Did your home’s walls and ceilings suddenly develop cracks? Cracks in your drywall can be due to a few different problems. A recent earthquake can cause cracks in the drywall or spider cracks can occur over time. However, large cracks that suddenly appeared out of nowhere often indicates that your home’s foundation has a problem. That’s right, your home’s concrete slab foundation may be the reason behind your drywall cracks. Dallas Foundation Repair will explain how the foundation can cause cracks in your home’s walls and ceilings and when to seek foundation repairs.
Foundation Settling Cracks in Drywall
There are two major foundation problems that often result in cracks in your home’s walls and ceilings. The first foundation issue is settling. Settling is normal and just about every home’s foundation will experience a little bit of settling. However, sometimes the home’s foundation will settle too much and cause the foundation to be uneven. This puts pressure on the home’s structure.
Cracks Due to Heaving Foundation
The second foundation problem that will cause cracks is heaving. Heaving is when the foundation move’s upwards or one section of the foundation sinks, causing the foundation to sit on an angle. When the foundation is not level it will put pressure and stress on the structure or in other words, put stress on the home’s walls. The drywall material will be the first to reveal the home’s structure is under stress by developing cracks. When the walls or ceiling develops cracks that are 2 to 3 inches long and are about ¼ inch wide, this is a clear sign your foundation is stressing your home structure. Smaller cracks often referred to as spider cracks can develop naturally and are not a very big concern. You will want to repair spider cracks as they develop for proper insulation and to keep pests out. If you see larger cracks from foundation problems, you do not want to repair the cracks, at least just not yet. The first step when you have major cracks due to the foundation problems, is to get the foundation repaired first. When repairing major settling or heaving the home will need to be leveled. During this process the walls will develop more cracks as the foundation will be moved and shift into a level position.
What is the Best Way to Repair a Shifting or Heaving Foundation?
When repairing a foundation, there are few different ways to level the foundation. Depending on how or where the foundation shifted, and the current soil conditions, the repair method can vary. Most often a piling or piering repair method is used. The piling method uses concrete cylinders that go underneath the foundation and lift up the low sections of the foundation. In other cases, a pier is used to lift and support the foundation. There are different types of piers such as steel, spot and helical piers. Depending on the soil conditions and the foundation problem, different piers are used for the right situation. It is important to have the foundation repaired to save the home. Once the foundation is repaired it is then time to deal with those cracks.
Foundation Repair in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Plano, Richardson, Grapevine, Garland, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Arlington & Great Dallas, Texas
Do not ignore cracks in your home walls and ceiling as they often indicate serious foundation problems. If you need your foundation evaluated and repaired, contact Dallas Foundation Repair today.
