How detrimental is a cracked foundation wall to my house?
Most basement walls have cracks in them. Vertical cracks are more common, occurring when the footer has settled a bit. As long as the crack doesn’t continue to widen it usually doesn’t require repair. Horizontal cracks, however, are caused by the exterior pressure of soil expansion. Horizontal cracks are more serious and require professional attention to relieve pressure from the outside walls and add necessary reinforcements to protect the walls from further damage. If not addressed in its early stages, the wall can “buckle” and will need to be rebuilt from the footer to the top of the basement wall. What preventive steps can a homeowner take to keep water out of the basement? Start with the gutters, making sure they are free of debris and properly sized and installed so that they do not dump water against the foundation. Also check that the grading outside is sloped away from the house. Make sure downspouts are working both above and below ground. It only takes a hairline crack in th
