Foundation cracks can happen for a variety of reasons, but there are some common causes. They’re often caused by water damage or shifting soil. Foundation cracks can also be a sign of plumbing issues or leaks in your home’s foundation. If you notice cracks in your home’s foundation, it is important to address them as quickly as possible to prevent further damage to your home and avoid costly repairs down the road.
Here are some ways you can fix foundation cracks in your home:
- Find the source of the water
If you are wondering how to repair foundation cracks? Then, the first thing you should do is find out where your house is getting wet. Water can get into your foundation through cracks in the soil or floor drains and pipes, or it can come from above ground via rainwater and snowmelt. Either way, you need to find out where your house is getting wet so that you know what needs to be fixed and where you should start looking for leaks in pipes or other places around your property where water could enter your home through the foundation walls and cause damage if left unchecked.
- Use a crack filler
Foundation cracks usually occur because of movement in the soil beneath your home, which can be caused by natural forces like erosion or earthquakes. These cracks can also be caused by faulty construction or poor drainage around your home’s foundation. Whatever the cause, the best way to prevent foundation cracks is to keep your house level and plumb (straight up from all sides). If you’ve already got a crack in your foundation wall, it’s best to fill it with a specially formulated caulk that will harden and fill any cracks in the wall surface as well as provide additional support for your structure as it expands and contracts over time.
- Add an exterior beam
If you have a large crack in your foundation wall that’s causing structural damage or affecting your basement floor, consider adding an exterior beam onto the side of your house that has been affected by the crack so that it can support some of the weight of your house while still allowing room for expansion and contraction within the material itself.
- Check Your Soil
The first step in determining the cause of your foundation cracks is to examine your soil. If you have clay soil, it might be hard for you to dig a hole without causing some erosion as well as causing cracks in your foundation. Clay is also known for being very heavy when wet and light when dry, which means it could easily crack if it dries out between rains or snows. To fix this problem, you should consider using light gravel underneath your foundation instead of clay or sand.
- Waterproofing
The first thing you need to do is waterproof the crack so that water cannot get into it and cause more damage. You can waterproof with a sealant or caulk designed specifically for this purpose or you can use regular silicone caulk or Polyurethane caulking compound. You will have to apply this directly into the crack using a caulking gun or similar applicator tool.
- Replacing Cracked Concrete Blocks or Bricks
If there is too much damage for patching mortar alone and mortar cannot be used because of an incompatible aggregate (sand), then concrete blocks or bricks may need replacing instead.
- Patching the Crack
If the crack is small enough that you can reach into it and push mortar into it from the inside, then this is one of the easiest ways to fix a crack. This method allows you to repair minor cracks without having to remove any material from your wall or add more material than necessary. Simply mix up some mortar and fill in the crack with it until it is flush with your wall again. You may need to use a putty knife to smooth down any rough edges left over once you have finished filling in the crack.