The Difference Between Structural and Non-Structural Foundation Cracks
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As a homeowner in the St. Catharines or Niagara region, finding cracks in your foundation can be a scary thing. Cracks can lead to more serious problems like water damage which can result in mould and mildew. In some cases, they may even put the stability of your home’s foundation at risk. The good news is that not all cracks are signs of a structural problem. In many, perhaps most, cases they are simply a sign of age and settling. Nevertheless, foundation cracks should never be ignored. Your best option is to contact a professional to inspect them and determine whether the cracks are a result of structural or non-structural damage.
Oftentimes, cracks start out as non-structural, but over time as water begins to creep in, those cracks can widen and eventually lead to structural damage. Non-structural cracks are fairly easy to fix when you catch them early and hire a foundation specialist who can use an injection process to seal the cracks.
How to tell the difference between structural and non-structural cracks.
If you want to determine whether foundation cracks are structural or non-structural, there are some basic characteristics that you should be looking for:
Non-Structural Cracks may be caused by any number of factors. If your home is new, you can almost certainly expect some non-structural cracks to appear within the first couple of years as your home settles. Other causes of non-structural cracks include hydrostatic pressure and nearby trees and vegetation.
Non-Structural cracks include the following characteristics:
They are hairline cracks no more than 2 mm wide.
They are often found around the corners of windows and doors.
They run vertically or diagonally.
They appear in plaster.
Structural Cracks may be caused by poor construction, poor or swollen soil or by overloading. In many cases, structural cracks will also be accompanied by other problems such as sticking doors and windows or sloping floors.
Structural cracks include the following characteristics:
Wider than 1/8”
They may run horizontally.
They may appear as vertical cracks that are wider on one end.
They may appear in an “staircase” formation.
They appear in beams, foundation walls or slabs.
They may extend into the home’s upper levels.
Repairing Non-Structural and Structural Cracks
Non-structural cracks are repaired using a crack injection method. A polyurethane may be injected into the cracks if water has crept into them, or if the crack is moving, an epoxy material may be used.
If the crack is structural, it may be repaired by a foundation specialist. Carbon fibre strips may be installed and/or piering may be necessary to lift up a foundation that has sunk.
Contact Foundation Fix today
If you have cracks in your foundation, it is important to have them inspected by a professional foundation contractor. Don’t let a little problem become a big problem! Contact the Foundation Fix team today and we’d be happy to send one of our experts to your home anywhere with the St. Catharines or Niagara area.
