House settling or foundation issues are common for most homeowners, whose houses were built not such a long time ago. The time passes, the concrete in the foundation shrinks, the cracks are formed. In addition, the weight of the whole construction might not be spread evenly, thus, putting extra pressure on the foundation at certain places.
Those changes, though inevitable in most cases, are easy to fix with an adequate foundation repair process. Yet, if not addressed properly and in a timely manner, they might cause significant damage that cannot be repaired without serious intervention.
This is the reason why the No Water System Experts recommend conducting frequent examinations of the basement space for all homeowners. Remember: even if the basement is not the most popular and coziest part of your house, it the probably the most important structural unit.
Signs Of Structural Damage To House
Normally, it is easy to understand if your house has suffered from any structural damage caused by house settlement. Following a few evident signs, you can easily identify the foundation problems.
- Foundation cracks
- Cracks on the walls, near the doors and windows
- Doors or windows falling out of their square
- Uneven levels of floors
- Wardrobes or cabinets moving away from the wall
- Floor cracks
It is important to monitor the changes frequently and contact your building contractor for repairing structural cracks in brick walls. Unless the issue is addressed promptly, the cracks will be expanding quickly, which might lead to serious consequences, including house tilting problems.
Now, let’s look in detail at the most common problems and see the ways to solve them.
Settlement Cracks In Brickwork
Cracks emerge in the majority of brickworks and they are almost inevitable. While some of them are small and not significant, others may require more serious action. In some cases, the minor crack repair will do its thing and fix the wall. Yet, sometimes the total demolition of the wall is the only solution.
The cracks on the walls may be caused by two reasons:
- Settlement
- Subsidence
Subsidence is a less frequent problem, which is caused by the soil that for some reason has been removed from the space beneath the foundation. This issue is more complex and not easy to fix.
The settlement is a common issue, which occurs due to the pressure of the heavy house construction on the basement. Typically, there are numerous ways to fix the problem without any serious intervention or expensive repair. In certain cases, push piers could serve as a good solution to the settlement problem. In this article, we concentrate on the most typical cracks, caused by house settling.
Stair-Step Cracks In Brick Wall
Those are the most frequent cracks that emerge as a result of house settling in the brick houses. The stair-step cracks are diagonal right-angle cracks. They go through the mortar that is used to connect the bricks since the mortar is a more vulnerable material.
The bricks are typically strong and the cracks cannot damage them. That is why they travel through the mortar. Those cracks look like a staircase and can lead to the area that is settling or sinking.
The stair-step cracks emerge due to excess moisture and settling of the foundation. Sometimes the settling is caused by uneven moisture distribution.
How To Repair Settling Cracks
The good news is that most of the settling cracks can be repaired. However, the settling cracks are a very serious issue. If not addressed correctly, there is a high chance that your whole house may be demolished due to this issue.
Whether we are talking about cracks in concrete or bricks, they both are not normal. Therefore, this is not something that you should try to fix on your own and this is definitely not a DIY task.
Applying another layer of mortar or concrete will not help. You need professional assistance if you find cracks in your foundation. Only professionals will be able to diagnose the cause of the cracks and address the problem properly.
Remember that the cracks may not only be caused by house settlement, but also by subsidence, which is much more dangerous.
Brick Foundation Repair Cost
Despite the foundation settlement repair cost might be an important factor preventing you from contacting your building contractor, we recommend you seek professional assistance as soon as you identify the possible problem in your basement.
Repairing the settling cracks might be an expensive task, depending on the scale of the damage and its cause. Yet, not addressing the issue professionally and promptly might cause even greater damage to your house and possibly the health of your family members.
NWSE: Your Builders Crack Estimator
If you are still looking for a company, who will estimate the costs for your foundation repair, we will be happy to do this for you. The No Water Basement System Experts have extensive experience in the area with more than 1500 happy customers in Montreal.