Horizontal Cracks In Concrete Basement Walls

The most common cause of horizontal cracks in concrete block foundation walls is excessive unbalanced soil pressure.

Horizontal cracks in concrete basement walls.

We rarely see cast in place concrete foundation walls which have developed a horizontal crack because of lateral or inward soil pressure. Backfill damage excessive height or premature backfill before the first floor framing was in place. The crack line can look like steps. Horizontal foundation cracks located at mid wall height on a foundation possible vehicle loading look for a driveway near the wall or site history involving movement of heavy equipment near.

If a vertical crack widens at the top or bottom the wall is either settling or gradually heaving which may present serious issues. If a horizontal crack appears where the foundation wall meets the basement floor it s not a structural problem but it should be sealed. Sometimes the soil pressure may shear the first course of concrete block above the basement floor slab and the wall slides inward. Horizontal cracks horizontal cracks found on foundation walls are indications of a very serious problem and over time they can lead to a complete foundation wall failure.

Corrosion of embedded reinforcing steel. However these products can fail after a few years if your foundation or retaining wall continues to move slightly leaving you with little choice but to chip them out and start all over again. Horizontal cracks in concrete block or cast in place concrete foundation walls are rarely an indication of foundation settlement. In concrete block foundation walls horizontal cracks are typically caused by the foundation wall being forced and bowed inward under the lateral or inward pressure of the soil.

If the crack is horizontal or runs at a jagged 45 degree angle it might mean there s a more serious problem. Concrete walls containing horizontal cracks are serious issues. Stair step cracks may also signify heaving. You can t handle this cracked wall by simply filling the crack and finishing off the basement.

Because basement floors are poured after the walls are. These types of cracks allow water to get into the basement. Vertical cracks run the same direction as drywall generally making them less serious. Horizontal cracks in concrete walls however indicate poor wall designs or pressure buildup behind the wall.

Cracked basement walls this basement has a crack running horizontally along the block concrete wall. There s also a stair step crack on each end of the horizontal crack and the wall is bowed in about 1 in. Vertical and diagonal cracks in concrete walls typically indicate foundation movement. A step crack is horizontal and vertical cracking between the cinder blocks or bricks.