Foundation cracks come in many varieties, but all could be indicators of a problem with your foundation. If you have horizontal or vertical wall cracks, “stair-step” or diagonal cracking, bulging, buckling foundation walls or pushing in at the bottom or top of the wall, you may need foundation repair.
Foundation wall cracks have several different causes, and each has its own unique solution. Concrete walls may experience small cracks as they cure. These are normal and likely no cause for alarm. However, walls cracking due to foundation settlement issues or expansive soils may require some repair work.
Baird Foundation Repair is your local expert for all your foundation repair needs in Texas. We have warrantied solutions that fix foundation wall cracks! Call us for a foundation inspection and a free foundation repair quote today!
What Causes Walls To Crack?
Foundation cracks vary in severity from a simple cosmetic issue to a major structural problem with your home. However, even serious foundation problems, when addressed early on, can be quickly and permanently fixed.
Cracks form in foundation walls for the following main reasons.
1. Curing Concrete
As concrete cures, it is common for small cracks to appear in foundation walls. These cracks are very common, and they’re not a sign of a major foundation problem.
Shrinkage cracks tend to be very small “hairline” cracks that are usually 1/16″ wide or less. They generally occur near the center of a span and maintain a consistent width for the length of the crack.
A Word Of Warning: Be careful not to assume that a crack in your foundation is merely a shrinkage crack! If you see cracks in your foundation walls, monitor them regularly. If the cracks widen enough that you can fit a dime in them, or one end of the crack grows wider than the other, you should call our team right away.
2. Foundation Settlement
When the soil underneath your foundation fails to support the weight of your home, the foundation will begin to settle unevenly, and cracks will appear. As vertical cracks form and the wall or corner of the house begins to rotate, you will typically see cracks that are wider at the top or bottom.
Foundation cracks that are caused by settlement are very serious, and they will only get worse over time as the home continues to move. If you are concerned that your foundation may be cracking due to settlement issues, it’s best to address the problem as soon as possible.
3. Expansive Soils
If you have clay soils around your home, then they expand and contract significantly as they experience moisture changes. Wet clay soils can expand enough to put literally thousands of pounds of pressure on a foundation wall.
This can force the walls inwards, sometimes causing them to buckle and crack. Look also for walls pushing in at the bottom or tilting in at the top.
If left unrepaired, this kind of damage can worsen until the wall fails completely or is beyond repair. By addressing the problem of failing walls quickly, repairs can be completed in as little as a day.
Repairing House Foundation Problems
From drywall cracks in corners to vertical cracks above door frames, there are many signs of foundation damage to be aware of. Whether the cause is expansive soils or unstable ground underneath your foundation, there are effective solutions that can permanently repair your foundation or structure.
Foundation pier systems are an excellent way to stabilize and potentially lift a foundation that is resting on soils that cannot support the weight of the home. Foundation piers are a permanent solution for homes that are settling, and they can be installed year-round.
Push piers stabilize foundations by transferring the weight of the home deep below the foundation, reaching to bedrock or competent strata. Helical piers are an excellent way to stabilize foundations when there is sufficient knowledge of local soil conditions. They are advanced into the soil underneath the foundation via a helical blade.
We Do Foundation Wall Crack Repair In Texas
No matter what kinds of problems you’re experiencing with your foundation walls, our in-house team of foundation experts is here to help. At Baird Foundation Repair, we repair foundations throughout Texas every day.
We’d like to offer you a free, no-obligation foundation wall repair quote to help you decide what repair solution is best for your home. Each of our free quotes comes at no obligation and includes an on-site inspection, a personal consultation and a written estimate.
To schedule your free quote, call us today! We serve San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Houston, Austin and surrounding areas.
