In our previous article we stated that finding cracks in your foundation is not out of the ordinary. You might be asking, what causes those cracks in the foundation? Let’s take a closer look at the causes, in order to understand where they might be coming from.

In our previous article we stated that finding cracks in your foundation is not out of the ordinary. You might be asking, what causes those cracks in the foundation?

We briefly addressed this in the last article when we discussed finding a crack in the basement.  Let’s take a closer look at the causes, in order to understand where they might be coming from.

Settlement – 

Your home’s foundation naturally settles. Although this usually happens uniformly, sometimes it does not, and this can cause cracks in the basement.

Curing – 

The concrete that makes your foundation goes through a normal curing process. This can cause hairline cracks that are usually non-threatening.

Seasonal –

In the winter, when the ground freezes it expands upward and in the Summer, as the ground heats up the concrete expands and then shrinks at night when the temperatures drop. Both the hot of summer and cold of winter can cause cracks in the basement.

Grading and Landscaping – 

Improper grading allows water that should flow away from the house to settle in and around the concrete. Some soils have minerals that absorb water and roots from trees or plants that are placed too close to the foundation cause issues with the integrity of the foundation as well.

As you can see, cracks are indeed not out of the ordinary for your basement. When is it time to contact a professional? Any time you find a crack that is leaking or when you have a crack that is at or over ⅛ inches wide, it is time to consult a professional. And if you are asking what ⅛ of an inch looks like, take two dimes and put them together. If the crack is wider than the width of the two dimes put together then you know you need a professional.

Here at Suburban Basement, we have years of professional experience repairing basement cracks. We offer free estimates and warranty our work. Let our professional expertise keep your mind at ease and your basement dry.