All homes settle with time and experience small cracks in the foundation and basement walls, which need repair. But the issue is when it gets severe and turns into significant cracks, it can affect your home’s foundation and structural integrity. Two fundamental problems include foundation shrinkage and expansion, which can cause cracks in the foundation.
Foundation shrinking
Concrete natural shrinks because of the curation procedure. But it is not the shrinkage that you need to worry about. Shrinkage depends on several aspects and conditions, most of which are concerned with the structural integrity of your home. When shrinkage occurs to a high degree, it can impact your home foundation and cause cracks.
Foundation expansion
The foundations that are made of bricks and blocks, expansion is a common occurrence and is not given too much importance. Of course, it is the natural tendency of the brick to grow slowly with time. While all bricks impact, it can obviously lead to cracking over time. Brick walls under the ground also see expansion because of moisture gain. This is quite common in the winters up in the north.
Foundation settling
The challenging part for homeowners is to find out if the foundation cracks and problems have occurred because of the normal setting of the base or if it is a major issue with the foundation. Sometimes people don’t have to worry about it, but sometimes it is essential to take the right action and call for professionals to repair or treat your foundation crack. Here are some signs that indicate that there is a significant issue and you should call professionals for help:
Cracks in the wall: if you notice jagged cracks in the wall running at an angle of 45 degrees, then it is a sign that your foundation is shifting, and the shifting is drastic, and you should seek help.
Stick windows and doors: if your doors and windows have become hard to open or close for no reason, then it is time to check with the professionals. If there is nothing wrong with the functioning of the windows, then it is the crack that’s impacting it.
An issue with the roof: If the foundation is compromised, higher places in the house are also impacted. Check for gaps and cracks on your roof.
Wet basement: if you own a basement, look out for moisture in the basement. If you notice cracks in the foundation, then the situation is worse. First and foremost, you should assess the cause and severity of the cracks and take steps to treat the symptoms before it worsens.
Call the experts for wet basement repair and look out for foundation issues. The sooner you fix the issue, the better off your property will be. Look out for the steps that the professionals suggest for you. Crack repairs need temporary and permanent fixes, and you should opt for both methods to get the correct result for your basement. Allow the professionals to assess your property well to suggest the best remedy or repair.