IGNORING CRACKS IN THE STRUCTURES OF YOUR HOUSE, YOU MAY MISS THE WARNING SIGNS OF SERIOUS AND IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE
In today’s houses and buildings of all kinds, damage to supporting structures can occur after the first 3 years of use. While some damage is nothing to worry about, others may indicate sagging or warping of foundations and, consequently, walls. If you don’t fix problematic structural cracks, foundation deformities can quickly devalue your property and lead to a dangerous condition.
When do cracks in walls or foundations indicate a serious problem?
Cracks (vertical, horizontal, sloping) can indicate weaknesses in the foundation or base of your property. Also obvious signs of problems may be when:
- · the slabs or floors have a slope different from the design;
- · doors and windows no longer close easily or are skewed;
- · cracks in walls and foundations are more than 1 mm open, or have developed over time.
Problematic cracks usually start around window doorways or building corners. However, if you find small cracks with an opening of less than 1 mm and they (importantly) do not develop, they are most likely cracks in the decorative layer and are not worth immediate concern. They can probably be easily repaired without affecting the entire building. It is important to consult with a facility design engineer, or better yet, a geotechnical engineer, in any case, to be sure to consider or rule out the underlying sources of the problems. Such problems develop non-linearly, that is, they wait for a critical moment to show itself abruptly.
How to fix cracks in a wall or foundation?
First, consult with a facility design engineer (aka project designer) to assess the cause of the crack and get solution recommendations, and then contact a GeoResin expert.