When an earthquake occurs it causes the ground to shake, which in turn shakes your home around. Thankfully not too many earthquakes occur on this side of the U. A small earthquake may not cause new cracks, but it can intensify ones that are already present.
Too much water will force the soil around the foundation of your home to expand, which will push up against the home and cause concrete foundation cracks. One of the most popular explanations behind concrete foundation cracks is the freeze and thaw cycle during the winter.
Concrete freezes at around 18 degrees and then it melts at around 35 degrees, which is when the cracking develops. 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. 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. The good news is that concrete foundation cracks that are a result of too much moisture and flooding can be prevented through various methods of basement waterproofing.
An unstable foundation weakens over time and can move or shift. This leads to concrete foundation cracks and moisture problems. What our region lacks in earthquake activity, it makes up for in storms. Particularly during spring and summer months, we experience wet spells of torrential rain.
We are also frequently bombarded by hurricane-related weather. Even in winter we can experience a snowstorm now and then or sudden freezing and thawing. Any weather producing water or moisture can cause concrete foundation cracks. If you already have cracks in your foundation or new ones occur, moisture only becomes a bigger problem. Even without cracks, you may notice water seeping almost from nowhere through the walls of your basement. Or maybe you encounter standing water after a storm in your basement or crawlspace.
These are all problems for which you need a complete and immediate solution to prevent costlier structural issues. Your pipes must be secured and leak-free. It is also important to have a sump pump and basement waterproofing to ensure excess water does not cause concrete foundation cracks and other concerns.
Whatever causes excess water around your foundation, such as from flooding or improper drainage, your foundation is at risk. Water creates hydrostatic pressure that your foundation cannot bear. Over time, your basement or crawlspace experience moisture control problems, leaks, seepage, flooding or concrete foundation cracks.
Your foundation can crack because of intense summer heat. Then, at night when it cools, the foundation shrinks back to its previous position. Too little moisture can produce effects similar to too much.
Cracks, shifts in your foundation and other eventual problems can develop as the result of poor waterproofing. Earthquakes, tremors and other seismic activities are a common cause of cracking. Everything from fracking to the presence of deep gold mines can encourage seismic activity, which in turn can cause cracks in concrete foundations. In Raleigh, NC, there tends to be little seismic activity capable of cracking foundations.
This leaves the majority of concrete damage to be limited to water-related problems. Flash floods and prolonged downpours represent two situations where too much water is received by the ground in a short period. This allows the water to push against foundations, which in turn causes them to inevitably give way and to crack.
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