Foundation Cracks - How to Spot Them and What You Can Do About Them

If you have a crack in your foundation wall, the likelihood is that it's been there for some time - such problems rarely happen overnight. But even if a foundation crack has been there for a while and seems innocuous, it should be treated as potentially serious.

If you find any cracks, it's important to monitor their progress. If the crack seems to be moving, spreading or getting bigger, then this is a good sign that you have a problem.

It could be that your basement or crawl space is suffering from a foundation settlement issue; if this is the case, it will lead to further damage to your home over time. Also, if you find a tapered crack - one that is bigger at one end than the other – this, too, could be serious and you should get professional help.

Here are a few indications that a crack may not be serious:

*It measures approximately 1/8th of an inch or less.
*It is vertical or nearly vertical.
*It doesn't separate (fork into two) towards its end.
*It isn't very deep.
*There is no ingress of water.

If there is ingress of water:

If groundwater manages to work its way into your foundation, this can result in leaking cracks in the foundation wall.

Needless to say, this can be hugely frustrating and inconvenient, and many homeowners try to repair the crack with epoxy filler. The epoxy hardens and forms a strong bond in the concrete and becomes a rigid seal. However, the foundation walls can move and expand with changing moisture and temperature levels.

When this happens, the wall moves, but the epoxy does not. The result is, either the epoxy breaks free or a fresh crack forms.

The good news regarding leaking wall cracks, is that they are not necessarily a sign of serious foundation problems. None the less, it's always a good idea to have them inspected by a contractor. And it's worth pointing out that most DIY repair methods are not effective ways to tackle this problem.

Foundation repairs - the sooner the better

If it turns out that you do have a foundation problem, it's very important that you get it seen to as quickly as possible. If the problem is attended to early enough, it should be possible to repair the foundation rather than digging it out and rebuilding it. This of course, will be quicker, less costly and less inconvenient.

Again, it's worth repeating that any cracks in a foundation wall should be viewed as potentially serious. If you have any doubts at all, call in a professional right away and get it looked at. An experienced contractor will be able to tell you how serious (or not) a crack is, and suggest a suitable course of action. And if he or she does perform a repair, you'll have the peace of mind of knowing that it has been done by a professional.

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