Evaluating Cracks In Concrete Walls

This chapter of the foundation crack bible discusses in detail the process of evaluating stair stepped or diagonal cracking and related signs of foundation movement or damage in concrete block walls.

Evaluating cracks in concrete walls.

Horizontal cracks in concrete walls however indicate poor wall designs or pressure buildup behind the wall. Call in a structural engineer for an in depth evaluation. Noting cracks sizes shapes and locations can aid in determining their initial causes. Plastic shrinkage concrete cracks.

These cracks no matter what the width are rarely acceptable. Cracking in plastic concrete. This article explains concrete block or cinder block or concrete masonry unit cmu foundation inspection procedures and the diagnosis of cracks bulges leaning bowing and settlement in concrete block foundations and building walls such as damage due to impact. Reasonable crack widths for reinforced concrete under service loads are listed in table 4 1 of aci 224r 01.

How to inspect diagnose concrete block foundation cracks leans bows settlement. In general cracks wider than a credit card and running through the depth of the concrete are structural in nature and could be a sign of more serious problems see concrete crack repair evaluation. Stair step cracks may also signify heaving. Basham to repair cracks in concrete properly first determine what caused them.

Suprenant and kim d. If a vertical crack widens at the top or bottom the wall is either settling or gradually heaving which may present serious issues. Figure 2 illustrates the types of cracks and their primary causes in relation to their location. Several masonry patching products such as hydraulic cement do an adequate job of filling cracks in concrete walls.

Evaluating cracks in concrete walls by bruce a. Foundation walls are normally designed as reinforced concrete. Damaged masonry block foundations walls. However a footnote warns that with time a significant portion of the cracks in a structure can exceed these values.

Cracks that form in plastic concrete can be categorized as either plastic shrinkage cracking or plastic settlement cracking. We explain 6 of the most common types of concrete cracks below. Concrete walls containing horizontal cracks are serious issues. The cracks might indicate a more serious structural problem.

Diagonal foundation or wall cracks in concrete block or other cmu walls foundations diagnosis repair.