Structural Cracks In Concrete Walls

Details about the causes of vertical cracks in concrete block walls and the possible causes and need for remedy or repair for this crack damage are discussed.

Structural cracks in concrete walls.

In general cracks wider than a credit card and running through the depth of the concrete are structural in nature and could be a sign of more serious problems see concrete crack repair evaluation. There s no exact method for determining how serious a wall crack is without hiring an expert to examine the wall but you might be able to. Horizontal cracks in concrete walls however indicate poor wall designs or pressure buildup behind the wall. Fill it with a caulk suitable for use on concrete.

When that water eventually leaves the slab it leaves behind large voids between the solid particles. Repairing a foundation crack of this nature is similar to repairing other non structural cracks. These cracks no matter what the width are rarely acceptable. Precast concrete walls are concrete walls built offsite trucked to the building site and then set in place.

Stair step cracks may also signify heaving. At vertical cracks in block walls. Call in a structural engineer for an in depth evaluation. The cracks might indicate a more serious structural problem.

Plastic shrinkage concrete cracks. Due to the age and construction designs of these walls they tend to have more cracks and leaks than other walls. Shrinkage cracks in a poured concrete foundation can be diagonal or vertical and are usually uniform in width. How to determine if the cracks in walls are serious.

We explain 6 of the most common types of concrete cracks below. If a vertical crack widens at the top or bottom the wall is either settling or gradually heaving which may present serious issues. If a crack between the wall and floor exceeds. The walls on the outside of your home can crack for many of the same reasons.

That said interior wall cracks often have different causes than exterior wall cracks. When concrete is still in its plastic state before hardening it is full of water. Interior cracks in concrete block walls can form for a number of reasons including. Brick stone clay tile these types of walls are often found in historic and older homes.

Several masonry patching products such as hydraulic cement do an adequate job of filling cracks in concrete walls.