Structural vs Non-Structural Foundation Cracks

Your home is your sanctuary and place of comfort. It is never a happy moment when you realize that there is a problem that can compromise the safety of your home and loved ones. Let’s look at why it’s important to inspect and fix basement structural and non-structural cracks before leaks and air quality damage take over your home.

Structural Cracks

Structural cracks are a threat to the integrity of your home’s foundation. These cracks are in poured concrete or in concrete block walls and can lead to many larger scale complications. There are a variety of structural cracks that may be found.

Types of Foundation Cracks:

Horizontal cracks
Vertical cracks
Diagonal Cracks
Stair Step
Cracks larger than 1/10 inch- these are often wider at one end than they are at the other. It is also common for these cracks to grow.

While these cracks may appear different, they are commonly caused by voids in the foundation, improper support, inadequately place soil, improper grading which allows water to pool near the foundation, and expansive soils. You may also notice that there are other structural problems that accompany these cracks, such as doors and windows that stick and uneven floors.

Structural cracks are a major priority and should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent further damage and higher costs for repairs.

Non-Structural Cracks

Non-structural cracks still present challenges but do not threaten the structural integrity of your home. Typically, the cause of such cracks is that concrete will shrink as it cures and settles. When this happens, you may notice the following types of cracks:

Hairline Cracks (less than 1/10 inch)- these cracks should be monitored to ensure that they are not growing over time because growth indicates that the crack is becoming structural.
Hairline Vertical Foundational Cracks disturb the load distribution of the weight of your house by unevenly dispersing the weight applied on the walls into the footing of the structure. In time, this will cause more damage.
Isolated Cracks can indicate that there was an error during transportation or even construction.

While these do not typically mean that there is a problem with your home’s foundation, there may be other problems to be aware of, such as leaks, mold, and poor air quality. Such problems are crucial to be remediated as soon as possible to protect the integrity of your home but, more importantly, to protect the health and safety of your family.

Budget Waterproofing has decades of experience waterproofing and remediating water damage situations, including:

Our company and employees hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau of Maryland and serve as a member of the Maryland Multi-Housing Association. We take pride in the trusted referrals of our numerous satisfied customers. Please contact us at 410-609-1240 for a free estimate today.