Repairing Foundation San Antonio Crack Varieties
The structural health of a home depends on many factors. Many of which are related to the condition of the foundation. Soil qualities, moisture, erosion, and weather conditions can all lead to sinking, which can cause a number of other problems. One major concern is the formation of cracks, which can require foundation home Repair San Antonio.
Identifying and understanding the different types of cracking that can be experienced can be a great help in approaching repairing foundation San Antonio. Different cracks can point to different causes and different worries for the future. Let’s take a look at the different crack types that could be encountered and the most important information about them.
- Vertical
This type of cracking is often not as severe or serious as horizontal cracking. They will not be a structural threat but can compound over time. The main cause of vertical cracking is simply the foundation settling over time and can result from the natural curing process. Filling cracks can be a potential DIY fix but professional help is recommended in most repairing foundation San Antonio cases. If there is no moisture problem and the cracks are still fine with little separation there shouldn’t be a need for immediate action.
- Horizontal
Unbalanced soil, water pressure, erosion, and expanding and contracting weather conditions can all potentially lead to horizontal cracks. Unbalanced pressure can be caused by many factors, but will result in bowing and cracking horizontally which can lead to serious and drastic needs for foundation home Repair San Antonio.
Horizontal crack repairs can be permanent.
- Diagonal
Diagonal cracks are similar to vertical cracks in that they do not often pose a serious immediate threat. Causes and fixes are also similar. It is important to measure and document progression with diagonal cracking. Take a picture when first noticed and then monitor progress over the following 4-8 months. If there is progression, consider repairing foundation San Antonio.
- Hairline Cracks
Monitoring progression and escalation is the key to hairline cracks as well. These come as a natural part of the curing process a lot of the time. If a new home is experiencing hairline cracking, your home builder may cover addressing this problem as part of the warranty.
- Structural
Cracks wider than ¼ and inch can pose serious threats to the structural integrity of a building. This is often the result of soil pressure changes and soil shrinkage as well as freezing and thawing conditions. Addressing the cracks is often not enough as the pressure disparity is often the underlying cause that needs to be accounted for. Leveling options may be the answer. 
- Wet Cracks
Some cracks that may not normally pose a threat can become more worrisome with the presence of moisture. Water coming from a crack can mean expansion and contraction problems and in general a wet crack is going to escalate a lot faster. Quickly changing weather patterns can be a real problem for this type of cracking.
Many of the less pressing cracks will be a result of shrinkage from loss of moisture and the concrete curing process. These problems usually occur most in the first few years after the slab is poured. All cracking should be closely monitored and any escalation through the seasons is a good indicator for repairing foundation San Antonio.
