Your home's foundation is an elemental part of your home's structure and supports your entire home from the floors on up. When your home's foundation structure ages and is exposed to expansive soils, the result can be cracks of various sizes and shapes that often result in issues with your home's stability. Here are some recommendations that you can use to repair your home's foundation problems and address both structural and cosmetic cracks.
Hire a Professional Inspection
Some types of foundation cracks are more serious than just cosmetic cracks and need to be identified and repaired. If you have discovered cracks in your home's foundation that fit some of the criteria of a potential structural problem, arrange for a foundation inspection with a structural engineer. Some of these signs can include the width of a significant crack or if one end of the crack is wider than the other. A crack that becomes wider than a half-inch is something that will cause serious damage to your foundation wall's structure, and you should refer it to a professional.
Other serious signs in your home's foundation include cracks that are progressively growing longer and wider. Make a mark with a pencil on the end of the crack to watch if it grows over time. And also look out for cracks through ceramic tile, brickwork, and drywall. If a floor is beginning to slope, a wall begins to bow, or any doors or windows begin to show misalignment, contact a foundation professional immediately for an inspection.
Repair Cracks
Cosmetic cracks can occur to your home's foundation, and they are not a risk to your home's structure, but they simply look unattractive. Additionally, if you are planning to make improvements and finish your basement space, you want the foundation walls to be protected against moisture that can come through the smallest cracks. You can patch up the cracks in your home's concrete foundation wall with an expansive hydraulic cement that you can inject into the crack.
Depending on the size of the crack, there are several different types of products you can use. The best types of repair materials are ones that will flex and expand within the crack. This helps the crack repair to remain in place and not pull apart if the crack continues to widen further. You can also arrange for a professional foundation repair to fill and patch over the cracks.
For more information about foundation repair, contact a local professional.
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