What causes foundation settlement and foundation cracks?
What exactly is foundation settlement?
Settlement is the movement that your home experiences when the soil below it can no longer adequately support your home and its foundation. This soil is known as the "active zone." The active zone is the soil beneath and around your home that is the most susceptible to settlement due to changes in climate and moisture. The changes in this soil affect your foundation tremendously
Drying and Shrinking of the Soil
When the soil dries out, most commonly due to drought conditions. Clay soil shrinks as it dries which decreases the size of the soil around your foundation. This creates an empty space into which your home can settle. Another issue that causes drying of the soil is trees around your home.
Did you know that the root system of a tree is often TWO TIMES the size of the tree canopy? This means that all those roots are sucking up the moisture in the soil around your home. Again, when the soil dries out, it creates a void which causes yoru foundation to settle.
Soil Saturation and Softening
Heavy rains and flood conditions saturate the soil around your foundation. The soil soaks up with water and becomes very soft, like mud. Your foundation can sink down into this wet dirt (mud) and cause foundation cracks. Just like the way your foot sinks when you step into mud, your home can sink too!
Poorly Compacted Soil
Poorly compacted soil happens around every home's foundation! This is due to the very nature of building a home. When your builder lays the foundation, he digs a large hole in the ground, pours the concrete, then backfills that same soil. This soil has been disturbed and is now losely compacted. This loosely compacted soil compresses under the weight of the house, causing the foundation to settle.
The only way to be certain that your home's foundation is safe is to have it inspected, and the only way to be certain that the foundation will not continue to settle is to repair it! Contact us today for your free estimate.
