Category: Foundation Repairs

Foundation wall failure that requires significant foundation repairs typically happens over time to a foundation that is constantly stressed beyond its strength.

The results can be serious, with substantial foundation wall repairs becoming necessary to save the foundation and the whole structure sitting on top of it.

Though these problems do not happen overnight, the signs of impending foundation failure often get ignored for long periods before something is done about it.

These four stages of foundation wall failure can help homeowners understand what is happening so that appropriate foundation wall repair solutions can be sought sooner, rather than later.

1. Stage 1 - Horizontal Cracking - Long horizontal cracks near the middle of the wall are usually the first type of foundation wall damage to appear in a foundation that is undergoing damage due to uneven settlement, inward pressure, and other problems. Hairline cracks may not require intervention, but cracks that create an actual gap in the wall suggest that bigger problems could be coming. Foundation wall repair solutions made at this stage can prevent worse damage and the higher cost that making repairs will involve.  
2. Stage 2 - Stair-Step Cracks - As the problem worsens if foundation repairs are not made, stair-step cracks may start in the corners, moving downward along a block foundation wall toward the straight of the wall. This is a sign that pressure against the wall is increasing and it may start bowing inward at that point. 
3. Stage 3 - Bottom Shear Cracking - When the bottom row of blocks shear off those that are actually set into the concrete pad, this is a sure sign that the wall is moving. Unless significant foundation wall repairs are made, collapse is likely. 
4. Stage 4 - Wall Failure - If stair-step corner cracks and bottom shear cracks are not remedied with the appropriate foundation repair, eventually the wall will fail and collapse inward, into the basement space.

The message here for homeowners should be clear - seek foundation repairs as soon as those first little cracks start to appear.

There is no telling how slowly or quickly more substantial damage will occur.

The safest and least expensive option is to discuss foundation wall repairs with an experienced foundation specialist, then start taking the steps necessary to prevent Stage 1 problems from progressing.

With the right foundation wall repair solutions used earlier on and a few thousand dollars, homeowners have a better chance of preventing a foundation disaster that could end up costing them tens of thousands of dollars instead.

A leaky basement is a warning sign that some kind of foundation repair is needed.

Whether it is a seeping wall that requires foundation wall repairs, a cracked floor, or some other issue, there are numerous repairs that can be used to fix this problem.

Using the right foundation leaking repair depends, first and foremost, on knowing the cause of the leak.

Once the cause is known, an appropriate foundation repair can be made.

1. Basement Waterproofing - A coating of basement waterproofing paint is an easy, inexpensive foundation wall repair if the problem is minor. Dampness due to slow seepage through porous foundation material and fine hairline cracks can sometimes be stopped with just a coat or two on the walls and floor to seal the moisture out. It is a popular leak repair solution that can work very well as long as there is not a more serious problem lurking.
2. Foundation Crack Repair - When cracks in the walls or floor exist and they are more than just hairline defects, a simple coating of basement waterproofing is not enough. An actual foundation leak repair made by a professional foundation repair service is necessary. There are a number of methods used to repair cracks to stop basement leaking. The most common crack foundation repair involves injecting epoxy into the cracks so it can expand and stop the water from leaking in.
3. Basement Encapsulation and Sump Pumps - Another foundation leaking repair solution when there is widespread slow leaking due to numerous fine cracks or defects in the foundation is encapsulation. Basement encapsulation is the process of applying an interior sheath around the walls to keep moisture out of the basement, diverting it instead to drip into a sump drain system. Like all other foundation repair techniques, encapsulation and the use of sump pumps is suitable when there is minor leaking, but it does not address the source of more significant leaks.

Basements with water problems due to fine cracks and other minor leaking issues can frequently be repaired using one of the above foundation wall repairs.

Significant leaking due to larger cracks, bowing walls, and other major foundation problems require more attention from a foundation repair specialist.

The best advice for anyone seeing water in their basement, even before applying that first coat of waterproofing, is to have the leaking diagnosed so the right foundation leaking repair can be used.