Foundation Cracks in Orlando, FL: A Guide

Florida is notorious for its unpredictable weather. Keeping water away from your foundation, whether it’s a concrete slab or crawl space, is a difficult task.

If excess water gets into your foundation, your home may be at risk for more than just a leak. Long-term exposure to standing water and water damage can actually cause your foundation to crack. That lack of stability will do more than lower the value of your home – it’ll make it more difficult for you to maintain the house.

How can you determine whether or not your foundation has cracked? Thankfully, the problem signs associated with foundation cracks are extremely visible and easy to spot. Take a look at the signs of foundation cracks below, as well as the different kinds of foundation cracks, to determine what steps will work best for your home.

Types of Foundation Cracks

Not all foundation cracks are created equal. Your foundation, if it’s fallen victim to a crack, may have any of the following:

All of these cracks are worthy of concern, especially when you’re trying to keep your crawl space from flooding.

Signs of a Faulty Foundation

Sometimes, other issues may hint that foundation cracks are on the horizon. Keep an eye out for some of the following symptoms. If you see any of them, it’s more than likely that foundation cracks are going to arise (if they haven’t already).

• Wall Cracks: Before your foundation show signs of cracking, the walls in your home may crack first. This indicates that your foundation is moving, and over time, the foundation itself will begin to crack or crumble. If you notice wall cracks, it won’t be ling until your foundation shows the same issues.
• Mold Growth: Mold loves nothing more than a dark and damp crawl space. Foundation cracks make it easy for water to get in your crawl space. If you suspect you have a crack in your foundation, keep a keen eye out for mold growth. If you spot one, you’re going to want to treat it as quickly as possible. With the mold eliminated, you’ll be able to speak to a contractor about preventive measures and foundation sealing to prevent mold in the future.
• Uneven Floor: Uneven floors are an early warning sign of foundation issues. As the foundation of a house shifts due to soil movement or other factors, it can cause floors to become unlevel. Over time, this uneven pressure can lead to cracks in the foundation, indicating more serious structural damage.
• Tilting Chimney: A tilting chimney is a strong indicator of foundation problems. If the foundation is settling unevenly, it generally causes a chimney to lean or tilt away from the house. The same forces that cause this structural shift also lead to cracks in the foundation. If you notice a tilting chimney, it’s a sign of significant damage beneath the home’s surface.
• Water damage. As you might expect, a flooded crawl space or a crawl space with signs of water damage (curling paper products, damaged fabrics, warping wood) has fallen victim to a leak, at a minimum. If you can’t immediately find the source of the leak, reach out to a local consultant to determine whether or not water’s getting into your home via your foundation.

The Causes Behind Foundation Cracks

Foundation cracks stem from a large range of causes. Keep in mind, most of these causes come from the natural environment, so they aren’t really in your control.

1. Soil settlement: Over time, the soil beneath a building’s foundation can settle or compact, leading to uneven support and causing the foundation to crack.
2. Expansive soils: Certain types of soils, such as clay, can expand when they absorb moisture and contract when they dry out. These constant changes in soil volume can exert pressure on the foundation, leading to cracks.
3. Hydrostatic pressure: An accumulation of water in the soil around a foundation can increase the pressure against the foundation walls, causing them to crack or bow inward.
4. Tree roots: Large tree roots can grow towards a foundation, exerting pressure on the structure and causing cracks to form.
5. Poor construction materials or techniques: The use of low-quality materials or improper construction methods during the building process can result in a weaker foundation that is more susceptible to cracking.

Even though these causes are difficult to predict, they can still be defended against, especially with professional solutions from Alpha Foundations.

How to Prevent Foundation Cracks

There are several different avenues you can take if you want to prevent your foundation from cracking. One of these includes waterproofing your foundation and crawl space as both are being built. You can talk to a local contractor to discuss the waterproofing options you have available to you during these early stages.

Basic Preventative Measures

Professional Solutions

However, even with these preventative measures, professional options are still the best bet for permanent repair. Alpha Foundations has industry-leading solutions including:

Pier Systems

These are used to stabilize and lift sinking or settling foundations. There are different types of piers, such as helical piers and push piers. Helical piers are screwed into the ground, while push piers are driven into the soil. Both types of piers are installed beneath the foundation, providing support and lifting the structure to its original position.

Crawl Space Support Posts

Also known as crawl space jacks, these adjustable steel columns are used to provide additional support for sagging floors above a crawl space. They are installed on sturdy base plates and adjusted to lift and stabilize the floor joists, helping to restore the floor to its original level position.

Reach out to a local contractor for a free inspection and estimate to see what foundation repair solutions will work best for your foundation.

Why Choose Alpha Foundations?