Stress Cracks In Concrete Walls

In poured concrete foundations shrinkage cracks are usually due to conditions at original construction.

Stress cracks in concrete walls.

Plastic shrinkage cracks are typically very narrow in width and barely visible. While nearly invisible it is important to remember that plastic shrinkage cracks don t just exist on the surface they extend throughout the entire thickness of the slab. If the crack is simply an aesthetic nuisance you can cover it yourself without worrying about the structure of your home. Types of concrete cracks.

Call in a structural engineer for an in depth evaluation. Hairline cracks in a concrete slab are rarely a cause for concern. Horizontal cracks in concrete walls however indicate poor wall designs or pressure buildup behind the wall. They can be controlled but not eliminated.

Concrete walls containing horizontal cracks are serious issues. Measure the width of cracks with measuring tape. The process will bring the particles closer together and create cracks that are often too small to cause any problems. In areas with expansive soils clayey type soils there is usually more soil and foundation movement than in other areas.

See details at pyrrhotite inclusion cracking. Concrete cracks due to inclusions photo above of shale and iron sulfide mineral pyrrhotite cracking. A crack in a slab of 1 8 inch or less is typically a normal shrinkage crack and not a cause for concern. 98 of the homes in the united states have foundations constructed out of concrete masonry blocks or brick all of which tend to crack when there is movement and excessive stress.

Since concrete cannot shrink around a corner stress will cause the concrete to crack from the point of that corner. Within a year after construction hairline cracks about the width of a sewing thread commonly appear on the inside of basement walls most often near windows and doors or in the corners of the. Each type of concrete foundation wall basement slab floor slab or slab on grade crack is discussed and described with photographs below. Cracks less than 1 8 inch wide are likely stress cracks while larger ones are often more serious.

Poor concrete mix rapid curing or possibly other states. Several masonry patching products such as hydraulic cement do an adequate job of filling cracks in concrete walls. 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. The cracks might indicate a more serious structural problem.