It can be quite alarming when you venture down to your basement and notice that one of your walls has developed a huge crack. You may think that your home is about to crumble! In truth, basements are prone to cracking and not every crack heralds the arrival of doomsday!
Foundation walls are put under a great deal of stress, so it is only natural that they sometimes suffer. They not only have to support your home; they have to deal with the pressure from the ground that surrounds it. Even the most stable people crack under extreme pressure, and the same goes for basement walls!
Here are four things to look out for when it comes to basement wall cracks:
Is the crack getting progressively worse over time?
Some cracks are simply ‘there’ and will never become worse, but most cracks will expand the longer you leave them. A crack is a weak point in your foundation, and that area of your foundation will find it harder to withstand pressure.
If a crack is worsening, then you need to get it repaired as soon as possible.
Is the crack large enough to be a concern?
Wide cracks are much more of a problem than thin cracks. A good rule of thumb for any crack is this – if you can easily push two quarters (one on top of the other) into the crack, then it is wide enough to be a concern.
Is the crack wide at the top but thin at the bottom?
If a crack is not uniform, then this is likely a sign of uneven pressure. The crack is only going to get worse at its weakest point, so you will need to get it repaired as quickly as possible.
Have you had your basement inspected and in need of a basement repair contractor?
Even if you have been told that you need a foundation crack repaired by a professional, there is always the temptation to leave it to see if it does actually get any worse. Our advice is, if you’ve been told that your basement needs to be repaired, it’s best to schedule that repair as soon as you can!
If you have a basement crack that you don’t like the look of, then please contact us here at Tom’s Basement Waterproofing. We can arrange to come out and give you a free estimate, and to advise you on how best to proceed. Contact us at (586) 949-7826 or (586) 776-7270, or use the online contact form that’s available on our website.