Long horizontal cracks-usually a single horizontal crack in the center two-thirds of the wall-indicates pressure outside the building pushing the wall inward. “A big part of that is knowing what to look for and how to read a crack.” “The first step in any basement wall repair project is figuring out the cause of the problem,” says Bob Thompson, P.E. The pattern of these cracks can reveal much about the underlying cause of the problem. Identify the ProblemĬMU walls nearly always crack along the mortar joints. Regardless of why they crack, a number of solutions exist. In some regions, such as the Upper Midwest, nearly 80% of basements have CMU walls.ĬMU foundations crack for many of the same reason poured walls do: differential settling, backfilling too soon, expansive soils, tree roots, hydrostatic pressure, etc. They have plenty of strength, and in most areas the installed price is comparable. They’re more versatile than poured concrete, and easier to alter-both during construction and in the future. Go for a solution that offers long term results.In many parts of the country, foundations and basement walls are constructed with concrete masonry units (CMU), also called concrete block or cinder block.ĬMU foundations offer a number of advantages. When presented with proposals by different contractors, research the methods suggested. This will ensure that you get great results from the repair. Choose a contractor with experience repairing masonry walls. There are two factors to keep at the forefront of your mind as you search for a contractor:ĭon’t hire just any contractor. They can assess your foundation wall and provide you with proposals on how the wall can be repaired. You should get in touch with a foundation repair specialist. If the cracks are an indication of foundation wall failure, should you panic? No. The foundation wall in this case will bulge outward. In some cases, the soil outside the foundation wall may not provide adequate support for the wall.
If the wall is greater than the resistance the wall offers, the wall will bulge into the basement resulting in the formation of cracks. This occurs when a large amount of pressure from the soil is exerted on the foundation wall. If you have step cracks in your foundation walls, you’re probably dealing with foundation failure. When cracks occur in the wall, they follow the points of weakness in the foundation wall. This pattern is what gives the wall its strength. The bricks or blocks are arranged in a staggered pattern. The cracks give a stair step appearance because of the nature of block foundations. They are therefore the first points along which the foundation will show signs of failure. This is because the points at which the blocks are bonded using mortar are usually the weakest points in the foundation. These cracks usually occur on masonry foundation walls. It is therefore important to study the crack before you panic. The type of cracks that have appeared on your foundation walls can tell you a lot about the condition of the basement wall. While some cracks may be superficial and result from natural movement and drying processes, others are structural and indicate a much deeper problem. This is often a sign of some sort of failure in your foundation wall. It is even worse when you notice a crack in your foundation wall. If there is one thing that a homeowner never wants to see on their walls, it is a crack.