Did you know that if you do not repair cracks, you can end up with a very expensive bill to fix significant structural damage? If you have lived in a new home for over a year, it is essential to check the entire property’s structure for cracks or gaps that exist.
Many of these can easily be filled with a sealer or a spray foam. However, this depends on how big and deep the cracks in your foundation are. Some air gaps will not significantly threaten your home, but they can increase your utility bills.
Then you will end up paying more for heating or cooling because the airflow in your home is thrown off due to cracks. Here is everything you need to know about foundation crack repair and why it is necessary.
Table of Contents
Why Repair Cracks?
Turning a blind eye to cracks around your home will make you miss a lot of warning signs. These signs indicate a lot of structural damage that can be expensive and problematic.
These can also rapidly reduce the value of your home. Large cracks in the foundation may mean that some walls are higher than others. Alternatively, you may also have windows or doors that do not fit their frames.
Your pavement, basement, or driveway may also have a lot of cracks due to foot traffic or cars driving up and down. Some of the first cracks can be seen typically around your windows.
Then you will also find many in various doorways and corners. Although many of these are small hairline cracks, you should always keep an eye out in case they get worse.
Damages occur due to seasonal expansion. They are mainly caused when the soil beneath your house contracts over time.
If your property’s foundation has lost its strength, your foundation will weaken since the moisture in the ground under the settled part of your home is dry or too wet.
Then you may need to invite a structural engineer to inspect the property. Otherwise, check out this basement liner for basement floor and wall cracks.
Best Time to Repair Cracks
When it is too cold outside during winter, your concrete pavement will contract, and cracks will occur. During the summer, the same concrete will expand and then close all those cracks.
Therefore, spring or fall is the best time of the year for foundation crack repair. If you are repairing cracks during fall, you will notice moderate temperatures.
You will not have extreme temperatures like summer or winter. Then your contractor can perform their crack repair work in safe and dry conditions. It is crucial to ensure that you do not have a lot of moisture.
If there is any moisture present on your pavement, this can reduce the effectiveness of your seal. Colder temperatures can cause frost, which can render your seal useless.
Fall is a popular season because your structure will be on stable soil without worsening the damage. You can also repair cracks a bit more cheaply during this time.
However, you may need to get this done before the temperature becomes too cold. Fall is also an excellent time to do house repairs without needing to cancel holiday plans with loved ones.
Rainfall Damage
Spring is also another adequate time of the year to repair cracks. However, you should be careful about the heavy rains that can cause a lot of new cracks.
The old gaps will also get filled with water, so you must monitor your structure weekly. This is the best time for a foundation repair company to assess your damage.
Then they can start with the foundation crack repair process. Many people find this time of year easier because crack repairs become part of “spring cleaning.”
Always ensure that you do not wait until it rains a lot or gets too cold. This is because rain will end up filling all the cracks.
When the temperature drops too much, that water will harden because it expands. You also risk damaging your property’s structure if you neglect this rainwater in the cracks, especially if it turns into ice.
Why Do Cracks Occur?
One of the main reasons why cracks occur is because your home is becoming older. There is always going to be normal wear and tear, depending on how old the property is.
As the structure ages naturally, you will see cracks all over the walls, ceiling, and floor. You may also get cracks from moisture damage that usually comes from the roof or the floor.
Especially if you live somewhere that has recently experienced a powerful storm with tons of rainfall. If the floor over your ceiling is too heavy or you have a lot of things in the attic, you can end up with a cracked ceiling.
This is why bathrooms on top floors need a lot of ceiling support since you have some of the heaviest items, like your bathtub. Otherwise, you should check your drywall.
If something has not been installed correctly, you will see some cracks in the wall. This happens when the joints are not taped well enough. If this happens, you should call your installer back to ensure that the tape sticks to protect the drywall.
Repair All Cracks Today
Now that you know the best time of year to repair cracks and why they occur, it is time to ring your contractor for a home inspection. This is because even new homes settle into the soil or experience cracks from other issues.
Small cracks may not indicate significant structural problems, but they should still be looked at. If you see cracks that you are not confident about, you should call a professional.
They should come out and analyze your home to spot any structural damage before it worsens. If you enjoyed this foundation crack repair guide, check out some of our other posts for more information.
