very often omitted in residentialconstruction.

Shrinkage cracks and how to recognize and diagnose them are discussed further at SHRINKAGE vs EXPANSION vs SETTLEMENT.

Suggestions for Repairing Foundation Shrinkage Cracks

Before repairing a foundation crack by sealing it against water entry,it is important to diagnose the cause of the crack and its effects on the building structure.

When it has been determined that there is an underlying ongoing problem such as one leading tofoundation movement or damage to the structure, the underlying problem should be corrected as part of any foundation or slab repair.

Cracks in poured concrete walls that are larger than 1/4', cracks which are increasing in size, or cracks whichare otherwise indicative of foundation movement should be evaluated by a professional.The diagnosis and evaluation of foundation cracks and structuralfoundation damage and repair methods are discussed atFOUNDATION REPAIR METHODS

What to do about shrinkage cracks in foundations

Once any concrete cracks it is possible for water to leak into the building through the crack. There are several ways to repair a basementcrack leak. An easy, quick, and effective measure to stop basement or crawl space water entry through a foundation crack is to perform an injection ofpolyurethane foam into the basement crack. [Also be sure to find and fix the sources of water outside.]

Water entry leaks at foundation cracks: Polyurethane foam sealant is used for foundation crack repairs to stop water entry.(Also find and correct outside water sources).

See our article on POLYURETHANE FOAM INJECTION CRACK REPAIRS

Bioshock infinite torrent download. Nov 17, 2018  BioShock Infinite PC Game Free Download. This is a first-person shooter video game made by Irrational Games and published by 2K Games. It was released worldwide for the Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3.

Structural repairs as well as sealing against water entry may be attempted for cracked foundations using masonry epoxy products. These products may be used for repairing cracks in concrete foundations, possibly including structural repairs, following evaluation and advice from a foundation professional. An evaluation of the presence, absence, or condition of reinforcing steel in cracked concrete foundations should be a part of the inspection.

See our discussion of foundation repair methods at FOUNDATION REPAIR METHODS

Details about how we distinguish among cracks caused by foundation or masonry wall shrinkage, expansion, or settlement in building foundations & walls are
at SHRINKAGE vs EXPANSION vs SETTLEMENT

Distinguishing Among Other Types of Concrete Wall or Slab Cracks from Shrinkage Cracks

Settlement Cracks in Masonry Foundations and Concrete Floors

Non-shrinkage cracks in concrete:The photograph shows a settlement crack in a garage floor concrete slab. This particular crack, occurring near the garage entry, may have been caused by frost since this is a New York home.

It's colder at the garage doors than further inside the building and there may be more water under the slab close to the building perimeter.

But a very common cause of settlement cracks in slabs (and some walls) is poor site preparation, such aspouring the slab (or footings) on soft fill.

As an example of a concrete crack that occurred later in the life of a structure (thus is not due to initial curing shrinkage) and to understand why such a non-shrinkage crack would look different from a shrinkage crack, imagine Superman breaking a piece of cured, hard, dry, solid concrete slab by bending it.

The crack that would appear in cured concrete would not be intermittent along its length, it would be continuous even if it is not a straight line.

Depending on the cause of such a later-in-life concrete crack, it might also be wider at the top than at the bottom (foundation footing settlement) or there might be horizontal dislocation (one side of the crack sticks into the building further than the other, or one side of the floor slab crack sticks up more than the other).

Settlement around a Lally column pier may have produced the cracks visible in the slabaround the Lally column in this photograph. A hypothesis is that the pier below the column was functioning properly but the slab was poured on loose fill around the rest of the basement floor.

The slab settled away from the pier but where the pier supported a portion of the slab that was poured over it, the pier prevented settlement of that area. Observing that the high-side of these cracks was the side closer to the Lally column supports this view.

Evidence of Foundation or Masonry Wall Expansion

Brick, in particular, whether used in a foundation or as a building wall, expands over time and as moisture, temperature, and other conditions vary. Dave Wickersheimer, P.E. and R.A., who is a masonry failures expert from the SHC, informs us that brick 'grows' or expands indefinitely.

However if we exclude heating effects of sun exposure (discussed below), most brick expansion from its internal chemistry probably occurs early in its life.

Thermal expansion of brick: Brick walls exposed above-grade are subject to significant heating gains from sunlight and may expand and contract sufficient to cause major damage if proper control joints are not used during construction. If you observe long expanses of brick masonry walls above grade and without expansion joints, look for expansion cracking.

When caused by thermal expansion, brick walls may show most movement at the two ends of the wall most-exposed to sunlight. The author, using a simple plumb line and measuring tape, has measured as much as 4' of expansion found at the top of a brick structure whose wall corners leaned out 4' over the wall bottom from this force. [Note: POK JCC file-DJF].

Brick walls below-grade are of course not exposed to heating and expansion from sunlight, but instead are exposed to earth pressure (look for horizontal cracking), and in freezing climates frost damage (look for horizontal cracks inwalls at or near the frost line, and look for stair-stepped cracks at corners of the building.

Brick cracking due to thermal expansion is discussed and illustrated in detail at THERMAL EXPANSION CRACKS in BRICK

Evidence of Foundation or Wall Cracking or Spalling Due to Foundation Materials or Contents

Defects in concrete mix (too much water, for example), or defects in placement of steel or iron reinforcement (too close to surface, for example), as well as use of problem materials in concrete such as high levels of cinders, coal ash, or Iron sulfide mineral (pyrrhotite) can cause horizontal, vertical, or varied-pattern or 'wandering' cracks in masonry foundations.

See FOUNDATION DAMAGE by MATERIAL or INCLUSIONS for details.

Foundation Settlement Direction & Point of Damage: crack patterns can point to the actual structural problem

A settlement crack is more likely to be wider at top than its bottom as the foundation 'bends' over a single point, allowing differential settlement; it is possible for a settlement crack to appear fairly uniform however if a foundation breaks vertically and then pursues differential settlement.

Settlement cracks need to be separated into initial settlement due to construction or site factors and ongoing settlement due to site factors.

Usually settlement cracks are wider at the top of the crack than at the bottom, are usually continuous, and may be multiple!

• Down-Settlement of a foundation at one end: Draw an imaginary line at a right angle to diagonal crack. Usually the line points down towards the point of footing settlement.
• Building uplift can also produce diagonal cracks: Cracks at opposite end of wall - for example cracks at one end of a concrete block garage wall on a building in Florida were traced to the development of a sinkhole at the opposite end of the building.
  Usually the line orthogonal to the step or diagonal cracking points down in the direction of downwards movement indicating where footing settlement has occurred. But not always. In exceptional conditions such as a sinkhole at the opposite end of a building, the majority of the building may have settled away from the area where cracks appear, and in this case the diagonal cracks may indicate an upwards wall-lift over the diagonal crack.
• Multiple cracks of either type may occur in a given area. Usually visible both outside and inside if material is exposed.

..

Continue reading at FOUNDATION FAILURES by TYPE & MATERIAL or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or see our complete INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES below.

Or see FOUNDATION CRACK DEFINITIONS FAQs-2 - recent questions & answers posted originally at this article

FOUNDATION FAILURES by MOVEMENT TYPE - home

Or see these foundation crack and damage articles

• BLOCK FOUNDATION & WALL DEFECTS - home
• BRICK FOUNDATIONS & WALLS - home
• FOUNDATION CRACK DICTIONARY

Suggested citation for this web page

FOUNDATION CRACK DICTIONARY at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING STRUCTURES

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Share this article

..

Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Questions & answers or comments about the cause and repair of all types of building foundation and floor slab cracks.

Try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly.

Search the InspectApedia website

Concrete Wall Crack Repair Lowes

Concrete Wall Crack Repair Methods

Technical Reviewers & References

• Sal Alfano - Editor, Journal of Light Construction*
• Thanks to Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for technical critique and some of the foundation inspection photographs cited in these articles
• Terry Carson - ASHI
• Mark Cramer - ASHI
• JD Grewell, ASHI
• Duncan Hannay - ASHI, P.E. *
• Bob Klewitz, M.S.C.E., P.E. - ASHI
• Ken Kruger, P.E., AIA - ASHI
• Bob Peterson, Magnum Piering - 800-771-7437 - FL*
• Arlene Puentes, ASHI, October Home Inspections - (845) 216-7833 - Kingston NY
• Greg Robi, Magnum Piering - 800-822-7437 - National*
• Dave Rathbun, P.E. - Geotech Engineering - 904-622-2424 FL*
• Ed Seaquist, P.E., SIE Assoc. - 301-269-1450 - National
• Dave Wickersheimer, P.E. R.A. - IL, professor, school of structures division, UIUC - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture. Professor Wickersheimer specializes in structural failure investigation and repair for wood and masonry construction. * Mr. Wickersheimer's engineering consulting service can be contacted at HDC Wickersheimer Engineering Services. (3/2010)
• *These reviewers have not returned comment 6/95

Technical Edits, Changes, Amendments to This Document

• 11/23/2012 revising order, cross referencing types of foundation, damage, repairs
• 9/23/2006 editing to clarify text and add content; Technical review (partial) by Arlene Puentes.
• 4/17/2006 editing to clarify text in several sections.
• 2/6/99 editing updates, soliciting additional reviews
• 2/3/99 Converted working text file to MSWord97 .doc and .htm files for easier review on Internet
• 6/26/95 text updates per comments from Al Carson, Terry Carson, Mark Cramer 6/16/95 text updates for Calgary July 1995
• cc's sent to reviewers
• 3/28/95 uploaded to ASHI's Internet site - asfoun01.txt
• 11/19/93 Ed Seaquist - telecon 11/19/93, likes, will write up one of our sections for my/our target of series of journal articles or a book.
• © Dan Friedman 1999, original 1992 All Rights Reserved -- foundation.htm

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Foundation Wall Crack Repair Kits

• Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
• Best Practices Guide to Residential Construction, by Steven Bliss. John Wiley & Sons, 2006. ISBN-10: 0471648361, ISBN-13: 978-0471648369, Hardcover: 320 pages, available from Amazon.com and also Wiley.com. See our book review of this publication.
• Decks and Porches, the JLC Guide to, Best Practices for Outdoor Spaces, Steve Bliss (Editor), The Journal of Light Construction, Williston VT, 2010 ISBN 10: 1-928580-42-4, ISBN 13: 978-1-928580-42-3, available from Amazon.com
• The Journal of Light Construction has generously given reprint permission to InspectAPedia.com for certain articles found at this website. All rights and contents to those materials are ©Journal of Light Construction and may not be reproduced in any form.
• Appliances and Home Electronics, - energy savings, U.S. Department of Energy
• Avongard foundation crack progress chart for structural crack monitoring
• Basement Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
• Building Pathology, Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention, Samuel Y. Harris, P.E., AIA, Esq., ISBN 0-471-33172-4, John Wiley & Sons, 2001 [General building science-DF] ISBN-10: 0471331724ISBN-13: 978-0471331728
• Building Pathology: Principles and Practice, David Watt, Wiley-Blackwell; 2 edition (March 7, 2008) ISBN-10: 1405161035 ISBN-13: 978-1405161039
• The Circular Staircase, Mary Roberts Rinehart
• Construction Drawings and Details, Rosemary Kilmer
• Crawl Space Moisture Control, U.S. Department of Energy
• Diagnosing & Repairing House Structure Problems, Edgar O. Seaquist, McGraw Hill, 1980 ISBN 0-07-056013-7 (obsolete, incomplete, missing most diagnosis steps, but very good reading; out of print but used copies are available at Amazon.com, and reprints are available from some inspection tool suppliers). Ed Seaquist was among the first speakers invited to a series of educational conferences organized by D Friedman for ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors, where the topic of inspecting the in-service condition of building structures was first addressed.
• Design of Wood Structures - ASD, Donald E. Breyer, Kenneth Fridley, Kelly Cobeen, David Pollock, McGraw Hill, 2003, ISBN-10: 0071379320, ISBN-13: 978-0071379328
  This book is an update of a long-established text dating from at least 1988 (DJF); Quoting:
  This book is gives a good grasp of seismic design for wood structures. Many of the examples especially near the end are good practice for the California PE Special Seismic Exam design questions. It gives a good grasp of how seismic forces move through a building and how to calculate those forces at various locations.THE CLASSIC TEXT ON WOOD DESIGN UPDATED TO INCLUDE THE LATEST CODES AND DATA. Reflects the most recent provisions of the 2003 International Building Code and 2001 National Design Specification for Wood Construction. Continuing the sterling standard set by earlier editions, this indispensable reference clearly explains the best wood design techniques for the safe handling of gravity and lateral loads. Carefully revised and updated to include the new 2003 International Building Code, ASCE 7-02 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, the 2001 National Design Specification for Wood Construction, and the most recent Allowable Stress Design.
• Building Failures, Diagnosis & Avoidance, 2d Ed., W.H. Ransom, E.& F. Spon, New York, 1987 ISBN 0-419-14270-3
• Domestic Building Surveys, Andrew R. Williams, Kindle book, Amazon.com
• Defects and Deterioration in Buildings: A Practical Guide to the Science and Technology of Material Failure, Barry Richardson, Spon Press; 2d Ed (2001), ISBN-10: 041925210X, ISBN-13: 978-0419252108. Quoting:
  A professional reference designed to assist surveyors, engineers, architects and contractors in diagnosing existing problems and avoiding them in new buildings. Fully revised and updated, this edition, in new clearer format, covers developments in building defects, and problems such as sick building syndrome. Well liked for its mixture of theory and practice the new edition will complement Hinks and Cook's student textbook on defects at the practitioner level.
• Guide to Domestic Building Surveys, Jack Bower, Butterworth Architecture, London, 1988, ISBN 0-408-50000 X
• 'Avoiding Foundation Failures,' Robert Marshall, Journal of Light Construction, July, 1996 (Highly recommend this article-DF)
• 'A Foundation for Unstable Soils,' Harris Hyman, P.E., Journal of Light Construction, May 1995
• 'Backfilling Basics,' Buck Bartley, Journal of Light Construction, October 1994
• 'Inspecting Block Foundations,' Donald V. Cohen, P.E., ASHI Reporter, December 1998. This article in turn cites the Fine Homebuilding article noted below.
• 'When Block Foundations go Bad,' Fine Homebuilding, June/July 1998
• Energy Recover Ventilation Systems for Buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
• Energy Savings Methods: Whole House Systems Approach, U.S. Department of Energy
• Historic Preservation Technology: A Primer, Robert A. Young, Wiley (March 21, 2008)ISBN-10: 0471788368 ISBN-13: 978-0471788362
• Log Homes: Minimizing Air Leakage in Log Homes, U.S. Department of Energy
• Log Homes: Controlling Moisture in Log Homes, U.S. Department of Energy
• Log Homes: Log Home Design, U.S. Department of Energy
• Moisture Control in Buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
• Moisture Control in Walls, U.S. Department of Energy
• Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeling Industry, National Association of Home Builders Remodelers Council, NAHB Research Foundation, 1987.
• Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeler, N.U. Ahmed, # Home Builder Pr (February 1991), ISBN-10: 0867183594, ISBN-13: 978-0867183597
• Natural Ventilation for Buildings, U.S. Department of Energy
• R-Value of Wood, U.S. Department of Energy
• Spot Ventilation for houses, U.S. Department of Energy
• Slab on Grade Foundation Moisture and Air Leakage, U.S. Department of Energy
• Straw Bale Home Design, U.S. Department of Energy provides information on strawbale home construction - original source at http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10350
• More Straw Bale Building: A Complete Guide to Designing and Building with Straw (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series), Chris Magwood, Peter Mack, New Society Publishers (February 1, 2005), ISBN-10: 0865715181 ISBN-13: 978-0865715189 - Quoting:
  Straw bale houses are easy to build, affordable, super energy efficient, environmentally friendly, attractive, and can be designed to match the builder’s personal space needs, esthetics and budget. Despite mushrooming interest in the technique, however, most straw bale books focus on “selling” the dream of straw bale building, but don’t adequately address the most critical issues faced by bale house builders. Moreover, since many developments in this field are recent, few books are completely up to date with the latest techniques.
  More Straw Bale Building is designed to fill this gap. A completely rewritten edition of the 20,000-copy best--selling original, it leads the potential builder through the entire process of building a bale structure, tackling all the practical issues: finding and choosing bales; developing sound building plans; roofing; electrical, plumbing, and heating systems; building code compliance; and special concerns for builders in northern climates.
• 'Vapor Barriers or Vapor Diffusion Retarders', U.S. DOE: how vapor barriers work, types of vapor diffusion barriers, installing vapor barrier
• Ventilation for energy efficient buildings, Purpose, Strategies, etc.,
• ..

• Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. Tel: (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 Email: info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides extensive home inspection education and report writing material.
  • The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
    Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
  • TECHNICAL REFERENCE GUIDE to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment, useful for determining the age of heating boilers, furnaces, water heaters is provided by Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto - Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates
    Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
• The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
  Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space.
  Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd
• Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
• Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
• Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page 'Promo/Redemption' space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
• The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones

Concrete Wall Crack Repair Home Depot