Central & Northern NJ’s Premier Foundation Crack Repairs Professionals.
Maintaining and promptly addressing Foundation Crack Repairs is crucial for preserving the structural integrity and longevity of your property. It can be impacted by a number of concerns, such as shifting soil or building difficulties. If you’re not sure how serious the issue is, rely on Accutech Home Inspection, a Home Inspection business in New Jersey, for their knowledge. Our area of expertise is repairing basement foundations in Union County and the Garden State. We are here to secure your area from water damage and make sure it is protected, whether you have a slab foundation, crawl space, or basement.
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Common Foundation Problems in New Jersey
Foundation problems are a concern for many homeowners in New Jersey, and they can manifest in various ways, often leading to structural issues that impact the integrity and safety of your home. These issues encompass shifting, settling, and foundation crack , which can result in an array of problems, including water intrusion and pest infestation.
One prevalent issue that homeowners face is the phenomenon known as foundation settlement. Settlement occurs when the foundation of a house sinks or moves downward due to shifts in the underlying soil. The movement of the soil is primarily triggered by factors like changes in moisture levels, soil compaction, or the natural settling process over time. Settlement is a significant cause for concern as it can compromise the stability of your entire home.
Soil movement and pressure are also culprits behind shifting foundations and foundation cracks. The relentless pressure exerted by the soil can cause the foundation to shift from its original position, creating vulnerabilities that may lead to structural problems. The accompanying foundation cracks can further exacerbate these issues, allowing water and pests to infiltrate your living space.
Early detection is essential for timely foundation Crack repairs and home protection. Common warning signs include:
Floor Cracks: Cracks in your basement or ground-level floors can be an early sign of foundation problems. These cracks may appear as hairline fractures or more substantial crevices, indicating varying levels of damage to your foundation.
Sloped or Uneven Floors: Uneven or sloping floors are a clear indication of foundation settlement. You might notice that your floors are no longer level, making it challenging to arrange furniture or causing objects to roll or slide on their own.
Wall Cracks: Cracks in your interior or exterior walls can result from foundation issues. These cracks may vary in size and can be particularly concerning if they continue to expand over time.
Sticking Doors or Windows: Difficulty in opening or closing doors and windows is often a symptom of foundation problems. Shifting or settling foundations can affect the alignment of door and window frames, leading to these operational issues.
Ceiling Cracks: Cracks appearing on your ceilings may be related to foundation problems. These cracks can be subtle at first but may develop into more noticeable issues over time.
Bowed or Leaning Walls: If you observe your walls bowing or leaning, it’s a strong indicator of foundation trouble. This distortion in the walls is often a result of the foundation moving or settling unevenly.
Leaning Chimney: A chimney that starts to lean away from your house is a cause for immediate concern. It suggests a significant foundation problem that requires urgent attention.
Local circumstances in New Jersey affect foundation issues. Early intervention and vigilance are essential. Costly repairs can be avoided with prompt professional intervention. For long-term stability and safety of your home, seek a specialist if you notice foundation problems.
What Causes Foundation Damage?
Since every New Jersey home is different, it can be difficult to determine the precise cause of foundation damage and the problems that call for structural repairs to the basement. Nonetheless, hydrostatic pressure is frequently connected to the issue.
Hydrostatic pressure, to put it simply, is the force of water pressing against your foundation. When water and soil mix, they form a powerful force that can damage your foundation and its walls. Although it is impossible to completely remove hydrostatic pressure from your basement, our experts in Union County, NJ can help you avoid flooding and water damage by installing a suitable French drain or another type of basement waterproofing system.
Tree roots penetrating the foundation or deteriorating contractor mistakes can cause foundation problems. Fixing your own foundation might seem tempting, but it’s not the best action.
Types of Foundation Cracks you should know:
There are different types of foundation cracks that says a lot; Determining the kind of crack a foundation has is the first step in fixing it.
1. Horizontal Cracks:
Your foundation wall’s horizontal cracks are worse than the vertical ones. They show that your foundation walls are bowing inward due to outside pressure. If you ignore these fissures, your home may sustain significant damage and the foundation may collapse. Taking immediate action is essential for addressing structural problems. Contact Accutech Home Inspection for a swift evaluation and tailored advice for your situation.
2. Vertical Cracks:
Concrete often develops vertical cracks due to shrinkage, regardless of your home’s age. These cracks are typically non-structural and pose no significant issues. The primary concern arises when water seeps through these cracks. If you encounter water leakage, our expertise lies in crack repair, and we will effectively seal these cracks for you.
3. Stair Step Cracks:
This is evident from the name. Foundation settling might be indicated by cracks that resemble stair steps. This indicates that stair-step fractures are the result of uneven soil conditions beneath your home causing your home to sit unevenly. Homes constructed with concrete blocks or brick frequently have these fractures. Cracks in your stairway may be a sign of a structural issue with your house, which needs to be looked at by a qualified expert.
Foundation Damage Caused by Water Erosion
Uneven soil settling beneath the foundation or external soil pressure pressing on the walls can both cause damage to your foundation. Water erosion is a major contributing factor to foundation problems.
Rainfall causes water to seep into the earth around your foundation, pushing on the walls of your foundation with an increase in hydrostatic pressure. Water is forced through your basement walls by this pressure, which results in moisture in the space below as well as slow erosion of your foundation’s block walls, mortar between stones, and poured concrete.
Your basement wall may sustain enough erosion damage over time that you will need to hire a New Jersey foundation crack repairs business to do the necessary repairs. In extreme circumstances, the foundation wall might need to be completely replaced.
Hiring Accutech Home Inspection to install a basement waterproofing system is a more proactive solution than waiting for the issue to get worse and require structural repair. By efficiently managing basement water, this system guards against erosion damage and preserves the structural integrity of your foundation.
Non-Invasive Basement Foundation Crack Repairs
In contrast to some foundation Crack Repairs companies in New Jersey, we specialize in crafting individualized structural repair plans. The choice of the solution hinges on the type of crack and the extent of the damage. For basement foundation Crack Repairs, we frequently recommend the use of carbon fiber reinforcement. This technique involves the installation of fiber strips to counteract the pressure causing damage to your foundation walls. The material in these fiber strips is considerably stronger than steel, safeguarding your walls against future structural damage. These strips sit nearly flush against the wall and can be painted over to seamlessly blend with your basement walls. Moreover, the installation process is swift, minimally invasive, and represents a wise long-term investment in protecting your foundation.
For homes with significant wall bowing, typically exceeding two inches, we employ steel I-beams to secure the walls and prevent future bowing. When used in conjunction with other products, these beams can even push the wall back in the opposite direction, realigning the walls.
Both of our structural repair solutions are minimally invasive, highly effective, and designed to seamlessly integrate with your finished basement. The extent of wall bowing guides our recommendations, which we discuss during a free in-home consultation.
Accutech’ s Platinum Status: Fortress Contractor
We are pleased to announce that Fortress Stabilization Systems has named us a Platinum Contractor. The International Code Council Evaluation Service, or ICC-ES, has validated our foundation repair products from Fortress. Technical evaluations are carried out by ICC-ES to guarantee that materials and products fulfill and even exceed all code criteria.
Fortress is the only technique for repairing basement walls to have ICC-ES certification, and Accutech is your neighborhood platinum contractor. The company to call if you’re looking for trustworthy foundation repair services is Accutech Home Inspection.
In addition, Fortress stabilizing systems installed by certified platinum contractors like Accutech Waterproofing come with a limited lifetime warranty.
Book Your Basement Foundation Crack Repair Inspection Today
Ignoring cracks in the foundation shouldn’t happen as they could indicate long-term structural issues. Repairing most cracks can incur a high cost, particularly if piers are necessary, resulting in significant expenses. Furthermore, pier-required homes typically need more than one. It is best to leave structural foundation cracks to a reputable foundation Crack repairs business.
Homeowners should do the following actions to stop future cracks:
- Inject epoxy into cracks that are not structural.
- For structural cracks, get in touch with an expert.
- Ensure correct grading of the land.
- Examine everything carefully after extreme weather.
- Install downspouts, gutters, and waterproof paint as waterproofing measures.
- Take pictures of, and record the dates on, all of the cracks and fixed pieces.
- Take note of any noticeable differences between the photos.