Foundation that is badly damaged.

Foundation repair is a necessary and sometimes costly repair to your home, but sometimes, the issue may be more embarrassing than even you can swallow. Sometimes, the foundation problems that can show up for the first time in winter are severe. Many homeowners have foundation repair questions but are not sure where to start.

Common Foundation Repair Questions

Sometimes foundation cracks are visible to the naked eye, while at other times, they may only show up after bad weather and other things you might do to your home, such as painting the house, placing a deck on top of the foundation, or replacing the house altogether.

If you’ve been hiding this problem and do not want to admit it or your friends and neighbors, check out these foundation repair solutions that will help to fix foundation cracks and repairs. It is a good idea to talk to a professional if you have found an unusual cracking problem in your house. Damages or issues with your foundation can be as straightforward or complicated as you want to make them. You may just be doing cosmetic repairs, or you may be performing actual foundation repair and rehabilitation.

Here are the things you need to know about foundation repairs, whether it is your first time fixing it or you have been doing it for a long time.

How to Fix Foundation Cracks

Before you go down the rabbit hole of foundation repair questions, it is helpful to know a few things about a foundation crack and the methods you may use to repair it. You will need to use your best judgment to determine if your damage is cosmetic or structural.

A cosmetic crack will likely be a small crack that is on the exterior of the foundation. A structural gap, on the other hand, is located in the foundation. Structural damage is only visible after heavy loads such as severe or long-term rain, but there may be cracks that are only visible on the surface of the foundation or after a strong wind or strong earthquake. It is wise to check your local codes and policies before deciding on a structural crack.

Five Questions To Ask Foundation Repair Specialists

It is more desirable to have a cosmetic crack in some areas and avoid structural damage. For example, it is not unusual for your foundation to crack as the soil underneath it changes if your home is older. On the other hand, suppose your foundation cracks are in areas of your home that will be affected by a remodeling project. In that case, you may be able to avoid foundation cracks by doing a foundation repair before you start the remodeling project.

Other Causes of Foundation Cracks

Before you figure out how to repair the foundation crack, it is crucial to figure out what caused it. If it is not a structural crack, you will want to figure out why your foundation is cracking. If you have additional foundation repair questions, give us a call.

The following are other causes of cracks:

Poorly attached walls or doors: Cracks can form in the foundation due to changes in soil and water. If you have an attached wall, your home will crack in a location that moves with the wall if you move it a certain way.

Deteriorated foundation: This can cause cracks on the foundation’s surface, not a structural crack. The problem is that the damage to the structural foundation is so bad that the building itself can collapse.

The Best Way To Fix Foundation Cracks

Poorly maintained or installed drainage pipes: The water in the soil can get trapped around these pipes. The result is that a small amount of water can build up around the pipes, and it can cause them to expand, and it can cause your foundation to crack.

Lack of water during the construction phase: This can cause cracks as well. When it dries out, materials used in the construction phase of a home will expand or contract. Dryness causes cracks and shifting.

Have More Foundation Repair Questions?

If you have cracks in your foundation, then the first thing to do is determine the cause of the problem. If the problem is that the soil around your home is shifting, then consider installing new drain tiles. Proper drainage will help to prevent water from collecting and backing up. When you’re ready to give us a call, Crossroads Foundation Repair is here to help.