How to Repair a Crack in the House Foundation

A crack in a foundation can be far more than an unsightly mar on an otherwise pristine expanse of stone or concrete. It could be the sign of a weakness in its structural integrity, which could spell the failure of the building upon which it rests. Proper steps must be taken to deal with this situation.

Instructions

1. Hire a structural engineer. Before any repair in the foundation can take place, it's necessary to discover the cause of the crack and rectify it. Without this being done, a repair to the crack could actually create stresses in the foundation that could compromise the foundation even further.

2. Ask the structural engineer to inspect the soil upon which the foundation and structure rests. Over time, the soil may change according to droughts, excessive rain or any changes in weather. These changes can cause the foundation to shift and create stresses that result in cracks.

3. Hire contractors to follow the structural engineer's plan for rectifying the cause of the crack in the foundation without delay. It's possible that the structural engineer will be able to recommend someone who is qualified to do the work. The work may include injecting water into the soil, adding steel beams or installing additional concrete supports. As soon as the contractor rectifies the cause of the cracked foundation, he can repair the crack in the house foundation according to the structural engineer's specifications.

References

• Ask the Builder: Foundation Cracks
• Insoectapedia: Foundations Cracks