Signs of Wall Failure

Have you ever wondered what you should be looking for when it comes to signs of wall failure?

Wall failure can present itself in a few different ways, and if left untreated it can pose a danger to you and your home.

Depending on whether your foundation walls are concrete blocks or poured concrete, the signs will vary.

 

 

 

 

 

If your foundation walls are made of concrete blocks here are the following signs you should keep a look out for:

 

·       Horizontal Cracking: If your wall has begun to bow, a horizontal crack may have formed in the middle of your wall. They start out small but can get bigger in size overtime due to the pressure from the surrounding soil.

 

·       Stair-Step Cracking in the Corners: Sometimes bowing walls will also cause stair-step cracks to form in the corners, which is a sign that the problem is worsening. The bowing in the middle of the wall gets more severe over time, leaving the corners to be held up by the adjacent walls in your house, creating stair-step cracks.

 

·       The Bottom of the Wall is Pushing Inwards: The basement walls may have begun to slide inward at the bottom if they have been pushed in severely. This occurs because the concrete floor is holding the bottom portion of the concrete blocks in place, and the rest of the wall is sliding in.

 

·       The Top of the Wall is Leaning: You have a severe structural problem if this happens. Your foundation wall’s connection to the framing of the house is now compromised.

 

If your foundation walls are made of poured concrete here are the following signs you should keep a look out for:

 

·       Diagonal Cracks Coming from the Corners: Diagonal cracks will start to form as the walls continue to fail. The corners of these walls are supported by the adjacent walls in your house, which causes diagonal cracks to form starting from the bottom corners up, and heading towards the top center portion of the wall.

 

·       The Top Walls Are Also Leaning: The poured foundation walls are more likely to lean inwards at the top because they are more rigid than concrete block walls. The connection at the top of the wall and the rest of your house is usually the weakest, so when the surrounding soil puts inward pressure on the wall, that connection can break.

 

If this happens in your home, do not hesitate to contact us for a free estimate.

Our team will work with you to find a solution for you and your home!