Is it normal for concrete foundations to crack?
If you are wondering whether it’s normal for concrete foundations to crack, we should let you know right at the outset that there are two things you can know for sure about concrete: it will be hard, and it will crack! Cracks in concrete foundations and walls are fairly common. Some cracks are the result of “shrinkage” of the concrete that is a normal part of the concrete’s curing process, and in such cases, the cracks will not pose a structural concern to the building. However, some cracks are fundamentally dangerous, for example, when the cracks are very large, or if you find that the cracks have made the foundation uneven! In all such cases, you must quickly get the advice of a foundation cracks repair professional who can remediate these issues for you!
What causes cracks in the foundation of a building?
Many of our clients are quite concerned about cracks in their concrete foundations, and ask us, what are the main causes of such cracks? This is a good question, and the answer is that cracks can indicate that a structure’s walls are buckling, or that there are vertical movements in the foundation under the building, which are usually caused from soil underneath the foundation swelling and shrinking. In the Los Angeles region, our homes and buildings are typically built over clay soil which expands during our Rainy Season, and shrinks during our Dry Season. When water intrusion from improperly draining rainwater or groundwater is added to the mix and saturates a concrete foundation, that creates a recipe for a “concrete-cracking” disaster! In such instances, even a newer and well-built concrete foundation can experience severe problems over a period of just a few years!
What happens when groundwater and rainwater intrude into a building?
If you are wondering what happens when groundwater and rainwater intrude into a home or commercial property, read on! First and foremost, groundwater and rainwater that intrudes into a building can inundate its foundation and foundation footing. Such water intrusion can, over time, cause the concrete reinforcing steel to rust, expand, and crack the surrounding concrete. Such high levels of humidity can also invite all sorts of insects and critters in, trigger mold and mildew to grow, cause floors to rot, and waste energy by increasing both heating and cooling costs! There are no two ways about it – Los Angeles homeowners and commercial property owners must combat water intrusion immediately to protect their valuable investments and safeguard the health and safety of the individuals who live and work in such buildings!
Is it worth it to repair foundation?
In case you are wondering whether it is worth it to repair a foundation, the answer is heck yes! All buyers of homes and commercial properties view a building’s wet basement and cracked foundation in the same way: “this one is a “fixer-upper” and therefore should cost much less!” Studies show that on average, buildings with wet basements and cracked foundations experience at minimum a 10% reduction in their value, and sometimes much more! What does this mean? Just look at the table below!
| If your building is worth | Not fixing it reduces value by at least: |
| $ 750,000 | $ 75,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $100,000 |
| $1,500,000 | $150,000 |
| $2,000,000 | $200,000 |
So, we are sure you get the idea! Not fixing foundation issues today will most certainly cost you later on! Oh, and by the way, the calculations we present above don’t even take into account the aggravation you will have from living and working in such conditions, or the extreme structural damage that can happen when a property sustains major damage, for example when an earthquake causes the foundation to fail and the structure above it to collapse or slide off the foundation!
Water damage to a foundation is one area where early warning and maintenance is important, so don’t delay, have your foundation inspected! Call Weinstein Construction today at (818) 855-5752 for an inspection and review of your home or commercial property’s foundation needs! We are also expert drain contractors and can help with basement waterproofing, leaky basement repair, basement wall sealing, and French drain installation!
