Hi everyone,
I am currently building a home in Alberta (Canada). The foundation was poured in mid December(2003). I went through the house recently and found a vertical crack in the foundation from the top of the wall to the footing, the crack appears on both sides of the foundation. The foundation wall is 10" thick.
Is this something I should be concerned about? I have raised the issue with my builder and I want to know what kind of action I should expect from them.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Shawn
COMMUNITY FORUM
- Forum >
- Basement & Foundation >
- New home construction cracked foundation
hey Shawn--have the walls been "backfilled" yet? Did a city inspector(or anyone) OK the footing before the walls were poured? I would always be concerned about any vertical,diagonal,step or horizontal crack in a foundation wall.In my 20+ hands-on experience as a Lic. Waterproofing contractor I would recommend that any crack(s) be fixed/sealed/backfilled correctly from the Outside! What I mean is hydraulic cement used to seal the entire crack,then use a thick tar(not the cheap damp-proofing tar that is sprayed on or rolled on) over entire wall area with visqueen placed over the tar then a total Pea Stone or gravel backfill from the footing all the way up to a few inches below ground level.An epoxy injection will Not suffice over time(especially if the crack widens a tad)and an inside method(drain tile) does not stop water from entering through the crack.An inside method only Diverts water that comes into & through a wall...under the floor,so the probability for Mold & efflorescence will always exist and any inside method does not take hydrostatic pressure off the outside of the wall.Ask whoever OK`d the footing and the builder to come out to look and further discuss the matter and have somebody w/you who has Your best interest in mind.
Thanks for the information.
The walls have been backfilled already and the city came out and did the inspection and gave the foundation the thumbs up. I don't recall seeing an inspection tag on the footing itself. Just on the foundation as a whole.
I'll try to get someone impartial on the site to have a look at it. I will be asking them to fix the crack from the outside as you suggest.
Thanks
The walls have been backfilled already and the city came out and did the inspection and gave the foundation the thumbs up. I don't recall seeing an inspection tag on the footing itself. Just on the foundation as a whole.
I'll try to get someone impartial on the site to have a look at it. I will be asking them to fix the crack from the outside as you suggest.
Thanks















