Cracks In Basement Floor When To Worry

Heaving is especially common in areas with clay soil.

Cracks in basement floor when to worry.

Be they straight jagged or spiderweb like fine cracks in the basement floor commonly result from surface shrinkage as the concrete dries. Cracks in a concrete garage floor may indicate that there are foundation problems or other issues. They typically show up two to 12 months after the. Basement floors crack for a many reasons.

Learn how cracks can be caused by settlement shrinkage or curing. Drywall cracks in main house walls and ceilings misaligned doors and windows ceramic tile and brickwork cracks sloping floors bowing walls. Newly poured concrete shrinks when it dries. The good news is that most cracks in garage floors are common and not an indication of serious structural issues however there are a few that indicate that maintenance is needed or that there may be a structural concern.

A little unevenness caused by settling is normal but you should watch for these more dramatic changes inside. Know that it s always best to take preventative measures. As buyers or owners we want know how to tell if they re serious. Heaving suggests that the soil beneath the basement floor is expanding.

If you had a basement then that would be different. Walk around and look for the following. Because basement floors are poured after the walls are poured the concrete where they meet doesn t always bond completely and this is a common spot for a crack to appear when the house settles. Cracks with heaving are signs of a bigger problem that needs to be addressed.

People are often worried about water coming up through the cracks but on a patio home your floor is well above any underground water. Many homeowners worry about the severity of foundation cracks in the basement. Water would always be a concern but even then the cracks would do little to stop the water from penetrating because concrete is not waterproof. Basement floor cracks can cause you to wonder if they indicate a larger structural problem.

When a basement floor crack is combined with heaving this is a cause for concern. In most cases you won t have to worry about the minor cracks that appear in your concrete block wall. If no expansion joints are cut into the concrete floor then shrinkage cracks will likely appear.