Foundation Cracks 

 

​

​

​

• Horizontal cracks are the result of heavy soil pressure.

• Cracking concrete is common, and a small crack isn't necessarily cause for concern.

• Vertical cracks often allow water into the basement.

• Stair step cracking is the cracking of joints rather than blocks

• Poor construction practices also lead to cracks and seepage.

 

• Vertical Cracks: Large vertical cracks are typically due to soil settlement. Settling soil creates additional pressure on a foundation wall and can lead to cracking. Vertical cracks often admit significant amounts of water and must be repaired.

• Horizontal Cracks: Horizontal cracks are a serious issue that usually indicate heavy soil pressure. This happens when water-saturated soil is exerting pressure against the wall from the outside. Such walls may eventually bow and buckle, or possibly even cave in. horizontal cracks require immediate repair.

• Stair Step Cracks: Sometimes when a concrete block foundation wall cracks in response to soil pressure or settlement, the cracking occurs along mortar joints between individual blocks. These can run throughout the wall and form a stair step pattern. Stair step cracks often indicate a foundation problem that needs repair.

Causes of cracks in Concrete foundation 

• Shrinkage of concrete or mortar: These cracks are tiny –too narrow to admit your fingernail. Shrinkage cracks don’t change size and don’t diminish the strength or stability of the foundation.

• Soil settlement: If some of the soil beneath a foundation wall compresses or is washed away due to heavy rain or a water leak, the wall (and its footing) can crack vertically and settle into the depression.

• Soil pressure: Outside the foundation, expansive clay soil or water-saturated soil can push in on a foundation wall with great force. If this pressure is too great for the wall, it can develop horizontal and/or diagonal cracks. Cracks are often accompanied by wall displacement in the form of bowing or tilting.

• Construction defects: Inadequate reinforcement, weak concrete and undersized footings are some of the construction defects that can make a foundation wall more prone to cracking.

The Answer

Qc Construction, Calgary's expert foundation crack team. With the exception of tiny shrinkage cracks, any foundation wall crack should be inspected by an experienced foundation repair contractor. Since structural cracks are likely to become more severe over time, get your crack inspection done sooner rather than later. We take advantage of special crack repair techniques not available to general contractors. For example, our Polyurethane crack repair method effectively seals stable cracks that are admitting water –a repair technique that’s quick and inexpensive.

​

​