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Why There Are Cracks In The Foundation

Our homes are resilient to a lot of wear and tear, but after a while, even our foundation can begin to crack. While all concrete has a tendency to crack under pressure, there are a few things to watch out for that can really do serious damage to your foundation.

Too Much Or Lack Of Moisture

When moisture is removed from the soil, it can shrink like a sponge. So when that happens in your yard, it can pull away from the foundation and cause a gap between them. This gap allows for the foundation to move and shift around and for cracks to develop within the concrete. However, if there is an abundance of moisture, it can cause the soil to expand instead and puts a large pressure on the foundation until cracks began to appear.

Plumbing Leaks

It is always important to ensure that the pipes in your home are secure and aren’t leaking anything into your home. If your home is not currently equipped with basement waterproofing, the excess water could add to the soil and cause it to expand and push against the foundation.

Bad Weather

From a heavy rainstorm to the melting of snow, any kind of weather that produces a large amount of water can easily harm the foundation of your home. Too much water will end up forcing the soil around your home to expand and put pressure on the foundation. Even just the freezing of concrete in the winter can cause cracking to develop after it melts again.

Flooding

Whether the flooding is due to bad weather, a leak, or just some inadequate drainage, too much water is always a problem for your foundation. As hydrostatic pressure increases, you will begin to notice more leaks, cracks, and other issues appear.

Earthquakes

When an earthquake shakes the ground, it can shake your home and greatly harm the foundation. Thankfully, not many earthquakes occur or effect this region of the United States. Still, even the littlest quiver of movement can be an issue so if one has happened recently, it may be smart to inspect the surrounding foundation just to be on the safe side of things.

The moral of this story is that you need to keep you foundation dry, stable, and supported as much as possible. However, when your foundation does begin to crack, you can always call AAAction Waterproofing to get your home and your life back on track. Contact us today for a free quote!

This entry was posted in Structural Damage on July, 14, 2016