When it comes to your house, you trust that it has good integrity. The foundation in your home is built to be strong and sound, so it’s no surprise that when you spot a crack or two, there’s some concern. Finding cracks in your concrete foundation can be worrying, but it’s often hard to determine if there’s need for alarm. These cracks can form for various reasons, and there’s many types you may find, making it important to understand what causes them, and when you need to seek repair. At Concrete Solutions of Atlanta, our team of experts understand how concrete can change and shift over time and want to offer insight on what you need to know about the cracks that can form in it.

A variety of issues and conditions may cause cracks in your foundation. Generally, the foundation refers to concrete foundation walls. From environmental to man-made changes, here are a few factors that can lead to different kinds of foundation cracks:

Cracks can sometimes be caused by issues in the foundation’s construction. Many steps go into creating one, and if any step is executed poorly, it can lead to issues. Inadequate materials in the concrete mixture and a lack of proper leveling can decrease the structural integrity of the walls, making them weak and prone to cracking. This makes it important for a foundation to be built carefully and professionally.

The condition of the soil underneath your house can greatly impact the condition of your foundation. Several issues can arise from the ground, including soil expansion, soil creep, and uncompacted soil.

• Soil expansion: Soil with heavy amounts of clay can be easily affected by the weather. Rainwater can cause it to expand to a certain degree, and drought can cause it to shrink down.
• Soil creep: When a house isn’t graded properly when it’s built, it can easily be prone to issues caused by erosion. Rain and poor drainage can cause runoff, which leads soil to run downhill and up against your house. Pressure builds over time and can eventually cause damage.
• Uncompacted soil: If the soil under the house wasn’t compacted during the construction of it, your house may shift over time. Due to the uneven ground, it can settle at an angle, creating a lack of balance and the chance for structural problems.

Disasters can be unpredictable and devastating, especially to your home. Earthquakes place a large amount of pressure and stress on your foundations and can create cracks or even more severe damage. Flooding can also be a significant problem, as excess water can rapidly expand or contract the soil, making the structural integrity unsteady and at risk of cracking.

Working with the soil around your house has its risks. Any large holes or excavations made alongside the foundation can create weaknesses in the structure. Over time, your foundation can settle at uneven angles due to the lack of sufficient soil in those spots. If you need to create a large hole or excavate for a construction project, it’s best to keep it a good distance away from your foundation.

There are multiple kinds of cracks that can be found along your foundation walls over time. Each one has a different set of causes, and they can vary in severity depending on what issues they may cause. Here are the types of cracks you should look out for, and why they form in the first place:

Hairline cracks are a common thing to find in your home, even when your home is new. Like their name suggests, these cracks are very thin and uniform when they appear. The typical cause of these cracks is from foundation settlement. When a foundation, new or old, settles, small cracks can form from either the concrete drying or from aging. Typically, these cracks are harmless and only need simple, cosmetic repair.

Normally not an issue, vertical cracks form when concrete cures and the foundation settles in the house. Another cause is groundwater pressure causing the soil underneath to expand or contract. The cracks are thin, vertical, and can vary in length. Normally they are not a cause for alarm, but should be checked to ensure they aren’t growing, leaking, or causing the walls to bow out.

The most concerning cracks you can find in your foundation are horizontal cracks. These run horizontally along the concrete foundation walls and vary in width and length. They can be caused by extreme temperature changes, soil shifting drastically, or by excess groundwater pressure pushing on the foundation. When these occur, they need to be addressed immediately and repaired.

Another group of cracks caused by a settling foundation is diagonal cracks. These run diagonally up foundation walls and happen in old and new houses. Normally, they don’t create any structural problems but should be assessed if they grow or show any signs of leaking.

For any crack that appears in your foundation, it’s important to always have it inspected. While several types are caused by minor changes and won’t cause damage, it’s safer to monitor them when you notice them, in case they grow, or other issues appear. When you spot horizontal cracks or cracks that continuously grow and begin to leak water, or your walls are bowing or bulging, these are signs of a bigger issue, and you need to call a professional. Leaving these kinds of cracks untreated can lead to higher repair costs and more severe damage to your house’s foundation as a whole..

When your concrete begins to show signs of damage, you want to make sure it’s fixed quickly. Concrete Solutions of Atlanta offer’s premier concrete repair for damaged driveways, sidewalks, and concrete surfaces in the North Georgia region. If you notice signs of damage in your concrete, give us a call. We’ll readily assess the issue and work with you to find the solution you need. Contact us today to get a quote, or to schedule a service with us.