Foundation Types and Warning Signs

Whether you live in a historical home or a new build, in a lake house or a farmhouse, every house has one thing in common: a foundation. And regardless of what your foundation is made of, there’s a chance that you’ll have problems with it at some point. Let’s break down the most common types of walls, and the warning signs for each type.

Poured Concrete

Poured walls, which you can identify by their smooth appearance, often develop superficial vertical cracks that actually aren’t anything to worry about; these happen when the concrete cures and first settles. Horizontal cracks, though, are cause for concern. This is a sign of soil pressing inward and causing bowing in the wall.

Block/Brick

For our purposes, the only difference between block and brick walls is the size of the blocks. Both have rectangular blocks set in mortar and both are subject to the same problems. You’ll notice horizontal cracks here, too, but you may also see a stairstep crack, which follows the mortar in a step pattern. You may also see mortar crumbling and leaving deep divots between the blocks or bricks. 

In concrete block walls, you could see efflorescence - a white powder left behind when water travels through the blocks and then evaporates, leaving dissolved minerals on the surface. While this is pretty harmless, over time it can degrade the structure of the blocks and cause problems.

Stone

Stone or cobblestone foundations are often found in older homes, especially toward the west side of the state. While charming, these foundations are some of the most difficult to repair because, at the end of the day, they’re just rocks and mortar and don’t have a great base structure. Crumbling mortar will be your biggest sign of trouble here, and in many cases you can see daylight before too long, where the mortar and a stone or two have fallen away.

No matter what your foundation is made of, we have a solution to stabilize and secure it permanently. Our wall stabilization systems range from ultra low profile CarbonArmor straps to heavy duty GeoLock wall anchors. We can even build new walls in place with Shotcrete. Call us today to schedule your free inspection and stop worrying if your foundation is safe.