You all know me as the Realty Mommy, but realty is not far
from what I have studied during college. A few of our clients are asking about
concrete wall cracks, thinking the structure is not durable.
One thing that we should know cracks in concrete walls and
slabs are a common occurrence, it cannot be prevented but it can be reduced,
most cracks should not cause for alarm. Cracking can be the result of
combination of factors, all of which involve some form of restraints such as:
Drying shrinkage – which occurs when the water used in the
mix design evaporates
Thermal contraction/expansion – due to temperature change
Subgrade settlement or expansion – are results from poor
soil conditions or changes on moisture soil content
Differential bearing capacity – occurs when harder soils are
under part of the foundation can cause stress as the building settles in,
stresses which means applied stress force such as building load, earth load, hydrostatic
pressure or heavy equipment operated too close to the wall.
Each of this causes normally leave a signature in the type
of crack it creates.
Shrinkage and temperature cracks are most often vertical to
diagonal, these are very common and, unless they leak or show significant
lateral displacement, are of no structural concern.
Cracks which are horizontal are most likely caused by an
applied load. Vertical cracks which are significantly wider at the top or
bottom could indicate heaving or settlement. With these cracks it is very
likely that the crack itself is not the problem, but rather the result of an
external problem such as poor drainage, overloading, etc.
We may not be able to prevent cracks but it can be
minimized. I’m sure contractors know how to minimize the problem by using
several methods of reducing the occurrence and width of cracks.
Reference: http://www.precisionpouredwalls.com/
