Cracked foundation inspection
Just like on the roof or walls of a building, its foundations are not immune to the appearance of cracks. In fact, inspecting your home’s foundation can often lead to the discovery of cracks and possible water infiltration.
Cracked foundation: Do I need to make repairs?
When a crack is encountered on the foundations, the first reflex would be to intervene on said crack to avoid any problem. However, there can be different views regarding the potential repair of a foundation crack.
Cracked Foundation: The Owner’s Perspective
On the other hand, if the owner does not have this crack repaired after inspecting the foundations of the houses, he will have to assume the consequences of his inaction and silence. For example, in the case of the sale of his property, he will be required to mention this crack to the future owner to avoid any future recourse against him (hidden defect).
Cracked Foundation: The Buyer’s Perspective
Concrete cracks are a major concern for the buyer. Indeed, everything that is visible during the visit of the house or the inspection of the foundations will positively or negatively influence the purchase decision of the latter.
In fact, deciding not to repair a crack can result in the loss of a potential buyer. In the worst-case scenario, the owner will be required to lower the purchase price, which will often be higher than the cost of the repair itself.
Our expertise at your service
You will be able to benefit from all the expertise of Groupe Fissure Expert and see all the difference in quality existing on our repairs!
For any questions or repairs to the cracks in your home, contact one of our experienced technicians at Groupe Fissure Expert inc.
Hidden defect
One of the main causes of legal action is the problem of concrete cracks . A wise owner will therefore ensure the regular maintenance of his property to avoid any future disputes.
It’s often said that peace of mind is priceless, but sometimes it comes too late.
Better to prevent!
It is important to know that a cracked foundation will cause some impermeability problems, among others. In many cases, fixing the problem can cost a few hundred dollars. However, if you let the problem continue, the costs could run into the thousands of dollars.
So, in the event of a cracked foundation, it’s best to be prepared!
The past, guarantor of the future
The aging process of a building begins as soon as its construction is completed. Moreover, the lifespan of materials remains variable: certain environmental factors will influence their longevity. Sooner or later, a preventive inspection will be required. Be attentive to the many signs of aging of the building, in order to preserve its structure and its market value. The slightest negligence will have a direct impact on your wallet.
The foundation (solage) of any building consists mainly of concrete. It remains the basis of any construction and has a direct impact on the entire structure. Negligence in the maintenance of the foundation (foundation) will have disastrous effects on the entire building.
It must be remembered that the older the building, the easier it is to determine the quality of its foundation (solage). On the other hand, the more recent the construction of the building, the more difficult it is to assess its potential weaknesses.
In this respect, we are aware that a house that is more than 10 years old has gone through a certain aging process since its construction. Thus, the first years of life – generally 0 to 5 years – remain conducive to the appearance of cracks in its foundation (foundation). Over the next 5 to 10 years, the risk of them appearing decreases significantly.
The following graph highlights the potential risk of cracks occurring during the first 10 years of a house foundation :
Repair of foundation cracks after inspection
One product, two ways of doing things
There are several reasons why cracks may appear on your home’s foundation after inspection. Unfortunately, very few viable and cost-effective solutions are available to customers to prevent their occurrence.
As a result, cracks will still be present, but they could be much fewer, especially in the residential sector. The ways of doing things in this sector are not the same as in the commercial and industrial sectors. At the end of the day, it’s all about cost!
Finally, certain practices commonly used and tolerated in the residential construction sector are systematically rejected in the commercial or industrial sector.
The main causes of cracked foundations
Failure to follow concrete pouring and drying procedures, specifically:
- Additional addition of water to the mixture on site;
- Inadequate vibration of concrete;
- Premature removal of formwork forms;
- Temperature too high;
- Temperature too low.
The nature of the soil and its preparation:
- Insufficient removal of unsuitable soils;
- Insufficient compaction;
- Low bearing soil.
The backfilling of the foundation:
- Inadequate equipment;
- Negative slope.
Microcracks, is it a natural phenomenon?
“It’s a microcrack, it’s the natural phenomenon of concrete drying. Don’t worry, it’s normal! This common, tenacious and oft-heard comment unfortunately remains a widespread belief among many.
While this phenomenon is real and well known, this catch-all excuse has had the effect, over time, of diminishing the seriousness of the problem for many. Worse still, the words “microcrack” and “natural”, taken out of context, have given this problem a normal and unimportant character.
As you can see, there are many causes of cracks in the foundations of your house. An inspection of your foundation is therefore important to determine the nature of the cracks and to know how to proceed with their repair. It is possible to repair your foundation cracks, either from the outside or from the inside. For any inspection of your cracked foundations, contact Groupe Fissure Expert Fondation.
