When you see cracks forming in the walls or floors of your basement, it can feel overwhelming and scary. How dire are these cracks and what can you do to lessen the damage?
The truth is that there is not a “quick fix” when it comes to basement foundation crack repair. Let’s take a look at four things you should know about foundation cracks and repair.
1. What causes cracks in your basement foundation:
There are three main causes of cracks in your foundation: shrinkage, settling & shifting.
Shrinkage is caused when the concrete for your foundation dries too fast. The quick drying time causes the concrete to shrink, and hairline cracks are the result. You will typically notice shrinkage long after your house is built.
Settling occurs when the ground below the foundation compresses under the weight of the foundation concrete. These cracks are a direct result of settling the amount of ground compression. If the ground under the basement foundation only compresses for a short time, the cracks are generally minor. But if the ground continues to settle, the cracks will continue to grow and will need to be fixed.
Shifting is when the ground under the foundation shifts. This is actually the most common cause of basement foundation crack. As with settling, if the movement continues, the cracks will get worse.
2. How basement foundation cracks affect the air quality:
When there are cracks in basement walls and floors, gases like radon, methane, and even pesticides can enter into the air of your home. When the cracks give these gases a possible entry into your basement, the air quality in your basement could become a problem for you and your family.
3. Mold can form:
Foundation walls that have water leaks can lead to a mold infestation in your basement. This is caused by a build-up of excessive moisture coming in through the cracks of your basement foundation walls or floors. Mold can slowly spread throughout other areas of your home.
While mold is unpleasant to look at and can spread a terrible odor throughout your home – the toxins released into the air of your home poses potential health and structural risks to your family and home.
4. Get to the root of the cause:
You may have many cracks in your basement walls and floors, some that are clearly leaking moisture and some that appear to not be causing any leakage. You may think that you only need to repair the cracks in your foundation that are leaking. The truth is, if you don’t fix them all, the other cracks will eventually leak if you don’t fix the source of the accumulated water.
When you close one crack, the moisture will find another way into the foundation. Water follows the path of least resistance and the cracks that weren’t leaking before become the new doorway for the built-up water to escape. Instead of having to call in basement foundation crack experts to complete the foundation repair over and over, have them all done at once, such as waterproofing to avoid future damage and more! You will end up saving both time and energy.
Contact Us for Basement Foundation Crack Repair Services
Basement foundation crack repair is a necessary investment to protect your home and your family from potential problems with the structural stability and the health of you and your family.
At American Eagle Professional Service, our team of experts provides excellent basement foundation crack repairs to ensure the health and safety of your home’s foundation. Contact us today by filling out our online contact form or by calling (410) 263-9682 to schedule an inspection and appointment.
