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How Much Does it Cost to Fix Cracks in the Foundation of House?
A strong foundation is important to preserve a home. Even a slight disruption in the foundation can be a threat to the house as it can lead to more serious problems such as a collapse, which according to statistics, results in over 300 deaths every year.
The job of the foundation of a house is to keep the soil from under and around the house in place. You need to pay special attention to the foundation and take steps to fix cracks, if you see any.
Introduction to Foundation Cracks
While there are plenty of signs of a faulty foundation, cracks are one of the more common signs that can indicate a problem. Cracks mostly form as a result of the soil under the house being too wet, or not being fixed in place.
A qualified professional may help you evaluate whether or not the crack is dangerous, and may form a conclusion by evaluating the following:
- How big is the crack?
- What is the direction of the crack? Are they horizontal or vertical?
- Where is the crack originating from?
- Is the area around the crack wet or leaking water?
The team will look at different factors to answer these questions.
Cost of Fixing Cracks in Foundation
While you can always search for a quick DIY tutorial on how to fix the foundation cracks in your home, it is better to get in touch with a professional to do the job. It might come at a price but it’s worth it.
Let’s take a look at how much it would cost to repair foundation cracks, so that you know what to expect:
Sealing Leaking Cracks
Cracks caused by water damage usually arise when there is some form of water leakage around the base of your house. This could either be a result of erosion, weather changes, or a leaky pipe within the walls of your home, which exert hydrostatic pressure on the foundation.
In such a case, experts will first mend the cracks with epoxy or concrete, the cost of which is around $200 to $800 depending on the size of the crack. In addition to fixing cracks, other expenses include fixing a leaking foundation by using a vapor board, which costs between $2,000 to $7,000 depending on the size of your house and the location of the leak.
Fixing Bowing Walls
Usually, when there is an accumulation of water around the foundation of your house, the walls of your basement may begin to curve inwards. To fix this issue, professionals may use carbon fiber or a wall brace, which may cost anywhere between $4,000 to $15,000; one of the more expensive repairs.
Sinking Home Sinking
If you notice cracks on the walls of your home after a particularly intense winter, you might have what experts call ‘soil consolidation’, which basically causes your house to sink. It usually occurs when the temperature hits 6F or lower.
To repair this issue, engineers may recommend basement underpinning, also called basement piercing. This method is usually adopted by engineers when an urgent solution is needed to save a sinking home, and is, therefore, more expensive. The underpinning method involves drilling and placing pillars under the basement to support the house and prevent it from sinking.
This can cost more than $20,000 depending on the situation and the size of your house.
Foundation Leveling and Sealing
When a house is built, builders usually expect the structure to settle over the soil naturally. However, natural disasters like an earthquake may disrupt the natural settling of the foundation, causing it to settle unevenly, therefore producing cracks in various spots around the house.
For this purpose, engineers inject a filler like mud to level the foundation of the house. This method is called foundation jacking. The cost of this repair can vary from $600 to $1600, depending on the filler that is used.
Finally, engineers seal the foundation to avoid such issues in the future. You can expect the cost of foundation sealing to be around $1500 to $7,000.
Filling Cracks in Foundation of House: Conclusion
Filling cracks in the foundation of a home is an expensive job, but it is worth investing in to prevent any life-endangering accidents. It can cost you from $10,000 to $50,000. It’s best that you choose a company like getting Delmar. We have been in the business for years and have experience filling cracks in the foundation of homes.