If you're a homeowner, you probably already know that a cracked foundation is no laughing matter. The discovery of wall cracks, doors that won't shut properly, and floor disunion immediately makes us fear we may need foundation repair.
But how do we legitimately know if our home is in danger? Well, first you have to rule the cause of your home's cracks. Here are a few of the main culprits:
DRYWALL SETTLEMENT
• Expansion- Block, a favorite material found in most homes, simply expands throughout its lifetime. When coupled with overexposure to sunlight, block walls may begin to crack. The added heat causes the block on your home to grow at a faster rate. Typically, the sides of your home that see the most sun will construct vertical cracks due to thermal expansion. If your builder didn't use adequate operate joints, the damage could get out of control.
Underground block walls crack for distinct reasons. While below-ground walls never see sunlight, they do have to deal with water, possibly the largest cause of foundation cracking. Earth pressure also may cause horizontal cracks in your incommunicable block walls, signaling the need for foundation crack repair.
If you have cracked block walls, it may not necessarily be a sign of a serious problem. However, it's a good idea to call a professional to diagnose the symptoms.
• Shrinkage- The natural tendency for concrete to shrink causes the majority of foundation cracks. These cracks generally occur early in life of your foundation. The severity of shrinkage cracks depends on countless factors such as humidity, water, and type of concrete mix. Anyone the cause of your concrete shrinkage, the contraction leads to stress build up. Unless your builder placed operate joints throughout your slab, the construction compression may result in the need for foundation crack repair.
Shrinkage cracks may seem sporadic or discontinuous. They tend to taper off and start back up in the same normal area. These cracks often run vertically or diagonally, originating in the corners of the foundation. You may consideration some evidence of shrinkage near the corners of windows as well.
While shrinkage cracks may not continue and ruin your foundation, they may allow water to jab and cause time to come damage. To rule the severity of your shrinkage cracks, experience and expert on foundation repair.
• Settlement- Foundation settlement is every homeowner's worse nightmare- the one that requires a high dollar prescription. These settlement cracks occur when one part of your foundation settles differently than other due to differences in soil, tree roots, or assorted other factors.
The cracks formed by incorrect settlement usually appear much wider than shrinkage cracks. Often these cracks develop more towards the top. This signals that one part of the foundation placed more than the other, causing part of the slab to break and drop.
While foundation fix can solve your settlement crack problem, it's leading to identify these cracks early to preclude serious damage.
Depending on the cause of the cracks you've found, your home may need foundation repair. While fix of deep settlement cracks may prove pricey, you can't afford to let them linger. The risks of added damage, basement collapse, and the devaluing of your home far outweigh the cost of dealing with the problem.
Unfortunately, pinpointing the source of your question may prove a difficult task.
The solution? Don't try to frame it out on your own. Call a professional to correlate the damage you've found. They can find the cause of your problems and let you know if you need foundation repair. There's no time to waste!
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