What do cracks in basement floors mean?

Some floor and wall cracks are nothing to worry about. Others are signs of serious foundation damage. You shouldn’t risk the structural integrity of your home by mistaking a dangerous wall crack for a benign one.

And cracks don’t have to be wide to indicate structural damage. A crack as small as 1/64″ can let water and termites into your home. Once a crack exceeds 1/16″, it can indicate structural damage.

At Helitech Waterproofing & Foundation Repair, we offer free consultations because we want to give homeowners peace of mind that they are repairing a foundation crack at its source. Consultations allow us to evaluate the root of your concrete wall crack and develop a plan of action.

If only a quick fix—such as an epoxy resin injection—we’ll let you know. If it requires structural rehabilitation, we’ll work with you to find the most cost-effective solution—we even offer financing plans if a more involved concrete wall crack repair is necessary.

Either way, we’ll provide you a free estimate for the necessary work to get your home back into shape. We’re invested in providing you top-quality concrete wall crack repair at a reasonable price.

Monitor your floor or concrete wall cracks for growth

You should monitor all wall cracks you notice—even seemingly harmless hairline cracks in your wall—to look for growth and change such as L-shaped wall cracks that transform into a larger stairstep pattern. Dormant wall cracks, or cracks that remain the same size and shape over time, are rarely a sign of structural damage. Active wall cracks, on the other hand, show an active shift in your foundation.

The shape of the crack will also tell you a lot about the cause. Stair-step cracks likely point touneven settling of your foundation. This might require stabilizing your foundationat strategic points with braces or helical piles. Vertical cracks can pop up for a variety of reasons. Smaller hairline cracks in your walls might be due to shrinking of the concrete during curing—this only requires a simple epoxy resin injection. More severe vertical cracks can require re-stabilizing your foundation with helical piles.

For a quick reference chart about the various crack types, causes and fixes, click here. Or give us a call and we’ll schedule a free initial consultation where we’ll evaluate your home’s particular foundation problem.