As time passes, and as a house’s foundation starts to shift, the foundation can start to form cracks. Some of these cracks are minor, some of these cracks are major, but all of these cracks have the potential to lead to disaster. For this reason, it’s wise to have them repaired.
Are you interested in learning more about foundation crack repair in Park Ridge, Illinois? Then read on. We’re going to explain everything you’ll need to know.
What Causes Foundation Cracking?
There are a number of factors that can lead to foundational cracking. The most prominent of these factors include the following:
Hydrostatic Pressure
When water seeps down into the ground, it travels until it meets a barrier. In most cases, that barrier is the outside of a home’s foundation.
When groundwater meets the foundation, it accumulates next to it, placing more and more pressure against the foundation over time. Eventually, this causes cracks to form in the foundation.
This is known as hydrostatic pressure, and it’s the primary cause of foundation cracks. As such, one of the primary goals of basement waterproofing is to reduce hydrostatic pressure around the home.
Shifting Soil
Over time, soil shifts. This is due to a number of reasons — some of which can be combated, and some of which are unpreventable.
Regardless, when the soil shifts, it can place pressure against a home’s foundation, causing it to crack. For this reason, just about every foundation will take on cracks at some point or another.
Temperature Fluctuations
If you live in a cold-weather area, your foundation will likely experience the effects of temperature fluctuations. These fluctuations can cause your foundation to contract and expand rapidly, leading to deterioration and cracking.
Poor Construction
In some cases, a foundation will crack simply because it was constructed poorly. As such, if you’re building a home, it’s important to make sure that your contractor knows how to establish the foundation properly.
Benefits of Foundation Crack Repair
You should now have a pretty good understanding of what causes foundation cracks. Now, do you know why it’s so important to repair these cracks as soon as they appear? We’ll discuss the benefits of foundation crack repair below.
Prevents the Inward Flow of Water
When a foundation takes on a crack, it opens up an avenue for water to flow through. Unfortunately, when water flows through a foundation crack, it ends up inside of a basement. Once there, it attracts dust, mold, and other undesirable effects.
If the foundation cracks are big enough, they can allow a substantial amount of water into your basement. In severe cases, this can lead to full-on flooding.
Increases the Structural Integrity of the Home
Foundation cracks don’t just open avenues for water to flow through. They also reduce the structural integrity of their foundations as a whole. The more cracks a foundation has, the weaker it will become. In some cases, this can even lead to a foundation caving in on itself. Believe us: this is not an inexpensive repair.
This is another reason that foundation crack repair is so important. It will increase the structural integrity of your foundation and help you avoid costly repairs in the future.
Need Foundation Crack Repair in Park Ridge?
Are there cracks in your foundation? Need foundation crack repair in Park Ridge, Illinois? If so, we here at ULB-Dry Waterproofing have you covered.
Our team is well-versed in the repair of foundation cracks, having repaired thousands of them throughout the Park Ridge area. Regardless of the extent of your foundation’s cracks, we can fix it.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!