Foundation Repair in Erie, PA

Basement Wall Cracks

The direction and shape of a crack say a lot about its cause. Here is what the common types usually mean:

• Thin vertical cracks in poured concrete: usually from the concrete shrinking as it cured. Common and rarely structural, but a frequent source of leaks.
• Diagonal cracks: often from uneven settling of the soil under one part of the foundation.
• Stair-step cracks in block walls: cracks that follow the mortar joints, from settling or soil pressure.
• Horizontal cracks: a sign that soil pressure or frost is pushing the wall inward. These deserve a prompt look.

A leaking crack in a poured wall is usually sealed by injecting epoxy or polyurethane from the inside. Epoxy bonds the concrete back together. Polyurethane stays flexible and is often used when the goal is just to stop water. Cracks in block walls are harder to seal on their own and are often handled together with interior drainage.

To see whether a crack is moving, mark both ends with a pencil and write the date next to it. Check again every few weeks. A crack that grows longer or wider needs attention sooner.

Bowing Basement Walls

In Erie County, clay-rich soil swells when wet and expands again when it freezes. Over many winters, that pressure can push a basement wall inward, most often a concrete block wall. Signs include a horizontal crack partway up the wall, blocks that are out of line, or a wall that looks curved when you sight along it.

Common ways to stabilize a bowing wall from inside the basement:

• Carbon fiber straps: bonded to the wall to stop further movement. Used for walls that have moved only a little.
• Steel wall braces: vertical steel beams anchored to the floor and the floor framing above.
• Wall anchors: steel rods run through the wall to plates buried in the yard, which can be tightened over time.

A wall that has moved a lot may need to be excavated and rebuilt, which is a larger structural project. In that case, a contractor may recommend an evaluation by a structural engineer before giving you a price. Be cautious of anyone who promises a fix for a badly damaged wall without seeing it.

Water Coming Through the Foundation

Cracks and bowing walls almost always come with water. Water in the soil is what drives the pressure, and the cracks give it a way in. Water also enters through mortar joints in block walls, around pipes, and through the small metal ties left in poured walls when they were formed.

A lasting repair deals with both sides of the problem: seal or brace the wall, and reduce the water pushing on it. That can mean better gutters and grading outside, interior drain tile along the affected wall, or both. Fixing the crack without managing the water often means the problem comes back.

When to Call Sooner Rather Than Later

• A horizontal crack in any basement wall
• A crack that is getting longer or wider
• A wall that bulges or leans inward
• Doors or windows upstairs that suddenly stick, along with new cracks downstairs
• Water coming through a crack every time it rains