What Foundation Cracks Are Bad?
As your foundation gets older, you may notice that there are some cracks that will begin to show up. Some of these are natural as the foundation gets older, and there are shifts with the house. But there are some cracks that are more worrisome and indicate a bigger problem in your home that you need to worry about. But how do you tell which cracks in the foundation are good and which ones are bad?
Structural cracks are the type of foundation crack that you need to worry about, according to specialists in foundation repair in Kansas City (https://kansascityfoundationrepairspecialists.com/). If you notice a crack that seems to mess with the structure of the foundation, then this is a sign that you may need to get the foundation checked out by a foundation. If the crack is wider than ¼ inch and is either horizontal or diagonal in nature, then you may have significant damage to the foundation that you should fix immediately.
Recognizing the signs of a structural crack will be important to help you fix them before the problem gets worse. Let’s take a closer look at which foundation cracks are the bad ones and what you need to watch out for.
Are All Foundation Cracks Bad?
Not all foundation cracks are considered bad. In fact, many of them are common in your home, both old and new. While they can be a cause for concern depending on the type and how deep they are, not all cracks in the foundation are created equal. There are some foundation cracks that are considered good and may not need you to take any action.
One example of this is a vertical crack. These cracks can be found in a new home and will happen when the foundation settles naturally or during the tension that happens when the concrete dries. They can also be caused due to water pressure when it rains. Usually, these are shallow cracks no more than ¼ inch wide, and they do not cause a threat to the integrity of your home.
However, if you end up with a structural crack in the foundation, this can be a serious problem. It could result in some issues with the integrity of the home, and you may need to look at replacing the foundation or getting serious damage to the home. There are a variety of factors that can cause the structural crack, but if you notice a crack that is wider than ¼ of an inch and goes horizontal or diagonal in nature, then you have a problem.
If you do not take care of the structural crack immediately, then you may notice that your doors and windows stop closing properly. You could have cracked walls, uneven floors, and a possibility of foundation failure. You need to work with a licensed professional to take a look at the situation and help you find a way to repair or reinforce the foundation too.
Types of Structural Foundation Cracks
There are two main types of foundation cracks. The first one is a diagonal foundation crack. This one will usually run at an angle between 30 to 70 degrees. They generally have a wider end, and then the other end will taper off more. This happens because there is a differential settlement of the home, which means that some of the parts of your home will settle, and the rest will stay stable. You should be able to fix this kind of crack if you catch it early with either an epoxy or a polyurethane solution.
The second type of crack you need to worry about is a horizontal one. These can occur when the pressure in the ground starts to exceed the strength of the walls, which will cause the walls to bow inward and form a crack. They can get fairly wide if you do not take care of them. These are the most severe of the foundation cracks and can be a sign there are some serious structural problems in the building. If you do not take care of them right away, they can cause the whole building to collapse in on itself. If you notice them in your home, then you need to call in a structural engineer or a home inspector to look at the damage and help you figure out the right solution.
Taking Care of Your Foundation
It is important to closely monitor any of the cracks that show up in your foundation. This will help you to catch when there is a potential problem and avoid issues with the foundation. It is easier to fix a crack early on than it is to have a huge foundation problem and have to replace the whole foundation. As soon as you see a crack in the foundation, you need to bring in a licensed professional to help you take care of the problem.
