Not All Cracks Are a Cause for Worry
Ask any reputable foundation contractor and they will tell you, that not all cracks are a cause for concern. Read the following to find out how you can deal with them.
If you find hairline cracks, don’t worry about it
Within a year after construction, you will start to notice hairline cracks, around the width of a sewing thread appear on the interior of your basement walls, mostly around windows and doors or in the corners. This is normal, and due to “settling,” or the concrete shrinking as it cures. As long as the cracks are within the hairline in width, you have nothing to worry about. If you’d like to cover them, use paint that is suitable for masonry.
If a narrow crack appears, monitor it for expansion
When you notice a new crack that is not hairline, but no wider than 1/8-inch, this too is probably down to settling and most likely will not be a problem, unless of course, it continues to expand. To monitor a crack, make a pencil mark around it and write the date by each mark. Also, measure the width at the widest point and write that too. Check the crack every month and make additional marks and dates if it expands.
If the crack is wider than 1/8-inch, you will need to seal it
Cracks that are between 1/8 and ¼ of an inch are again, a result of the house settling or concrete shrinking within months of the construction, and so may not pose any kind of structural issue. But it is a good idea to seal them in order to keep out moisture, soil smells, or even radon gas from seeping in. Repairing a foundation crack such as this is a simple DIY project that involves filling it in with some caulk.
To make an appointment with our Dwayne James General Contracting foundation contractor, please do not hesitate to call us today at (315) 203-1957, we serve the Earlville, NY and surrounding areas.