The Quick Answer: Yes, you should worry about horizontal foundation cracks because they can be a sign of pressure against your foundation wall and may affect your home’s structural integrity. The good news is horizontal foundation cracks can almost always be repaired. Unlike many vertical cracks, horizontal cracks are often related to structural issues and should be inspected by a foundation repair professional. The sooner you address the issue, the more likely you are to prevent further structural damage and higher repair costs.
If you’ve noticed a crack running horizontally across your foundation wall, you may be wondering what caused it and whether it’s something you need to worry about. Not all foundation cracks mean the same thing, and understanding the difference between crack types can help you determine when it’s time to call a professional.
What Causes Horizontal Foundation Cracks
- Hydrostatic Pressure: This occurs when the soil around the foundation gets saturated with water that can’t drain off. This creates tremendous force against foundation walls that will eventually crack and even bow inward if the pressure isn’t relieved. Concrete block foundation walls are especially susceptible to this lateral pressure.
- Heavy Items Near the Foundation: Horizontal cracks are also sometimes caused by something heavy on the ground next to the foundation wall. For example, a big truck parked in a driveway or a dumpster.
- Frost Heave: This happens when the soil expands as it freezes and pushes against the foundation wall.
Since foundation walls are load-bearing, foundation cracks threaten the home’s structural integrity. They shouldn’t be ignored, so don’t wait to contact a professional before more structural damage occurs.
For more information, check out Normal Foundation Cracks: Is There Such a Thing?
Foundation Cracks: Vertical vs. Horizontal
Unlike horizontal foundation cracks, vertical cracks usually do not affect the building’s structural integrity. This is why t horizontal foundation cracks are considered structural and vertical foundation cracks are considered non-structural.
Horizontal Cracks
Horizontal foundation cracks can seriously affect your home’s structural integrity. They’re considered more serious than vertical foundation cracks. All horizontal foundation cracks need immediate attention from either an experienced foundation repair contractor or a structural engineer. A professional can determine whether the crack requires foundation crack repair services or another repair method.
Vertical Cracks
Vertical cracks are often hairline and are mainly caused by shrinkage during the concrete curing process. While they aren’t considered structural, that doesn’t always mean they’re harmless. Vertical hairline cracks can allow water to seep into your basement or crawl space, and hydrostatic pressure can push water through invisible cracks in the foundation wall. In other words, cracks you didn’t even know were there can still lead to water intrusion, water leaks, or a leaky basement. Vertical cracks should be sealed to prevent these issues.
Note: If the vertical cracks are wider than a hairline crack or you have many vertical cracks next to each other, it may be something more serious.
When Should You Worry About a Foundation Crack?
You should worry more about horizontal cracks because they’re almost always structural. While you shouldn’t ignore vertical cracks, they don’t merit the same level of concern as horizontal cracks because they’re usually not structural.
You should be concerned about:
- Horizontal foundation cracks, with or without bowing: These need immediate attention.
- Stair step cracks in brick or masonry: Stair step cracks are another sure sign of structural damage.
- Cracks that are over 1/8 inch wide
- Cracks that are wider at one end
- Cracks that are getting bigger: You should monitor even hairline cracks to make sure they’re not growing. Mark the ends of the crack, measure the width, and keep track of the date. Do this every month to see if they’re getting bigger.
- Diagonal cracks: These often appear at the corners of windows and doors.
- A crack that goes across the ceiling and down a wall
- Many vertical cracks next to each other: A single hairline vertical crack is almost always nothing to worry about. However, a series of vertical cracks next to each other signifies something more than just minor cracks.
If you notice any of these signs above, or anything else that strikes you as suspicious, contact a foundation repair professional immediately for an inspection. Foundation problems get worse over time and will cost more money to repair if you wait.
How To Repair Horizontal Foundation Cracks
Depending on what caused the crack, horizontal foundation cracks can be repaired in various ways, including but not limited to:
Wall plate anchors
Wall plate anchors are used to repair foundation wall cracks and bowing. A wall plate attached to the interior basement wall is connected, via a steel rod, to an anchor buried in the yard. Tightening the rod pulls the wall back and can help restore structural strength to the foundation wall.
Resistance push piers
If the horizontal foundation cracks were caused by differential settlement, resistance push piers may be the recommended repair solution. Steel brackets are attached to the foundation's footer, and the piers are driven through the brackets until they reach load-bearing soil. Once they're in place, synchronized hydraulic jacks lift the building, closing the cracks.
Helical piers
Helical piers are commonly used for construction projects requiring a deep foundation, but they can also strengthen an existing foundation experiencing differential settlement. They're turned into the soil to the necessary depth, and then synchronized hydraulic jacks raise the building, closing any cracks.
How To Prevent Horizontal Cracks
Since water causes most foundation problems, including horizontal cracks, you can help prevent cracks by getting groundwater under control around your home’s foundation.
If necessary, regrade your yard
The yard around your home should slope away from the foundation. If it doesn’t, water will drain toward the foundation, and this could eventually lead to foundation trouble.
Make sure your gutters aren’t clogged
Clean your gutters regularly, so water gets properly channeled toward downspouts. You don’t want water to spill over the side of the home and into the soil next to the foundation.
Use downspout extensions
If your downspouts are too short, they’ll release water next to the foundation. Extensions are easy to install and channel water away from the foundation before releasing it.
Consider an underground downspout and bubbler pot
Water from gutters flows into an underground downspout. From there, it gets channeled toward a small pit in your yard around 10 feet from your foundation. When the basin in the pit fills with water, it pops up and releases the water away from the foundation.
Install a drain tile system underground downspout and bubbler pot
- Consider an underground downspout and bubbler pot: Water from gutters flows into an underground downspout. From there, it gets channeled toward a small pit in your yard around 10 feet from your foundation. When the basin in the pit fills with water, it pops up and releases the water away from the foundation.
- Install a drain tile system: A drain tile system is an effective solution to help prevent excess moisture from building up in the soil around the foundation. Water flows into a buried drainage pipe and gets channeled toward a sump pit. When the sump pit is full, the sump pump turns on and releases the water away from the foundation.
Keep vegetation away from the foundation
Water-hungry flowers and shrubs should be kept several feet from your foundation. You don’t want a reason to add more water to the soil around the foundation.
If you’re worried about one or more horizontal foundation cracks and you’re in our service area, contact us today for an inspection and repair estimate.
Why Choose AMC911 for Horizontal Foundation Crack Repair?
Since 1993, AMC911 Crawl Space & Foundation Repair has been Hampton Roads’ trusted solution for structural repairs. AMC911 offers complete crawl space, masonry, and foundation solutions, including foundation crack repair, foundation leveling, foundation repair, waterproofing, brick restoration, and crawl space waterproofing.
What sets AMC911 apart is our engineering expertise and comprehensive approach to foundation and crawl space repairs. As Class A contractors with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, our in-house engineering team designs solutions using advanced techniques for professional-grade structural support.
If you’re worried about horizontal foundation cracks and you’re in our service area, contact AMC911 today for a free inspection and to learn more about your foundation crack repair options.
