As you are probably aware of the fact that the foundation is one of the most crucial stability factors regardless of the type of the building, it is of utter importance to highlight how substantial it is to maintain it and observe what changes does it go through over time. The most noticeable changes are the cracks, so read the following lines and learn how to know if your house foundation crack is serious and what to do about it.
First of all, we would like to emphasize that almost every foundation crack can be treated if you act in time. The cracks are not going to heal on their own miraculously, so do your homework and call the pros to intervene when you notice something is wrong.
So, read the lines below and figure out which group your foundation crack belongs to.
Upright Cracks
The first and the least severe type of cracks are upright cracks. You should not get into panic mode as you notice a horizontal crack in your house foundation, but you should get in touch with a professional service and arrange an intervention as soon as possible since further deterioration is possible.
In most cases, upright cracks happen to newer buildings as a result of foundation settling, so you should not worry that the whole building is going to collapse due to a bad base. On one hand, there is no such thing as a good crack, but on the other, this type of foundation crack costs the cheapest to fix and requires basic materials for recovery such as epoxy or urethane.
At Foundation Repair Sunrise FL, you can find useful pieces of advice on how to deal with this, but also other types of foundation issues and fix them in the easiest way possible.
Angled Cracks
Another type of crack you can notice on your foundation is an angled or diagonal crack, which proves to be a more serious condition than the aforementioned horizontal variant.
Namely, diagonal cracks happen due to various reasons, of which the most common are repeated tectonic movements, uneven settlement of the foundation, poor land drainage, and initially bad location of the building site.
Surely, they can also be treated with adequate bonding materials, but it is advisable not solely to fix the crack, but also to try and treat the cause. It might cost you more to fix the diagonal cracks than the case would be with the upright ones, but the point is that they are not untreatable.
Horizontal Cracks
When talking about the severity of foundation cracks, horizontal splits are the ones you should treat as soon as you discover them, not solely because they might expand, but also because they could hint that the stability of the whole structure is compromised.
Although external factors have their stake when horizontal cracks are in question, in most cases they are the result of poorly built foundations in the first place, no matter if they are brick-based or concrete constructions. Even they can be treated but will cost you big money since the whole foundation needs to be reconstructed and supported in order not to endanger the rest of the building.
Hopefully, you will be able to recognize and fix the crack in your foundation in time. Do bear in mind that the size of a crack counts as well, but remember they do not heal on their own, so seeking a piece of professional advice should be at the top of your priority list.
