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Hairline Cracks in Foundation (Slab) -- Problem? dalemccl 10-24-2006
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Posted by on October 24, 2006, 9:59 pm


My ranch style house is built on a slab over clay soil in N.E.
Indiana. There are close to a dozen vertical hairline cracks visible
in the base of the foundation at various points around the house (i.e.
from the ground extending up to where the siding covers the concrete.

There are also hairline cracks in the drywall inside in several places
and the linolium in the kitchen has a 3 or 4 foot line where it looks
like the cement floor may be cracked underneath.

Is this something to have checked out? Other than cracks there is no
obvious problem this is causing right now. Is it likely to get
worse?

Posted by Bob S. on October 24, 2006, 11:26 pm



dalemccl@verizon.net wrote:
> My ranch style house is built on a slab over clay soil in N.E.
> Indiana. There are close to a dozen vertical hairline cracks visible
> in the base of the foundation at various points around the house (i.e.
> from the ground extending up to where the siding covers the concrete.
>
> There are also hairline cracks in the drywall inside in several places
> and the linolium in the kitchen has a 3 or 4 foot line where it looks
> like the cement floor may be cracked underneath.
>
> Is this something to have checked out? Other than cracks there is no
> obvious problem this is causing right now. Is it likely to get
> worse?

How old is the house? Define "hairline". A crack showing underneath
linolium is not a hairline crack.

Bob S.


Posted by on October 25, 2006, 10:53 am



>
>dalemccl@verizon.net wrote:

Re: " age of house": 18 years.

Re: "define hairline": in the foundation - so small that I can't
caulk them - maybe the width of a line drawn with a pencil. In the
drywall, the width a a very fine pencil line. You have to look close
to see them, but they are definitely there.

Re: the crack in the linolium. It is actually tile, but not ceramic,
more like linolium material. There is an irregularly shaped line
about 3 feel long where the tiles aren't cracked all the way thru but
it is as if the tiles have been slightly pulled apart in the middle of
the tiles so that I see spider vein cracks, not all the way thru the
tile.

>
>How old is the house? Define "hairline". A crack showing underneath
>linolium is not a hairline crack.
>
>Bob S.


Posted by Italian Mason on October 25, 2006, 12:05 am


Cracks = movement
Cracks in foundations are common in older houses and can be found in
new homes as well. some are problems some are not. However if the
drywall is cracked as you describe you have had major movement. Just
because you have had movement doesnt mean it will get worse some times
a structure will settle and then never move again other times it means
the begining of failure. Have it checked out to see what caused this or
is causing this. And please dont water the soil around your foundation
to try to make it expand....




dalemccl@verizon.net wrote:
> My ranch style house is built on a slab over clay soil in N.E.
> Indiana. There are close to a dozen vertical hairline cracks visible
> in the base of the foundation at various points around the house (i.e.
> from the ground extending up to where the siding covers the concrete.
>
> There are also hairline cracks in the drywall inside in several places
> and the linolium in the kitchen has a 3 or 4 foot line where it looks
> like the cement floor may be cracked underneath.
>
> Is this something to have checked out? Other than cracks there is no
> obvious problem this is causing right now. Is it likely to get
> worse?


Posted by Toller on October 25, 2006, 12:54 am



> Cracks = movement
> Cracks in foundations are common in older houses and can be found in
> new homes as well. some are problems some are not. However if the
> drywall is cracked as you describe you have had major movement. Just
> because you have had movement doesnt mean it will get worse some times
> a structure will settle and then never move again other times it means
> the begining of failure. Have it checked out to see what caused this or
> is causing this. And please dont water the soil around your foundation
> to try to make it expand....
>
My house is 24 years old. I bought it 14 years ago. There are cracks in
the drywall in 2 places where the ceiling meets the wall, very thin, but
also rather long. They were there when I bought the house (lightly spackled
over...) and are not any worse now.
Spackle doesn't last very long.

Since they have not gotten any worse, it is fair to think that I don't have
a serious problem with movement?



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