It can be extremely disconcerting to find a crack in your home's foundation. In this article, we will discuss some of the steps you should take after this has been the case.
Speak with the Professionals
The first thing you will want to do is to bring in a structural engineer who can assess the damage. He or she will be able to provide you with a plan of attack to fix the problem with your foundation. You will also want to contact a pest control technician to address problems like termites, as they can slip through cracks as small as 1/64 of an inch.
Fixing Small Cracks
It is possible that a small crack less than 1/16 of an inch can grow, so you will want to keep an eye on it. That said, hairline cracks that occur in the mortar and between the concrete blocks are likely not clues that something more serious is going on. For these sort of cracks in your basement wall, you can hire a contractor to seal the crack with epoxy. This solution might not be permanent, but it is possible that it can hold for a decade or more if nothing serious is at play.
Fixing the Underlying Issues
Certain symptoms, such as a crack that continues around the corner or cracks that extend up from a basement floor to the ceiling, are indicative of severe issues that are likely the result of erosion. You will want to consult a foundation expert for this sort of work, because he or she will need to address the forces of nature that are acting upon your home. It may require the installation of a sump pump, pipes to aid with drainage, filter fabric, and other components that will divert water away from the foundation. Some foundations may require piers for extra support, and in the most serious cases, the entire foundation will need to be replaced.
Contact the team at Now Dry today, from cracked foundations to basement leak repair to basement waterproofing systems, we can help!
