Cracks in your foundation?

 

Here are a few reasons that cause cracks in your foundation:

 

Drought or too much moisture

Soil shrinks like a sponge when moisture is removed from it and when that happens it pulls away from the foundation of your home creating a gap. This gap allows for the foundation to move. When the foundation of a home is not supported properly it can shift around and cracks will begin to appear. In turn, if there is too much moisture it will cause the soil that is supporting the foundation of your home to expand.

 

Plumbing Leaks

It’s important to make sure your pipes are secured and aren’t leaking and that you don’t have any plumbing leaks in your home. If your home isn’t equipped with basement waterproofing or a sump pump, the excess water will add to the soil causing it to expand and push against your foundation.

 

Flooding

Regardless of whether the flooding comes from a storm, a leak, inadequate drainage or something else, too much water will be a problem for your concrete foundation. When hydrostatic pressure becomes too much for the foundation of your home you will notice more leaks, more cracks and more problems.

 

Extreme Heat

Concrete can also crack under extreme sun and heat because it causes the concrete to expand. During the day and under the sun the concrete will expand, and then overnight the concrete will shrink and retreat back to its original unbaked position.

 

The moral of the story is that it is important to keep your foundation stable, dry and supported. Before buying a new home get this inspected . This cost is minimal and in the long run will save you money.