In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, many homes and commercial buildings sit atop concrete slab foundations. These concrete foundations rest on compacted subsoil, designed to ensure that the home or building stays level and stable.
In addition to providing a flat surface, the foundation also bears the load of the structure which rests upon it, and acts as a sound insulator for heat and fire. However, over the years, various types of cracks can form in these foundations.
Should you be concerned if you notice a crack in your home’s foundation? Can foundation cracks be fixed? Are repairs of this nature expensive? What caused the crack(s) and are there more to come? These are the questions that often arise with homeowners, and rightfully so.
Types of cracks which can appear in your foundation include:
- Hairline Cracks
- Plastic Shrinkage
- Pop-Outs
- Crazing
- Scaling
- Spalling
- D-cracking
- Offset Cracking
What do foundation cracks mean and what should I do about them?
Cracks can appear in your foundation as early as a year after construction. Inserting a wire mesh inside the concrete slab at the time of pouring can reduce the likelihood of cracking. Most cracks are caused by settling and are usually not a cause for concern. Cracks in your foundation usually mean that the soil underneath the foundation has shifted in some way. If your area has experienced drought conditions the soil could become dehydrated and start to shrink, especially around the edges of your foundation. This can cause the foundation to crack because it no longer sits on level soil. Small cracks are probably nothing to worry about, but if you begin to see large zig-zag cracks in the foundation or bricks, you should call a professional foundation repair company like Advanced Foundation Repair for an inspection and recommendations.
You can help stabilize the soil around your foundation during drought conditions by watering the area around your foundation on a regular schedule. You don’t need to saturate the ground, but keeping a consistent level of moisture can help prevent your foundation from becoming cracked due to shrinking soil.
If you begin to notice any of the following conditions, you should call Advanced Foundation Repair for a free inspection:
- Doors and/ or windows that are no longer aligned and/ or become difficult to close or open
- Bricks that are cracking or popping out of place
- Interior cracks in drywall
- Gaps that begin to form between walls
- Floors that begin to bounce, sag, or feel tilted/ uneven
- Expansion Joint Separation
- Nails that begin to pop out of drywall
- Walls that pull away from the house
- Chimney separating from exterior wall
Why Us?
At Advanced Foundation Repair, we provide precise professional foundation inspections performed by foundation experts with decades of experience with Texas homes to pinpoint any potential foundation problems – including the need for cracked slab foundation repair – before they become major problems. With our Advanced Pro-Lift Technology we can eliminate any issues that might compromise the safety of your foundation and your home. With transferable lifetime warranties and easy payment and financing options, we offer an affordable way to fix your foundation problems and gain the peace of mind you deserve. For the very best in customer service and cracked slab foundation repair for your home, call Advanced Foundation Repair in Dallas today.