Foundation cracks have many causes, but the cause of the crack can usually be determined by the type of crack, as can the solution to the crack problem. Vertical crack: A vertical foundation crack is a crack that goes straight up and down or slightly diagonal, within 30 degrees of vertical. In an older home that develops floor tile cracks in an upstairs bath, several years after it was constructed, the problem may be water damaged subflooring. The structural significance of cracked floor tile Just because you have cracked tiles that are probably cracked due to foundation distortion, that does not mean you have a serious problem. In Many Cases, Cracked Tile Floors Are Signs Of Foundation Issues It’s possible that soil movement or water has caused your foundation to shift, move or even be pushed in an upward direction. Sometimes hairline cracks in tile floors are one of the first tell-tale indications that soil or moisture is affecting a foundation.
Dallas, Fort Worth homeowners with brick cracks often discover they are clear signs of house foundation damage. Fact is, there are many things that can cause cracks in the brick exteriors of houses. For this reason, it’s wise to have your concrete slab foundation evaluated by a pro. Fissures that are 1/8” wide can eventually become 1”, 2” or wider. If your home does show signs of deterioration, take steps to have it repaired. Issues of this kind will only be more expensive to deal with later.
About Repairs, House Foundation Damage And Brick Cracks:
A lot of houses in the Dallas, Fort Worth metroplex have fractures. This does not necessarily mean that that a foundation needs to be fixed. Small brick cracks are common and do not indicate foundation problems. That’s because brick is naturally prone to expanding.
If only a few bricks are affected by fractures, don’t worry about it. Deterioration and structural foundation damage is probably not a concern. Of course, large brick cracks in the exterior of your house (or in your concrete slab foundation) can indicate that you need house foundation repair. If the cracks in your brick are wider at the top than they are at the bottom, that’s not a good sign. You may need cracked foundation repair. That’s because these types of crevices often indicate that your house is experiencing foundation movement.
Stair-step cracks generally mean that your house foundation is settling and sinking into the ground. Vertical fractures such as these are often visible in the grout between bricks. Cracks of this sort are very common in the DFW metroplex. These breaks may be 4-5″ long or more than 2-3′ high. That’s because of the nature of the clay soils in this area. The dirt in the local vicinity expands and contracts due to weather. Over time the earth around your foundation moves. This causes cracking to occur in the exterior of brick houses. As a result of the motion, the interiors of homes are also affected. The concrete slab foundation supporting the weight of a home can be seriously impacted, too.
If you see lots of crevices on the outside of your structure, you’re probably also noticing wall cracks inside your house. Foundation damage can appear in many forms. You may become aware that your countertops are no longer level. Or, you may see that doors and windows aren’t opening or closing the way they should. It’s a good idea to learn about the causes of foundation damage. It also pays to monitor any gaps you see in your brick.
If you think your house has experienced deterioration, contact us. We’re a qualified foundation repair company that services the entire DFW metroplex. HD Foundations provides free repair estimates.
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Here are some key observations about floor tile.
All floor tile is brittle
When it is applied in a normal manner to a slab-on-ground foundation it is very likely to fracture due to foundation distortion sometime during the life of the house.
Most floor tile is made from clay
Like the clay soils that shrink and swell as it loses and absorbs moisture, clay tiles do the same.
A cracked single tile and two or more adjacent tiles
Do Cracked Tiles Mean Foundation Problems In Adults
A single tile that is cracked may or may not be due to foundation distortion. If a crack goes across one tile to an adjacent tile and is on the ground floor, the cause is most likely foundation distortion.
A separation in the grout
It is common to see a separation in the grout between floor tiles. The grout used is a cementitious material and like all cementitious materials, it shrinks over time and develops a visible separation.
Cracks in upstairs floor tiles
These cracks are almost never caused by foundation distortion. The typical cause is that the subfloor is not stiff enough. In an older home that develops floor tile cracks in an upstairs bath, several years after it was constructed, the problem may be water damaged subflooring.
The structural significance of cracked floor tile
Do Cracked Tiles Mean Foundation Problems Free
Just because you have cracked tiles that are probably cracked due to foundation distortion, that does not mean you have a serious problem. If the contractors would use a high-quality thinset and an isolation membrane, the large majority of tile cracks would never develop.