House Foundation Crack Question

[RHNewfie]

Wow!! Thank you for such a detailed write-up! The insurance co is fixing the crack, so I may have to go ahead and do the outside work myself (well, get it done).

Again, I can't thank you enough!!

Jeff

Originally Posted by RHNewfie

Wow!! Thank you for such a detailed write-up! The insurance co is fixing the crack, so I may have to go ahead and do the outside work myself (well, get it done).

Again, I can't thank you enough!!

Jeff

Hope you do get it taken care of,,,it's a headache for sure and if the insurance is fixing it that's a bonus. As far as the brother saying it isn't hydrostatic pressure,,,respectfully I disagree because I went thru this and esp. in a clay laden area the water has to go somewhere and when water is present in the water table hydrostatic pressure IS present. Epoxy in some cases is the fix but it takes a very capable company to ensure the right fix and nobody knows until they have been there onsite to see what is going on. Bottom line is you are having it taken care of by the insurance and you will be able to have recourse if it isn't fixed right the first time. Good Luck!

[RGD.]

Originally Posted by Cigary

. . . As far as the brother saying it isn't hydrostatic pressure,,,respectfully I disagree because I went thru this and esp. in a clay laden area the water has to go somewhere and when water is present in the water table hydrostatic pressure IS present. Epoxy in some cases is the fix but it takes a very capable company to ensure the right fix and nobody knows until they have been there onsite to see what is going on. . . .

And it's fine to disagree. To qualify myself though, in addition to my degree and experience - I have ten years in as a certified installer for AB Chance and Drive Rite Helical Pier, Micro-Pull Down Pile, Grout Piles, Carbon Fiber Reinforcement, etc etc. In short this is my job, structural foundation repair, this is all I do and I'm very good at it -

As for hydrostatic pressure - don't confuse that with simple capillary action. Hydrostatic pressure can't cause this damage because it simply does not have the force. Will it cause a leak in a side wall of the basement? Sure - through an existing crack. Now I'm not discounting hydrostatic pressure as being not important - heck I've seen it force water up through a slab crack 4 to 5 feet in the air. But that's in a floor slab where the slab it self creates the surface tension required for the action.

I would like for you to go back and think about what you wrote here: "in a clay laden area the water" . . . clay and water. Add those two together and what are you most likely to get? Expansive soils. And we know that expansive soils can exert 30,000lbft2. More than enough to crack the concrete.

But enough of my rambling - the important deal is that Jeff is getting it fixed - the correct fix - and in the insurance company is paying for it. And that is a big plus. I see literally hundreds of homes a year and if one of them can get the insurance company to pay for it - well it's just unheard of around here.


Ron

[RHNewfie]

Yep! Its getting fixed tomorrow morning at 8 and no cash outta my pocket!!

I will be watching the job and let you know how it goes!

Thanks to all for the advice!