Foundation is the building block for any concrete structure. If the foundation is damaged or cracked, then the whole structure is in jeopardy. This is because the entire building is supported by the foundation. Therefore, many precautions should be taken when laying and maintaining the foundation of an establishment.
How do cracks take place?
No matter how much care is placed into a building's foundation, cracks and other damage is possible over time. However, you can prevent irreversible damage with annual maintenance. Even with proper care, cracks may form in the concrete foundations. Water is the main cause of foundation cracks. Seepage of water can cause great harm to any solid building, weakening it over time. Cracks caused by water leakages are usually not severe at first, but with time they widen and weaken the base.
Other common causes of concrete cracks are soil settlement, heavy rains and earth movements taking place underground. All these factors are responsible for cracking, crumbling and settling in establishments. Problems such as these may resulted in unexpected repairs. These cracks may eventually weaken the building to point of collapse.
Symptoms of cracks in foundations
There are some clear warning signs of foundation problems to look out for. If you find damp walls with musty smells, cracking brick veneers, leaky basements, titling chimneys, inclined or slanting chimneys, then you should contact a foundation company to inspect your building. If you have caught the problem in time, more extensive repair may be avoided.
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