Cracks in Foundation Walls

The type of crack in your foundation wall (including cracked bricks in your home’s facing) can give you a clue to the severity and cause.

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A crack in your foundation wall could be a sign that your home has a structural problem. In some cases, a hairline concrete crack is just that. But in other cases, a crack is a sign that your foundation needs to be repaired by an expert.

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Identifying & Repairing Foundation Wall Cracks in Virginia, Maryland & DC

Identifying & Repairing Issues Related To Foundation & Basement Wall Cracks

Do These Basement Wall Cracks Look Familiar?

These types of cracks are almost always a serious structural problem. You’ll need to have an expert take a look to evaluate your home’s situation.

Foundation Wall Cracks - Horizontal - These types of cracks are caused by pressure and can take the form of hydrostatic pressure or expansive soils. Water or soil pushes against your foundation walls, creating areas of weakness. Over time you'll start to notice horizontal cracks and eventually bowed walls.

Foundation Wall Cracks - Vertical - If you have a concrete foundation, then hairline vertical cracks could be caused by shrinkage. As concrete cures it can crack. These cracks will typically form within the first year after the foundation was poured. If the crack is uneven or wider than 1/16-inch then it could be a sign that you have a structural problem.

Types of Basement Foundation Wall Cracks

The type of crack in your foundation wall (including cracked bricks in your home’s facing) can give you a clue to the severity and cause. If you’ve noticed a crack in your basement foundation then you could also have a basement water problem.

Horizontal Cracks

These types of cracks are caused by pressure and can take the form of hydrostatic pressure or expansive soils. Water or soil pushes against your foundation walls, creating areas of weakness. Over time you’ll start to notice horizontal cracks and eventually bowed walls.

Vertical Cracks

If you have a concrete foundation, then hairline vertical cracks could be caused by shrinkage. As concrete cures, it can crack. These cracks will typically form within the first year after the foundation was poured. If the crack is uneven or wider than 1/16-inch then it could be a sign that you have a structural problem.

Stair-Step Cracks

These cracks form when your home is settling unevenly. House settling occurs when the soil your home is built on is no longer able to support the weight of your house. The soil will shift and change, forcing your foundation to do the same.

Cracked Foundation Wall Solutions

Like any foundation problem there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Your foundation repair needs to be custom designed to properly solve the problem and take into account the soil and environmental factors.

A few solutions that may be recommended are Wall anchors, Carbon Fiber foundation repair, Push piers – but remember, each home is different so your home may require a different solution. We’ll work with you to create a customized, economical foundation repair solution to fix your home’s cracked basement foundation walls.