What Are the Main Reasons for Cracking and Sinking in a Home Foundation?

A home foundation may crack or sink for a wide variety of reasons. These reasons can come from both inside and outside your home, which is why it’s so important to have a professional take a look at your home’s foundation. Here are a few of the things you might want to think about when you’re trying to prevent cracking and sinking in your home’s foundation.  

• Issues With the Concrete  

The first main category of problems regards all issues with your home’s concrete. This can arise due to issues with the initial pouring of the concrete or due to issues with the concrete over time. Additionally, even if the problem has to do with the concrete itself, it may not be because the initial construction crew did poor work, but instead because there were issues with the design.  

Common problems with the concrete itself include concrete slabs that are too thick or not thick enough, a low-quality concrete mix, and small cracks in the concrete that get larger over time. First, the concrete needs to have the appropriate design and mixture. Then, an expert needs to pour the concrete appropriately. Both things need to be true to avoid concrete problems overall.  

• Issues With the Soil  

The other category of problems has to do with problems regarding the soil underneath the concrete. These problems may arise because the initial construction crew didn’t handle the preparation stage effectively, because your home doesn’t sit on the best soil for a concrete slab, or even because problems with the weather are creating issues with your soil.  

For example, you may run into problems if the construction crew didn’t compact the soil appropriately. You can also have problems with heavy rainfall, as it can cause the soil underneath the concrete to expand and push up against the concrete. Excess water in the soil can also push on the soil with immense amounts of hydrostatic pressure, equally creating serious concrete problems.