New Jersey Horizontal Wall Crack Repair
Your home's concrete foundations are built to be incredibly strong, but horizontal wall cracks can still occur when the foundation wall becomes overwhelmed by the incredible force of hydrostatic pressure.
Repeated hydrostatic pressure stress events can cause your basement walls to bow inward, tilt, or shear. A weak foundation can lead to serious problems that should always be addressed. A damaged basement wall will likely continue to weaken and eventually be at risk of collapse.
Blue Umbrella Waterproofing offers expert horizontal wall crack repair services for homeowners and commercial properties across New Jersey.
We use industry-leading structural repair solutions to prevent your basement walls from shifting and stabilize your foundation, keeping you and your home safe.
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What Are Horizontal Wall Cracks?
Horizontal wall cracks are cracks in a foundation wall that run from one side to the other, parallel to the floor. They are usually found in the middle of the wall between the floor and ceiling, often at the weakest point of the wall. However, cracks can occur near the base of the wall in block-wall foundations when the mortar between one row of blocks and the row below it gives way and the wall 'shears' inward.
What Causes Horizontal Wall Cracks?
Hydrostatic pressure is the leading cause of horizontal wall cracks. It occurs when water builds up against the foundation, pressing its weight against the wall and eventually creating cracks.
There are several reasons why hydrostatic pressure may build up against your foundation wall.
- Poor Grading. When your lawn is not graded correctly, water runs toward your foundation rather than away. You need to ensure your lawn slopes away from your foundation, around 6 inches lower for every 10 feet away from where the soil meets your home's foundation.
- Tree Roots. While it's great to have gardens and trees around your home, you should be wary of where your trees' roots are going. If water collects a lot around your foundation, it can be tempting for tree roots to grow down toward your foundation. As those roots grow, they create a path for water to reach your foundation walls more easily.
- Animal Burrows. Chipmunks, groundhogs, and other burrowing critters may look adorable, but what they can do to a foundation is anything but cute. Many of these furry animals like to make their burrows near your home's foundation, providing water with a route to your foundation walls.
- Damaged or Missing Gutters. Gutters are a vital component in protecting your home foundation by diverting rainwater away from your basement walls. But if your gutters are leaky, damaged, or missing, rainwater pools around your home and inevitably sinks down to the foundation.
Warning Signs That a Horizontal Wall Crack is Forming
As hydrostatic pressure builds outside your basement, you will notice warning signs of a foundation issue that can eventually compromise your basement wall.
Visible Cracks on Wall
The most obvious warning sign of a damaged foundation wall is a visible horizontal crack. When a horizontal crack forms because of hydrostatic pressure, it'll usually be located near the middle of the wall.
Water Leaks
As a horizontal crack forms in your foundation wall, it becomes a space for water to easily seep or leak through, leading to basement water issues.
Uneven Floors in Your Home
Movement in your foundation walls may also begin to affect the upstairs, leading to sagging or sloping floors above your basement.
Sticking Doors and Windows
Another symptom of a shifting foundation wall in your home is sticking doors and windows. Keep an eye out for doors or windows upstairs are having trouble opening or closing smoothly.
Does Your Foundation Have Cracks?
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What Are the Risks of Horizontal Wall Cracks?
Having a horizontal crack in your foundation wall can be risky, and addressing the problem promptly is essential. The more time the repair is delayed, the worse the horizontal crack and its associated problems will become.
Structural Instability
As hydrostatic pressure continues to push against the wall, eventually, you'll begin to see the foundation wall bowing inward. This inward bowing will eventually compromise the wall's ability to support your home and further damage your house above. In severe cases, the foundation wall may be at risk of either partial or complete collapse.
Water Intrusion and Water-Related Problems
Cracks in your foundation, including horizontal wall cracks, create avenues for water intrusion to occur. As water infiltrates into your basement, the excess moisture will lead to other problems including mold growth, wood rot, dust mites, rust in your HVAC equipment, and damage to any stored belongings.
Loss of Property Value
Having a horizontal foundation wall crack can make potential buyers wary of your home and result in a loss of property value.
How to Fix Horizontal Wall Cracks
There are many ways to repair bowing, shearing, and tipping basement walls. The best repair method depends on the nature of the foundation damage you face.
The Fortress InvisiBeam System
The Fortress InvisiBeam System is a patented product from the Fortress Stabilization System that uses carbon fiber and kevlar, offering incredible support and reinforcement. The system utilizes a combination of carbon kevlar straps, a top anchor, and a bottom anchor, ensuring that the straps are firmly installed flush against the wall. The straps and anchors secure the wall, preventing bowing, shearing, and leaning in the foundation wall.
The Fortress InvisiBeam System is an industry-leading solution in foundation wall repair, but only when installed by a trained and authorized InvisiBeam contractor like Blue Umbrella Waterproofing. The system also comes with a transferable Fortress lifetime warranty. The best warranty on the market.
Steel I-Beams
Steel I-beams are the perfect solution for foundation walls that have a deflection greater than 2 inches but less than 3 inches. Whether you have horizontal cracks in CMU block walls or poured foundation walls, steel I-beams will stop further wall movement when installed by Blue Umbrella Waterproofing.
Crack Stitch
Crack Stitch is an ideal solution for stopping basement wall or floor cracks from growing and expanding further. Created by Fortress Stabilization Systems, the Crack Stitch uses the same carbon Kevlar technology as InvisiBeam to create high-strength, non-corrosive stitches that go into the slots we cut into your concrete. Whether you have a poured concrete wall or a CMU block wall, the Crack Stitch will work for your foundation.
Horizontal Foundation Crack Repair FAQs
What Are The Main Reasons Behind a Horizontal Foundation Crack?
The most common reason is hydrostatic pressure. However, horizontal wall cracks can also be caused by frost heave, which happens when the wet ground outside the foundation freezes and expands.
Can a Horizontal Foundation Crack Be From Shrinkage?
It is unlikely. Horizontal foundation wall cracks are usually structural cracks and a sign of foundation trouble caused by external forces such as hydrostatic pressure. Shrinkage cracks are usually vertical.
What If My Foundation Wall Has a Deflection of Over 3 Inches?
Our foundation experts should inspect your foundation wall to determine whether it can be fixed or needs replacement. We will only use one of our solutions if it is 100% guaranteed to fix your wall. Otherwise, we may recommend replacing a wall with an extreme deflection of over 3 inches for your safety. We always give an honest assessment because your well-being takes priority above all else!
Can I Repair Horizontal Foundation Cracks Myself?
Most foundation problems cannot be dealt with as a DIY project because of the specialized tools and materials needed. Also, it's important to have an expert eye to diagnose the problem and its underlying causes to ensure that they're properly addressed. Without that knowledge, a DIY enthusiast risks misdiagnosing the problem, choosing the wrong solutions, and potentially making the situation worse.
Let Us Fix Your Horizontal Basement Cracks
Blue Umbrella Waterproofing is New Jersey's expert structural repair company. With solutions like the Crack Stitch and InvisiBeam, you can rest assured that your horizontal foundation wall crack problem will be fixed.
We proudly back our foundation repairs with a lifetime warranty to provide greater peace of mind. When your foundation is protected by Blue Umbrella, it's protected forever!
Don't let your home get torn up because of a horizontal foundation wall crack. Fix it with the sure thing when you call Blue Umbrella Waterproofing for a free inspection and estimate! New Jersey’s Structural repair company!
Cracks Are The First Signs Of Structural Damage
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