Stair-Step Foundation Crack Repair In New Jersey

Stair Step Basement Wall Repair Serving Central & Northern NJ & the Jersey Shore

Coastal storms, heavy rainfall, hurricanes, and problematic soil conditions affect thousands of homes across Central and Northern New Jersey and along the Jersey Shore. Unfortunately, some homes don’t have the right landscaping or drainage systems to prevent groundwater from pooling and damaging their basement walls.

Basement walls in New Jersey made from concrete blocks (CMUs) or brick are most susceptible to stair-step foundation cracks, which can grow larger, separate sections of your wall, and compromise your home’s structural integrity.

As a reputable and experienced foundation repair company, we’ve inspected and addressed thousands of stair-step cracks affecting basements in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and the surrounding counties. If you’re uncertain if this problem affects your foundation, here’s an easy-to-understand breakdown of stair-step cracks and how we repair them using the highest quality materials, tools, and repair warranties.

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What Are Stair-Step Foundation Wall Cracks?

Compared to vertical and horizontal cracks, which can run anywhere on poured concrete walls, stair-step cracks run through the mortar joints that hold block and brick foundation walls together. External pressure causes these cracks to spread through the weakest parts of your walls, typically starting at the bottom or top corners of your basement wall, where the joints are most open and weak, toward the middle of the wall, where the weight is more spread out.

In some cases, cracks run in a stair-step pattern until they find a weaker section of blocks and run straight through continuous joints, leaving the wall vulnerable to bowing, tipping, and shearing inward. Stair-step cracks can also occur on brick fascias (facades) and brick veneers. However, brick veneers, which do not bear structural loads, could be cracked due to poor craftsmanship or weak materials, requiring simple cosmetic fixes.

Unlike vertical foundation cracks, which can be purely cosmetic if they’re less than 1/8-inch wide, stair-step cracks are dangerous regardless of size.

Foundation repair services in New Jersey

What Causes Stair-Step Cracks?

Stair-step cracks on New Jersey basements are typically caused by settlement, frost heave, expansive soil, hydrostatic pressure, and, in some cases, poor construction methods.

Differential settlement

Most newly constructed homes sink a few inches within the first two years as the foundation experiences seasonal changes to the soil around it, a process known as uniform settlement. Differential settlement occurs when sections of your foundation settle into the soil below at different rates, throwing your home out of alignment. In addition to stair-step wall cracks, this process can lead to,

Gaps between your floor and baseboards
Windows and doors that stick
Drywall cracks
Separation of chimneys and decks
Sloped and bowing floors

Frost heave

If groundwater in the soil freezes, the sudden expansion and increased volume can push against your basement wall until it cracks, bows, or shears. Shearing occurs when the bottom blocks of a basement wall move inward, while the lowest block beneath the basement slab remains in place, anchored by the basement floor or slab.

Expansive soil

Experts found that the soil in coastal and Northern New Jersey heavily consists of sand, silt, and clay deposits, which pose problems for homes and foundation walls. Clay-rich soil expands and contracts as its moisture content changes. Cracks and water leaks that look like they're taking a break in dry weather can worsen when the seasons change, and you least expect it. Even soil with as little as 5% clay content can expand and push against your basement walls until they crack or shift.

Hydrostatic pressure

Excess groundwater, without a proper drainage system, can accumulate around your foundation and exert thousands of pounds of pressure on your walls. Groundwater can collect around your foundation for two main reasons: your property is sloped toward the foundation, or poorly placed gutters and downspouts dump water directly on the corners of your foundation.

Poor construction methods

Stair-step cracks can also result from factors beyond soil and water issues, such as construction crews using low-quality concrete, under-sizing footers, or skipping important steps like compacting the dirt below the foundation to remove pockets in the soil.

Tree roots

In some cases, roots from nearby trees can grow and push against your basement wall, especially if the area around your foundation is filled with moisture.

How We Fix Stair-Step Wall Cracks

Here’s how Blue Umbrella Waterproofing seals and stabilizes stair-step cracks in basements across New Jersey.

Carbon-Kevlar Straps

Stair-step cracks indicate movement and shifting, and the wall needs to be secured before filling any gaps or cracks. Otherwise, the epoxy or hydraulic cement used to seal will fail, the crack will reopen, and your issues will return. Carbon-Kevlar straps, or carbon-fiber straps, are a fast, affordable, and permanent way to stabilize bowed or cracked basement walls. The process only takes 1 to 2 days to complete, can be used on block, poured, and brick walls, and does not require digging or excavation.

These 4-inch wide and 1/4-inch thick straps are secured against the inside of your basement wall with structural epoxy, adhesive rivet technology, and anchors attached to the framing system on the home and basement concrete floor/footing. The combined strength of carbon fiber and multiple anchor points evenly absorbs the external weight from hydrostatic pressure, expansive soil, or frost heave. Once the wall is secure, our foundation experts will fill the crack to seal any openings, and homeowners can easily paint or finish the walls with the straps installed.

Note: Carbon fiber straps can only be used on basement walls bowing less than two inches inward. To repair cracked walls bowing less than three inches, we use steel I-beams. Unfortunately, cracked walls bowing more than three inches inward likely need replacing.

The Fortress InvisiBeam System

Our dedication to combining quality work with the highest-grade tools led us to choose InvisiBeam® by Fortress Stabilization Systems as our carbon fiber strap method. Fortress spent more than 20 years designing and testing InvisiBeam until the straps were four times stronger than steel and addressed complete wall movement, unlike anything else on the market. Invisibeam is the only ICC-Building Certified solution NJ structural engineers and foundation repair experts trust.

The Best Foundation Repair Warranty

Blue Umbrella is a Platinum-certified contractor for Fortress Stabilization Systems installing InvisiBeam systems in New Jersey. InvisiBeam straps come with a transferable lifetime warranty. No other carbon fiber strap system on the market includes a lifetime warranty. Your warranty is fully backed by Fortress Stabilization Systems (the manufacturers) and Blue Umbrella Waterproofing (your installer).

If one or multiple straps fail for any reason, Fortress Stabilization Systems will cover the cost of our labor and materials to repair and/or replace the straps. Additionally, InvisiBeam carbon fiber straps are an ICC-ES-approved product, easily identifiable by any code official, home inspector, or home appraiser anywhere in the United States.

You can have peace of mind using the Fortress Stabilization System installed by Blue Umbrella Waterproofing. Our straps, anchors, and epoxies are made in the USA, right outside Detroit, Michigan. You may run into unscrupulous or inexperienced companies in New Jersey that use inferior, flimsy carbon fiber products manufactured overseas and installed by production teams without experience or specialized training.

New Jersey Walls Prepared for Carbon Fiber Straps

New Jersey Carbon Fiber Straps Installed in New Jersey

Carbon Fiber Strap Top Anchor Attached to Bowing Basement Wall in New Jersey

Mylar film applied to carbon fiber straps in a new jersey home

Stair-Step Crack Repair FAQs

How serious are stair-step cracks in foundations?

Stair-step cracks are the most concerning sign of foundation damage and settlement. Experts recommend addressing stair-step cracks within eight weeks of noticing them.

When should I be worried about foundation cracks?

You should worry about cracks wider than 1/8-inch, horizontal cracks, cracks that leak water, and cracks that grow larger over time.

Does insurance cover foundation cracks?

Insurance providers don’t typically cover the cost of foundation crack repair unless the damage was caused by a natural disaster, like flooding or seismic activity.

Is it safe to live in a house with a cracked foundation?

Living in a house with a cracked foundation is generally considered safe. You should be concerned if the crack causes sections of your wall to shift, crumble, or allow water to enter your basement.

Blue Umbrella Waterproofing is a Platinum Fortress Contractor

Let Us Fix Your Stair-Step Cracks

If you spot a stair-step crack or any other sign of foundation damage in your New Jersey basement, contact Blue Umbrella Waterproofing today! Stair-step cracks are serious, and it’s important to act fast. That's why we offer free foundation inspections and no-obligation estimates to all our customers.

Even if we discover a crack that isn’t a cause for concern or was caused by a non-foundational issue, the peace of mind knowing you caught something earlier is worth it in the long run. Don’t wait until foundation problems escalate. Contact us at 908-432-8858 to learn more.