HORIZONTAL
FOUNDATION CRACKS ARE BAD
It
is not uncommon to find cracks in the foundation. This goes
for new houses as well as old ones. While there is a great
deal of engineering that goes into “reading” these cracks,
there is one rule that you should never forget. “Horizontal
cracks are a problem”. Of course not all vertical cracks
are acceptable, but they are generally not as serious as
a horizontal crack.
Harmless
Cracks
Shrinkage
cracks in a new house: Most new foundations will develop
small vertical cracks. These cracks are a result of the concrete
shrinking as it cures. These cracks are about 1 /8
inch wide or less. They don’t affect the structure. The only
concern is leakage. If you see small cracks in a new foundation,
don’t panic. In fact, in a new home, some builders will pre-crack
the foundation and fill the crack with flexible material.
Plaster
Cracks:
Few things are more misunderstood than plaster cracks on the inside of the house.
The following crack types are not generally related to structural
movement:
• a small crack (less than 1 /4 inch) that follows the corner
of the room where two walls meet
• small cracks that extend up from the upper corner of a door opening
The
following cracks may be related to structural movement –
• large cracks (larger than 1 /4 inch in width)
• cracks that run diagonally across the wall
• cracks on the interior finish that are in the same vicinity as cracks on the
exterior of the house.
Contents
of this site Copyright 2015/2016 Carson,
Dunlop & Associates Ltd. All rights reserved.
No text or graphical
material may be copied from this site without the express written permission
of
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd. Line drawings are from the Carson
Dunlop Home
Inspection Training Program
and Home
Inspection Software Tool - Horizon
|