You don’t have to live with basement cracks! Learn how you can spot the problem signs and fix them once and for all, by requesting a professional foundation evaluation.
Basement Cracks – Understanding Basement Wall Cracks in Virginia, Maryland and DC
Identifying Issues Related To Basement Cracks, Basement Wall Repair, and Foundation Settlement
Do Basement Cracks Follow A Common Pattern?
Basement cracks are often signs of something bigger, so before you consider patching reach out and have your basement assessed by a professional. If left untreated, your walls, floors, and home could be compromised.
Vertical Basement Wall Cracks
Often mean that the soil your house is built on is shifting, creating house settling and causing foundation problems. This indicates pressure against your basement walls.
Horizontal Basement Wall Cracks
Need repair immediately! These cracks happen when the pressure against the basement wall forces them in. If this isn’t repaired the wall will cave in.
Stair-Step Basement Wall Cracks
These cracks indicate your foundation is settling. Sometimes these basement wall cracks are minor, caused by normal settling but keep an eye on them since they could be telling you that there’s a foundation problem.
Basement Wall Cracks FAQ
Find what you need to know about basement wall cracks.
While you can try and tackle a crack in your basement wall on your own, doing so is not always in your best interest.
Most homeowners try to take on DIY repair jobs because they think that they’ll save money if they don’t get into contact with a professional. Others may underestimate the extent to which their home has been damaged by the crack in question. In both cases, homeowners can attempt to patch up the cracks in their basement walls. In doing so, homeowners will attend to the aesthetic problem of the crack, but they will not get to its cause.
The Challenges of Fixing a Basement Crack
Even so, isn’t fixing a basement wall crack at its source a challenge?
The brief answer is yes. Put another way: By ignoring the wider problem that may have caused your basement wall to crack in the first place, you put the structural integrity, the safety of your family, and your home repair budget at risk.
Watching Your Budget
When it comes to repairing a crack in your foundation wall on your own, it’s easy to underestimate how much supplies might cost. In reality, however, not only will you need to consider the cost of your repair materials, but you’ll also need to consider whether you’ll need to purchase any special tools you might not already have on hand.
Furthermore, if something goes wrong as you’re trying to repair a crack, you may have to double down on the cost of the materials you need, just in case you need to purchase enough supplies for a second or third attempt at a patch job.
Doing Unintentional Damage
Of course, there is always the chance that as you go to repair the crack in your wall, you accidentally damage a structural support or another feature that was previously protecting your home. You might even expand the crack that you were trying to fix. In these cases, not only will you have wasted money on the materials you needed to attempt your repair job, but you’ll have to spend more when you reach out to a professional for guidance, as a professional will have to remove your DIY work before implementing a more permanent solution.
In short, do not try to repair your basement walls unless you have experience working in such a field. A professional contractor in your area can walk through your home with you, identify any problem areas, and discuss what home repair and future waterproofing measures might suit you best.
The professional contractors who come out to your home can walk you through a catalog of repair options that can help restore the value of your home. These solutions can help ensure your home stands up to the forces that cause wall cracks more effectively in the future. Some of the most common fixes for your basement wall cracks include:
Installing the IntelliBrace™ System Throughout Your Home
If you’re looking for a system meant to support cracked walls, the IntelliBrace™ System can stand in for supports that have long given out. An IntelliBrace™ System uses I-Beams made of galvanized steel coated in zinc. This steel holds up against moisture while also forcing leaning basement walls back into their original position over time.
These beams do more than just support your walls, though. The IntelliBrace™ System actively works to move your walls back into their appropriate position. Their zinc coating also ensures that they’ll resist rust. Even if you’re not interested in using your basement as a secondary entertaining area, you can trust these supports to remain unobtrusive and effective over the years.
The Benefits of Carbon Fiber Wall Reinforcements
Carbon fiber wall reinforcements work similarly to the IntelliBrace™ System when it comes to supporting your walls. Instead of relying on I-beams, however, this system uses a series of straps supports to hold your wall in its current position.
The carbon fiber straps are not only incredibly tough, but they’re resistant to most forms of damage. This means that this support system will continue to hold your walls in place even if your home starts to leak again. The epoxy resin that professionals use to apply these supports to your walls even doubles the system’s notable strength. If you’re still not confident, you can rest easy knowing that the reinforcements have a longtime warranty.
Basement Cracks – Your Soil Can Make A Difference
The ground your home is built on plays a critical role in your foundation’s stability. If the soil wasn’t prepared properly when your home was built, there isn’t an adequate drainage system installed or you live in an area that experiences a lot of rain or drought then your home’s foundation could be at risk.
The crew was wonderful especially the Foreman. We asked lots of questions and kept checking in and looking at the work. Each time we went to the basement, they stopped the work and carefully explained the process to us in a very friendly manner. We liked this crew and the foreman very much.
Suzzanne B., Culpeper, VA
Like a sponge, soil responds to changes in moisture. When it rains the soil expands, pressing against your home’s basement walls. Continued pressure can result in horizontal cracks and even bowed walls. And just like a sponge, when the soil dries it shrinks: pulling away from your basement walls, creating gaps where your foundation can lean or settle.
Basement Cracks And Basement Repair Solutions
We have a variety of solutions for basement wall cracks, including Carbon Fiber, JES Wall Anchors, and IntelliBrace in Virginia, Maryland, DC. These products aren’t always the solution to your basement problems so it’s important to make an appointment for your free evaluation to find the best solution for your basement.
Our professional foundation repair experts will work with you, every step of the way, to find and design the best foundation repair solution for your cracked basement walls. We want to hear your questions and concerns; after all, we’re here to help you find the best solution for your home.
Have you ever wondered about your bowed basement walls and what causes them? Or if that drywall crack is a sign that you have a bigger problem? Our Homeowner’s Guide to Foundation Repair is your resource for learning about foundation problems, causes, and solutions. Request your free foundation repair inspection and receive your own copy of the e-book, as our thanks for putting your trust in JES.
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