Poured Concrete Foundation Problems and Basement Waterproofing in Kansas City
Poured concrete foundations were extremely popular in the late 1940's through the early 1960's. However, they are still being used today for new construction projects. Because of its strength, concrete is largely used for commercial structures as well as residential slab foundations. Building residential poured concrete involves excavation. A hole is created that is bigger than the foundation to allow workers to create forms for the footings. Forms are wooden frames that hold the concrete in shape when it is poured. After the installing the footing, it is dried and cured. It is then removed. The concrete walls are built on top of them and these walls are built using forms.
Poured concrete may be strong, but it's not immune to seepage. However, any foundation can suffer from cracks and admit water. That's why it's important to hire a professional to inspect your poured concrete foundation. At Pro Foundation Tech, we can easily fix seepage and structural issues in poured concrete foundation.
Cracks can occur in any type of foundation, but the most common seepage issues in poured concrete foundations are caused by:
- Hydrostatic pressure: Most cracks are created by an increase in hydrostatic pressure against the foundation walls which allows water to travel through the basement floor.
- Improperly grade: Foundations can also encounter basement seepage if the yard is improperly graded, allowing Water to run toward the foundation instead of away from the home.
- Exterior improvements: Improperly installed patios and decks can also cause water to accumulate around the foundation and flow into your basement.
- Clogged drains in window wells: Seepage can occur in poured concrete foundations due to missing or clogged drains in window wells.
- Wall cracks: Too much water in the soil can create pressure against poured concrete foundation walls. Water can be caused by rainfall, plumbing leaks or snowmelt. As the pressure increases, it pushes against the foundation walls and creates cracks in the wall.
- Root systems planted too close: Trees and shrubs planted too close to the foundation can extend their roots during drought-like conditions to reach water. This dehydrates the soil beneath the foundation, leaving voids and gaps.
- Dry spots in concrete: Due to insufficient concrete mixture, dry spots can sometimes occur. Also, mechanical vibrators can leave patches of porous concrete due to insufficient cement bonding.
Foundation Crack Repair for Poured Concrete Cracks
The same seepage issues that occur in poured concrete foundations can also cause structural issues such as settling and sinking. The most common foundation issues in poured concrete foundations include:
- Settlement: Seepage can lead to damage such as sinking or settling foundations. These conditions can affect the home creating sticking doors and windows, wall cracks, cracks in brickwork, and leaning/tilting chimneys. Floors may also become uneven and slope.
- Bowing or leaning walls: Excess water causes the soil to expand and create pressure against the wall. As the soil expands when oversaturated, it creates seeping cracks. If left untreated, the wall may move, rotate, bow or lean.
Pro Foundation Tech can prevent seepage problems in poured concrete foundations so you can avoid major foundation issues and costly repairs in the future. We use the best foundation repair methods for the interior and exterior of your home. We offer ECP steel push piers or ECP helical piers to get your foundation back to normal. Both piers are driven deep into the soil under the foundation to support and strengthen the foundation. The crack is then filled and sealed to prevent water intrusion.
We also offer concrete repair that involves the use of polyurethane foam to strengthen the soil under the concrete. Holes are drilled into the surface and injected with the foam to fill in gaps and voids under the concrete. It lifts the surface back to normal within minutes.
To guard your home against water seepage, we can install a basement waterproofing system to your Kansas City home. Our waterproofing methods include interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, and sump pumps to divert water away from your home.
Contact us today if you need an effective solution for poured concrete cracks . We proudly serve Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri and the surrounding area.
Filed under Common Structural Problems, Common Water Problems, Concrete Leveling, Foundation Repair, Uncategorized, Water Management
Tags: foundation repair, Foundation settlement, Water seepage