Horizontal Cracks In Concrete Block Walls

Causes of horizontal cracks.

Horizontal cracks in concrete block walls.

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. Stabilizing a foundation with structural. Concrete consists primarily of cement sand gravel and water. Horizontal foundation cracks located in the upper third of a concrete block wall presuming most of the wall is below grade are most likely to have been caused by vehicle loading or in freezing climates by surface and subsurface water combined with frost.

If the crack is horizontal or runs at a jagged 45 degree angle it might mean there s a more serious problem such as severe foundation shifting or water damage. Vertical movement is being caused by settlement frost or a sink hole or expansive clay soils under and near the. Horizontal cracks in concrete walls however indicate poor wall designs or pressure buildup behind the wall. Explanations for the diagonal or stair step cracks in concrete blocks or bricks near a corner include at least these factors.

We rarely see cast in place concrete foundation walls which have developed a horizontal crack because of lateral or inward soil pressure. Like bulging walls horizontal cracks are typically caused by hydrostatic pressure and even if the wall isn t bulging it s time to call in the pros. Do cracks in walls indicate a structural problem. Vertical vertical cracks in your concrete block tend to appear as your concrete cures.

Sometimes the soil pressure may shear the first course of concrete block above the basement floor slab and the wall slides inward. This type of movement will have horizontal cracks that may occur near the center of the wall or nearer to the top of the wall. Concrete walls containing horizontal cracks are serious issues. Measure the width of cracks with measuring tape.

This is usually evident as the basement area may be wet. Horizontal if the supports in your walls aren t strong enough to hold up to the weight of concrete you may notice. Horizontal cracks in concrete block or cast in place concrete foundation walls are rarely an indication of foundation settlement. The most common cause of horizontal cracks in concrete block foundation walls is excessive unbalanced soil pressure.

If the integrity of a concrete block foundation wall has not been overly compromised by cracking within the mortar joints the service life can usually be extended by stabilizing them. Diagonal diagonal cracks can form for. Unfortunately the curing process causes the concrete to shrink slightly often resulting in hairline cracks.