Cracked and Settling Foundation Causes

Poor Construction

Foundation settling and foundation cracks can sometimes be due to improper foundation construction at the time when the home was being built. Older homes used to be constructed by individuals who may or may not have been following proper building codes.

Most cities and towns in Iowa now have building codes that must strictly be followed with proper soil testing and engineer certifications before and during the entire home building process, so poor foundation construction is becoming less and less the cause of foundation problems.

If the fill material used during foundation construction was done on a lot with insufficiently compacted soil, it probably won't be able to effectively support the weight of the structure above it and this can cause foundation problems. The foundation problem may also be caused from the mix of odd and unrelated fill materials, poorly compacted fill, or from a combination of both.

Please contact Anchored Walls for more information or to make an appointment.

Poor Drainage

Poor foundation drainage can cause the pooling up of water along your foundation and may cause cracks or leaks in your home. Foundation drainage is required in a lot of areas where ground water may become an issue. Footing drains, if properly placed, will keep ground water from pooling up outside your basement walls and will help you to avoid having water penetrate into your basement or crawl space area. Newly-built foundations where a full basement is present, require a waterproofing coating to be applied to the foundation wall areas below grade to keep water from getting in through the wall.

If your new or old foundation is constructed of concrete masonry materials, a coat of cement plaster is also needed before the waterproofing system is installed.

Please get in touch with Anchored Walls for more details about foundation crack causes or to schedule an appointment.

Drought/Evaporation

Soils with high clay concentrations are very susceptible to volume changes with any change in the amount of moisture present. For example, these soils have the tendency to become swollen when wet and they shrink when dried. If the soil's moisture levels drastically decrease, they start to shrink, which results in the settlement of overlying structures. Drying of foundation clay soils is commonly caused by extensive drought-like weather conditions.

Expansive or Heaving Soil

Excess moisture added to the soil around foundations is also incredibly problematic. Softening or weakening of the foundation soils can occur, which decreases the soil's capability of supporting the weight of your family's home. Foundation settlement cracks sometimes appear as these weakened foundation soils are compressed underneath their footings. Increased moisture can result from heavy precipitation or over-watering in addition to poor foundation water drainage.

You will know if you have a foundation drainage problem if water is pooling up around its base. Similarly, leaks in water or plumbing lines may also increase the amount of moisture in foundation soils and this can lead to foundation settlement problems.

Please contact Anchored Walls if you are experiencing foundation settlement problems at your home in IA.