Hairline Cracks In Concrete Block Walls

Stair step cracks may also signify heaving.

Hairline cracks in concrete block walls.

If a crack between the wall and floor exceeds. Minor cracks in cinder block foundations the cracks in the images above are very ordinary and nothing to worry about except for the fact that the foundation is leaking. Concrete walls containing horizontal cracks are serious issues. Plus a hairline crack is enough for moisture to seep into the concrete surface and hurt.

People often ignore hairline cracks thinking it s not a major issue. To permanently patch the crack we used an epoxy injection system from polygem called the liquid concrete repair. Hairline cracking within concrete block walls often referred to as stair step cracking or mortar joint cracking is an example of an imperfection or distress but does not typically compromise structural integrity. Cracking is frequently found in masonry walls due to the settling wall foundations the movement of framing materials temperature changes and the application of loads to the wall.

But these hairline cracks eventually turn into deeper and wider cracks. Cracks regularly occur in all types of masonry walls including reinforced concrete slab walls concrete block walls brick walls and stucco walls. Fill it with a caulk suitable for use on concrete. Hairline foundation cracks are by far the most common cracks encountered when inspecting foundation walls.

Hairline cracks are commonly observed in freshly placed concrete and their occurrence is owed to the phenomenon of plastic shrinkage. If a vertical crack widens at the top or bottom the wall is either settling or gradually heaving which may present serious issues. Horizontal cracks in concrete walls however indicate poor wall designs or pressure buildup behind the wall. Contents causes of hairline cracks in concreteprevention of hairline cracks in concreterepair of hairline cracks in.

Repairing a foundation crack of this nature is similar to repairing other non structural cracks. We repaired a foundation wall which had an 8 ft long crack that leaked water into the basement during periods of heavy rainfall. As the name suggests this concrete crack sealer is specifically made to deal with hairline cracks.