Crack(s) in foundation walls
Listed under: Exterior, concrete and cement, metal, steel, foundation walls, walls, durability, corrosion
Cause
Settlement due to ground subsidence or shrinking/expansion of clay soils
Repair
- monitor the width of cracks for a period of time (approximately six months):
- if they do not change, seal with a flexible exterior grade sealant
- if they continue to get wider, obtain a chartered professional engineer’s advice on repair options
Cause
Insufficient depth of footings for ground conditions
Repair
- monitor the width of cracks for a period of time (approximately six months):
- if they do not change, seal with a flexible exterior grade sealant
- if they continue to get wider, obtain a chartered professional engineer’s advice on repair options
Cause
Poor quality concrete or insufficient concrete cover of the reinforcing steel resulting in corrosion of the reinforcing causing the concrete to crack
Repair
- for small areas of concrete damage (150–200 mm2 maximum), remove enough concrete to expose non-corroded steel; sand to remove rust from the corroded reinforcing; prime the reinforcing with zinc-rich primer; repair hole with a sand-cement plaster
- for larger areas of damage, obtain advice from a chartered professional engineer on repair or underpinning options
Cause
Frost damage – water that gets into small cracks in concrete expands as it freezes, enlarging the cracks
Repair
- monitor the width of cracks for a period of time (approximately six months):
- if they do not change, seal with a flexible exterior grade sealant
- if they continue to get wider, obtain a chartered professional engineer’s advice on repair options
Cause
The wall has been undermined by basement excavations
Repair
- monitor the width of cracks for a period of time (approximately six months):
- if they do not change, seal with a flexible exterior grade sealant
- if they continue to get wider, obtain a chartered professional engineer’s advice on repair options