As a result of negligence or lack of care for your home, cracks can form in the foundation. These cracks usually appear when people neglect to repair their homes correctly and they may become much more difficult to fix later on. They can be as big as 1 meter (3 feet) long and often they can cause major structural damage or even fire hazards. If you are concerned about these cracks and want to improve them, this is an article to check out. The causes, reasons, and effects of cracks in the foundation are explained here.
Causes Of Cracks In The Foundation
One of the most common causes of cracks in the foundation is due to poorly done repairs and maintenance of the house. This happens because people forget not only to clean up after themselves but also do not follow the instructions for cleaning and doing household maintenance as instructed by professionals. It is better to know that cracking in the foundation could harm your home and foundation crack repair should start as soon as possible. Another reason for cracks in the foundation is due to improper construction. This results from the poor placement that would eventually weaken the structure of your building.
The Dangers of Ignoring Foundation Cracks
You must always avoid putting concrete over steel as it will have fewer chances of breaking or creating cracks in the basement walls. Steel beams should be fixed with thick layers of cement and then installed together with reinforced concrete to avoid any damages that might arise. A good way to deal with cracks in the foundation is by fixing them with proper bonding. If any of
these measures are ignored, the crack will grow bigger and could endanger your home.
How To Prevent Cracks In The Foundation
If you own a well-insulated house, cracks in the foundation can be prevented by installing an insulation system. Insulation acts as a barrier between elements within your home to help keep them at their original temperature and keeps them safe from the outside environment. Not all types of insulation protect all areas of your home. Even though most insulated windows, doors, and roofs can protect your home against cold drafts and heat, they won’t help with cracks in the foundation. Also, some products will not work properly if they don’t have appropriate insulation. Another important thing you can do is replace old plasterboards with new ones to make sure that no cracks start forming.
Why this is a serious problem for your home?
The main purpose of building a new home is to create a space where one can enjoy peace and relaxation from the inside. But unfortunately, sometimes life gets complicated and homeowners need to hire construction workers to put everything back together again. However, this can lead to accidents in which skilled engineers and professional contractors are involved. One of the construction mistakes which is commonly encountered by homeowners is the removal of weak wall materials. Weak walls can suddenly break into small pieces when they have moved around because of human error. Therefore, it is advised to fix weak points by using stronger materials.
The Consequences of a Weakened Foundation
If water leaks, cracks will begin developing inside your home. So what to do? First, let us talk about the different types of water leaks and what they entail. Excess water can quickly turn into large water pools and eventually flood your home. Next, there is also leakage from pipes which allows unnecessary water to enter your home. Other types of leaky structures include roof leaks, siding issues, drain clogs, and crawl spaces.Here is the best waterproofing services in toronto . All of these problems can lead to serious structural damage and dangerous living conditions, so it is crucial to address them immediately.
In addition to the three types of water leaks mentioned above, other things can lead to cracks in the foundation of your home. Some of them include cracks in the internal walls of your house. When this happens, it makes it easier for water to flow into your house, leading to flooding. Additionally, excess moisture, wind, and weather changes can make your home more susceptible to rain and thunderstorms. Moreover, if your house’s soil is too dry or has high levels of sand, it can affect its stability which will require additional effort. Sometimes, severe storms can push off bricks, making them fly away, thus allowing cracks in the foundation to develop. Roof leaks can happen in cases where you fail to seal up your gutters properly. Also, if the roofing has been worn down by heavy rainfall, the roofing itself can suffer from cracks. Finally, if you have a broken floor that has leaked through your basement walls, you can also fall victim to cracks in the foundation.
Conclusion
As we have already discussed, cracks in the foundation are caused by several factors, including excessive humidity, poor repairing activities, poor construction, failure in the installation of a waterproof roof, and failure of structural components. Since these are the primary causes of cracks, it is best to tackle them immediately to safeguard yourself from costly repairs and future structural damages. Only proper repairs and replacements will allow the integrity of your home to remain intact.