Find out what causes the foundation to crack and how to repair them with the help of Bisson Expert!
Melting snow and water infiltration
When spring arrives and the snow starts to melt, several owners rediscover their house. In fact, spring is the best time to inspect your property and to see if winter has left its mark. It is time, for example, to inspect your foundation walls and to pay particular attention to cracks and water infiltration.
If you notice such warning signs, don’t wait before taking action because the consequences could actually damage your house. To learn more about this problem, Bisson Expert has prepared this article. It provides information on what causes the foundation to crack and the repair solutions that are available to you.
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Cracks in the foundation are a common occurrence. Rain, age of the property, soil movement and other factors may be the cause. If you own a house and want to protect it or simply learn more about repairing cracks, read this article. You will find out what you need to check, what you should do as a home owner and who to contact if there are cracks in the foundation.
Are cracks in concrete a common occurrence?
Many concrete foundations have cracks, but it is not always easy to determine whether the cracks are cause for concern or to find out what is causing them. For many owners, water infiltration sounds the alarm. This is often the case after periods of thaw, heavy rainfall or when the seasons change.
What causes cracks to appear in a concrete foundation?
A number of things can cause cracks to appear in a house foundation. Some of the main causes are normal wear and tear of the concrete foundation that can actually lose its sealing and waterproofing qualities over the years, which in turn causes cracks and water infiltration. Generally speaking, this problem is mostly found in houses that were built at least 40 years ago.
Furthermore, environmental factors can also cause cracks to appear in the foundation and lead to water infiltration. These include soil inclination, rain gutters or flower beds that are too close to the foundation. It could also be climate changes that bring torrential rains. To put it simply, all factors that contribute to water accumulating near the concrete must be taken into account, because water that accumulates near the foundation can in fact be absorbed by the concrete, which in turn will adversely affect its integrity. Water can also infiltrate quickly through cracks in the foundation.
Cracks in the concrete can be caused by structural problems in the house. The foundation could be impaired, have slumped or settled. Clay soil can also cause the foundation to move. In such cases, several warning signs will be noticeable in addition to cracks and water infiltration, for example doors that do not close properly.
If you see cracks or signs of water infiltration in your foundation, call an expert to ask for advice. It is probably the best way to avoid greater problems and to have peace of mind, because an expert is the only person who can assess the scope of the problem and propose solutions.
What should you do if there are cracks in your concrete foundation?
As mentioned, cracks are often warning signs of another problem. This is what the expert will have to determine when inspecting your foundation.
For example, at Bisson Expert, we do not make any recommendations until we find the reason why there are cracks in the foundation. During our inspection, we also assess the presence of other potential problems. This is the only way we can offer durable solutions to our clients.
Therefore, we try first to assess whether the cracks are due to normal wear and tear of the foundation, environmental factors or structural problems. Given that we have developed maps of problem areas over the past 60 years, we are able to assess geographical factors, such as soil, year of construction, etc. We then carefully inspect the property, the cracks in the foundation and any other factor that could be of significance.
Based on our results, we then make recommendations to the owner.
How should the cracks in the foundation be repaired?
At Bisson Expert, the solution that we recommend must always meet your needs. We suggest either a temporary or permanent repair solution based not only on what causes the cracks to appear in the foundation, but also on your budget.
Permanent repair solution
When the cracks in the foundation are deemed as normal, carrying out simple and durable repair work is entirely feasible. “Normal” cracks are those that appear when new concrete is curing or those that are caused by environmental factors, such as freezing. In such cases, the concrete is repaired by injecting an expandable product that seals the cracks.
However, if the foundation problems are linked to structural problems (foundation slumping, settling, etc.), major repairs must then be considered. In fact, the solution, in such cases, is to raise the foundation and stabilize it on piles.
To find out more about this repair solution, go to our Web site.
Temporary repair solution
What should you do if you have a major foundation problem and cannot immediately stabilize it on piles? Fortunately, Bisson Expert can also recommend a temporary solution. In fact, we can repair the cracks to prevent water infiltration and thus protect your property until the permanent repair work can be carried out.
Please note that this is a temporary solution, because the foundation will continue to slump or settle. Additional cracks or further water infiltration could occur. Therefore, if you opt for a temporary repair solution, make sure that you will be able to meet the time limit that the expert will recommend. It is the best way to protect your investment!
This spring, check your foundation and inspect your property! If you notice cracks or water infiltration or if you have questions about your foundation, contact the Bisson Expert team!
We will be happy to answer all your questions!
