Crack in the garage wall, what to do. Strengthening the walls in the garage. Reinforcement of the sole with a new design

Over time, the garage, like any other building, will require repair work. As basic repair and restoration work, you can waterproof and strengthen the garage. Read.

Waterproofing and strengthening garage walls
Over time, the garage, like any other building, will require repair work. As main

Waterproofing

If during the construction of the garage the technology was violated, that is, when laying the foundation, the type of soil was not taken into account, as well as the level of groundwater, waterproofing and thermal insulation of the floor and walls were not carried out, then the first signs of increased air humidity in the garage will soon appear . Check out the tips on how to paint the walls in your garage.

A damp wall in the garage is a sure sign that high-quality waterproofing has not been carried out, and the operation of the ventilation system may also be impaired. In this case, it is necessary to resort to measures aimed at drying the garage (for this you can use, for example, a heater or a heat gun), and then restore or install new ventilation that provides a constant flow of fresh air.

Water can run down the wall of the garage if the roof is not properly waterproofed, and all precipitation, be it rain or snow, easily gets through the ceilings into the room.

In the same way, a water leak may form along the wall from the side of the neighboring garage if the waterproofing at the junction of the roofs has been damaged; in this case, the most budget-friendly option would be to lay roofing felt.

Treating the contaminated surface with chemicals with antiseptic properties, such as white spirit or turpentine, will help eliminate and prevent the formation of mold on the walls of the garage; you can use a solution of copper sulfate from folk remedies; you can also purchase an antifungal primer at any hardware store.

In addition to the garage drying procedure, you can apply heat-insulating plaster to a damp wall, actively sanitizing it. This type of plaster constantly artificially draws moisture from the walls, thereby drying them out.

Also, damp walls in the garage basement can be treated with a penetrating primer.

One of the new products on the market of waterproofing materials is liquid rubber, which is applied in a uniform monolithic layer by spraying.

To waterproof the outer wall of a garage, you can use bitumen membrane material, which is laid on a metal mesh pre-fixed on the wall surface and heated under high temperatures.

Waterproofing walls in a garage with “Liquid Rubber” will cost about 600 rubles/m2.

Waterproofing walls in a garage with penetrating compounds will cost approximately 1,300 rubles/m2.

The wall has burst, what should I do?

If a small crack appears, you can use sealant or foam.

The problem of sealing the crack that has formed in the garage wall can be solved by jointing, grouting and installing a nylon mesh; cracks of impressive size are sealed with cement mortar.

In order to sue the defendant in case of destruction of the garage walls, it is necessary to perform a number of actions:

Collect evidence. To do this, you can install beacons on the cracks that have formed and prepare a photo report, and also use the services of an organization specializing in drawing up reports on the condition of real estate.
Drawing up an application to the court (the application sets out the chronology of events).
Payment of state duty.
Copies of the necessary documents confirming ownership are attached to the application.
Submitting an application to the court, then setting a hearing date.
The trial itself is carried out.

How to strengthen?

Over time, the brickwork begins to deteriorate and the wall may become deformed. To avoid deformation of the walls, it is necessary to strengthen them. One such method is reinforced concrete reinforcement. A reinforcing mesh is attached around the perimeter of the wall, wooden formwork is installed and a concrete mixture is poured (the thickness of such a jacket can be from 4 cm to 12 cm).

You can strengthen the walls of a brick garage against burglary by welding on a reinforcement grid. In case of building up walls, it is necessary to raise the ceiling. Raising the ceiling is usually done using jacks or a truck crane.

Video

Watch the video on how to strengthen garage walls:

Failure to take measures to eliminate the causes of the formation of high humidity in the garage and, accordingly, premature destruction of supporting structures can lead to disastrous results when it will be necessary to do only a major repair of the garage.

A crack in the wall of a house can cause its owners to panic. What to do if there are signs of very serious problems with your home? In fact, all is not lost, and you can fight for the safety of the house.

If cracks begin to appear on the walls of the house, every effort must be made to determine the true cause of their appearance.
If the foundation of the building is intact and undamaged, then the reason for the cracking of the walls is the gross mistakes made in the technology of their construction and operation. The nature of the problem can be individual and most unexpected. Finding it will most likely require the help of experienced civil engineers.
But in most cases, the problem is found to be that the foundation under that wall has cracked.
If shrinkage cracks are visible in the foundation of a building, then with a high degree of probability:

the foundation, its cast monolith or block masonry burst;
shrinkage of the pile structure occurred;
the destruction of the supporting pillars of the columnar foundation began.

The reasons why the foundation of a house is cracked are almost always mistakes made during its design and construction:

errors in determining the load-bearing properties of the soil;
incorrect determination of the degree of water content of the site;
incorrect choice of foundation depth;
low structural strength of the foundation;
constant high humidity in the basement and subfloor caused by improper operation of the house.

The fight against cracks in the foundation and walls of a house comes down to two organizational and technological methods:

eliminating the cause of the emergency;
Repairing cracks and strengthening damaged foundations.

Organization of monitoring of a crack that has appeared

If the foundation and walls of the building begin to crack, they should be monitored immediately.
A crack in the foundation can be located:

perpendicular (normal);
diagonally;
horizontally.

In size they come in:

microcracks;
large;
end-to-end.

Horizontal cracks in the foundation can be caused by technological errors made after it was poured. They are not so dangerous for the stability of the building as a whole and must be sealed during its façade repairs. Large diagonal and normal cracks in its foundation can pose a great danger to the integrity of the house.
Microcracks (up to 1 - 2 mm) in the foundation could appear for a number of reasons. They are not yet dangerous, but they need to be repaired, since water and frost will cause them to expand and gradually crumble the concrete in the damaged area.

Large cracks (about 10 mm) must be monitored. To do this, a beacon (a strip of cement or gypsum mortar) is placed on the crack. If after a few weeks the beacon turns out to be torn, then the situation is bad: the crack continues to expand, urgent measures must be taken. If the beacon remains intact, then not everything is so bad. Most likely, the building experienced a slight initial shrinkage, which soon stopped. In this case, it will be enough to seal the cracks and continue to monitor them.
If the foundation of the house continues to crack, or a through fault has appeared, measures must be taken immediately to resuscitate the building.

Eliminating the causes of cracking

If frost-heaving soils and high groundwater levels are detected at the site, the following is carried out:

construction of an open (trench) or closed (ceramic pipes) drainage system, drainage of groundwater, lowering its general level;
installation of a wide drainage and insulating blind area (up to 3 - 4 m wide) around the perimeter of the house to drain the upper layers of soil directly under the building.

If there is constant humidity in the basement or subfloor, a search is made for sources of water supply and repair of water supply and drainage communications.
If the cause of a cracked foundation is determined by errors in calculating its strength, in this case it is necessary to make a decision and make a project for its repair or strengthening.

Repair of damaged strip foundation

In most cases, it is not possible to completely unload the foundation of a brick or reinforced concrete house, so only preventive and partial repairs are carried out on it, which fix the damage already received, stop and prevent its development.
A feature of light wooden buildings is the fundamental possibility of carrying out a complete repair of their foundation.
Preventative repairs to the foundation of a building are carried out at the initial stages of its cracking, if the causes of the destructive processes are identified and eliminated, and as a result of long-term monitoring of it, the growth of detected cracks is not detected.
The purpose of preventive repairs is to seal existing cracks in the foundation and restore its integrity.
During such repairs the following is performed:

cleaning cracks (with brushes, compressed air, jet of water) from dust and dirt;
cutting a crack with a chisel so that its hidden cavities and deep passages are accessible;
sealing all passages and cavities with special putty or resin.

Strengthening the strip foundation

Strengthening the foundation is carried out if measures to eliminate the causes of its destruction have not yielded results, and the expansion of cracks continues.

Strengthening the strip foundation of a wooden house

The structure of a wooden house is much lighter and more solid than a brick building. A wooden frame can be completely raised using jacks without destroying it.
If the crown of a wooden house was attached to the foundation, then it must be unfastened. If the crown was fastened with vertical studs, then in order not to disassemble the entire frame, it is necessary to find the exit points of the studs and cut them with a grinder at the level of the upper cut of the foundation.
To raise a wooden frame you need:

prepare the required number of jacks: two units for each jacking point (from the outside and inside of the wall, in increments of 2.5 - 3 m, plus for each corner of the building);
prepare supports for jacks:
under their lower sole - supporting reinforced concrete slabs or metal slabs (usually channel cuttings);
for the upper support - scraps of metal I-beams are driven under the wooden frame so that their ends serve as the upper support points for the jacks;
jacks are installed in prepared places;
the wooden frame is evenly jacked up, rising above the foundation.

After such a rise of the log house, you can begin to repair the foundation of the house. An already unloaded foundation in damaged areas can be redone, deepened, expanded, and strengthened in various ways.

Strengthening the strip foundation of a brick building

A brick building is incredibly difficult to lift to unload a damaged portion of its foundation without risk of collapse. Therefore, it will be necessary to close and fix the through gap that appears, applying a reinforcing and tightening belt on the sides.
To strengthen the strip foundation, it is necessary to completely open the damaged area, for which it is necessary to dig trenches to the entire depth of its foundation from the outside and inside (from the inside the floor in the house will need to be opened).
A broken foundation can be strengthened by applying metal tires to the damaged area. For this:

on both sides of the crack, with a distance of 20–30 cm from its edge, two or three holes with a diameter of about 20 mm are drilled in increments of 20 cm (a total of 4–6 holes per tire);
metal crutches with a length equal to the width of the foundation are inserted into the drilled holes;
Channel cuttings of size 10 or larger are welded to these pins on the inside and outside of the old foundation. You need to install two of these tires (top and bottom) or three (one more in the middle).

It would be more reliable to strengthen the strip foundation by attaching an additional reinforced concrete belt to it. For this:

the old damaged foundation is drilled under metal pins from two or more rows on each side of the crack;
pins made of a metal rod or reinforcement with a cross-section of about 20 mm and a length corresponding to the width of the foundation strip plus the width of the reinforcing monolith are inserted into the drilled holes;
a reinforcement grid is welded onto the free ends of the pins;
formwork is installed;
the prepared reinforcement grid is poured with concrete in the formwork.

Thus, after filling, the sealed gap in the foundation receives an additional supporting area that distributes the load.

Strengthening the pile foundation

The cause of a crack in the walls of a building built on stilts is usually the unintended shrinkage of one or more supporting piles. The problem is localized by installing a strip foundation section designed to strengthen the pile foundation in the subsidence area. To this end:

parallel to the subsiding wall of the house, a technological trench is dug to the depth of the reinforcing section;
From the technological trench, an excavation is made under the sagging wall of the building, bypassing the support piles without disturbing their position;
at the excavation site, a reinforcement grid is installed, which is connected to 2 - 3 piles of the old foundation;
Formwork is installed on the reinforced area;
the reinforcing lattice of the reinforced area in the formwork is filled with concrete.

The question of how to strengthen the foundation of a house if there is a crack on its wall is a very unpleasant problem for the owners. But this is still far from a reason for despair. Resuscitation of the foundation is quite a feasible task. A home repairman can learn how to repair a crack in the foundation using these tips and recommendations.

Foundation crack

If in a private house, garage or dacha there are cracks in the walls, or the foundation is cracked, you don’t have to fall into despair; you can correct the damage that has occurred. The reasons for the appearance of such defects are uneven settlement of soils, structural miscalculations at the design stage, errors during construction work, or the influence of natural, mechanical influences on the foundation structure. Cracks in the foundation must be eliminated, otherwise the load-bearing capacity of the house’s structures may be impaired and an irreversible consequence of collapse may occur.

Classification of cracks by location of occurrence

Foundation cracks can be classified according to the location of their occurrence:

A horizontal foundation crack is a common type of fault that occurs due to errors in masonry technology and incorrect selection of the composition of building mortars. Most often, horizontal cracks appear on strip structures built in stages. Horizontal cracks do not pose a significant threat; however, it is recommended to repair cracks in a timely manner to prevent their further development.
A vertical crack appears due to deformation of the base structure under the influence of soil swelling forces and from rising groundwater levels. The appearance of vertical cracks indicates the beginning of the process of destruction of the supporting structure, so they should be eliminated as quickly as possible. If the foundation is cracked vertically, it is recommended to strengthen the base of the structure cushion.

In order to prevent the appearance of cracks in the supporting structure of the house, it is recommended that at the design stage a thorough assessment of the geology of the foundation soils be carried out, do not skimp on the purchase of high-quality building materials, correctly calculate the maximum loads and take into account the possibility of soil changes under the influence of various natural factors.

Horizontal foundation failure

Causes of foundation deformation

Before starting repairs to the foundation structure, it is necessary to determine the reason why the foundation is cracked and choose the right effective method to eliminate the violations that have arisen. The most common reasons why a foundation could burst could be the following factors.

Technological reasons

If during the construction work on the construction of the base structure, violations of the mandatory technological process are made, then all these errors will lead to the occurrence of destructive deformations. Therefore, it is so important to correctly reinforce the base, consistently install the formwork system, select the correct grade of concrete mixture, and take into account the freezing depth and groundwater level in the area.

Operational reasons

Another reason for the opening of cracks in the foundation may be a violation of the operating conditions of house construction. For example, a homeowner decided to add a second floor to the existing foundation of a one-story house. Such an increase in load can negatively affect the load-bearing capacity of the base structure and significant damage will appear on the foundation of the house.

High humidity in the basement of the building and lack of drainage from the building - all these factors can be attributed to the operational causes of cracks.

Structural reasons

Scheme of occurrence of foundation cracks

At the design stage of a building, it is necessary to conduct a geological study of the foundation soils of the building site and correctly calculate the load on the foundation structure. If for some reason such miscalculations are made, then significant deformation changes in the foundation structures may certainly occur.

Observation of cracks

When a crack appears in the foundation, experts advise monitoring the change in the size of the crack rupture to see if it will increase over time. The process of identifying the nature of crack destruction occurs in the following order:

The open crack should be carefully cleaned of any remaining plaster, dirt and dust.
Small gypsum beacons with a thickness of no more than 5 mm are installed with a certain pitch. After this, we monitor their condition.
If within two or three weeks the beacons do not crack and no new deformations appear, then the foundation structure is not in danger and the crack on the surface most likely formed due to shrinkage of the building.

A video tutorial on installing beacons can be seen:

Repairing simple cracks

Repair of simple shrinkage cracks is carried out in several steps:

First, the crack cavity is cleared of dust and washed with water.
Afterwards, the dry crack is coated to the full possible depth with a primer for external use.
The crack cavity is filled with special sealants or cement mortar with a cement grade of at least 500.

Clearing a simple crack

Crack repair methods

Methods for repairing foundation cracks are selected depending on the type of materials of the main walls of the building. For stone, brick or wooden walls, there are special schemes for sealing cracks:

Strengthening the foundation of a stone or cinder block house is done with reinforced concrete clips, which are mounted on both sides of the foundation.
The foundation of a wooden house is rarely covered with deformation cracks. But if this happens, then you can use jacks to lift the wooden structure, having first cleared all the rooms of furniture.
When strengthening the foundations of brick houses, it is possible to use two methods: fill the basement wall with a concrete mixture over a metal frame pre-installed around the entire perimeter or install drilled injection piles. The second method is very effective; with this method it is possible to restore an almost destroyed foundation, but the price of such strengthening is quite high.

Video example of strengthening the foundation of a wooden house:

Ways to strengthen the foundation

Before strengthening the foundation, if cracks appear on the walls, it is necessary to choose the most suitable method for eliminating the occurrence of deformations. Modern construction technologies for sealing cracks in the foundation provide optimal recommendations on what to do in such cases. The following methods of strengthening the foundation are usually used.

Reinforcement of the sole with a new design

First, the broken foundation is pre-cleaned of dirt and dust, and the cracks are filled with a repair solution. Under the deformed section of the structure, a small trench no more than 60 cm wide is dug in a checkerboard pattern to a depth of 200-300 mm below the base of the foundation. The open base of the foundation must be filled with concrete mixture and thoroughly compacted.

After backfilling and compacting the soil, thus strengthening the base area, it is possible to repair the next cracked area after a distance of 60 cm.

Reinforcement with special piles

The pile method of strengthening a cracked foundation is the most effective way. There are several types of piles according to the method of their installation:

Screw piles. The simplest and most common type of strengthening cracked foundations, which does not require special skills. The pile design has the form of a pipe with helical blades at the end. When installing, the pile is screwed into the ground, only the tip remains visible on the surface.
Bored piles have a hollow structure 2 m high, into which metal reinforcement is inserted and after which the entire cavity is filled with concrete mixture. Before installing bored piles, wells are drilled in increments of 1.5 to 2 m.
The use of a driven method for installing piles is not suitable for dilapidated buildings, since the walls of the building may crack from impacts from the pile driver.

Strengthening the foundation with screw piles

Additional reinforcement when strengthening the base

Strengthening a broken foundation using additional reinforcement involves tying the entire basement part of the structure with a reinforcing mesh of longitudinal and transverse metal reinforcement, installing formwork and pouring a concrete mixture of grade no lower than 200. This technology for strengthening the foundation is the most popular and less labor-intensive than other methods.

If foundation cracks appear, you should carefully study the recommendations and instructions for eliminating them. Of course, it is always more difficult to repair than to build, so it is better not to make mistakes and not to disrupt the technological construction process. Then there will be no need to strengthen the foundation.

All cracks that appear on the foundation of the house indicate that the base of the structure needs to be strengthened or repaired. But in order to do this with your own hands, you need to know about the reasons for the destruction of the foundation, as well as how exactly restoration work should be carried out

Why are cracks dangerous?

If the foundation of a building is cracked, work must begin immediately to restore it. If this is not done, after a while, due to the skew of the house, the doors and windows will begin to jam. If the house is made of brick, the crack may spread to the wall, causing the entire structure to begin to collapse. That is why it is necessary to begin work on strengthening the foundation as soon as possible.

Before starting restoration work, it is worth determining the type of crack. To do this, just clean it from dust and rinse with water. After this, you need to install a beacon on the fault. The date of fixation is marked on it. This is necessary to determine the rate of destruction of the base. If the lighthouse remains intact within two weeks, the crack can simply be sealed with concrete mortar. If the lighthouse breaks, it is necessary to begin work to strengthen the base.

Typically, cracks begin to appear in winter or spring, since it is at this time that an improperly created foundation begins to rise or settle unevenly. It is worth remembering that the foundation can burst due to many reasons, so it is necessary to think about this problem at the stage of designing a house.

Causes of faults

Before starting restoration work, it is necessary to determine the reason why the destruction began. If these actions are neglected, even after repair the foundation will gradually collapse. The causes of destruction can be divided into several groups:

Technological. An example is the creation of the foundation of a house with violations of reinforcement or installation of formwork. Mistakes also include choosing the wrong brand of concrete. Laying the foundation above the groundwater level is also considered a technological error.
Operational. Such mistakes are made already in the process of using the constructed structure. For example, an increase in the load on the foundation as a result of the creation of a second floor. Another violation is an increase in humidity in the basement or poor-quality installation of a drainage system near the house.
Structural. An example is the preparation of incorrect calculations during the design of a structure. Often the foundation begins to collapse prematurely due to the fact that geological studies were not carried out before construction began.

Important! In order to avoid encountering the problem described, before building a house, it is necessary to accurately calculate the load on the foundation.

Types of cracks

Cracks in the foundation of a wooden house, which can occur on the foundation, are divided into several types:

Hairy. Such cracks are hardly noticeable and have a thickness of no more than 3 mm. Their presence only indicates a change in the outer layer of the base. Such flaws can be corrected quite easily.
Horizontal. Such defects do not affect the integrity of the foundation.
Shrinkage cracks. Such defects arise when the rules for creating a foundation are violated.
Vertical. It is these cracks that are a sign that the foundation needs repairs. They often appear under the influence of groundwater on the base or due to soil heaving.

How to fix the problem

If you notice that the foundation of your house is cracked, you need to begin strengthening it as quickly as possible. Such work is carried out as follows:

first, using a jack, the sagging parts of the base are raised to the design level;
after this, holes are drilled, the diameter of which ranges from 20 to 40 cm;
the resulting void is filled with liquid glass, cement laitance or hot bitumen.

This reduces the permeability of the soil, which will make the soil more stable. The described strengthening method can only be used when using special equipment, so for such work it is necessary to hire professional builders.

Strengthening the foundation of a stone house

The main task of repairing the foundation of a house is to stop the process of settlement of the structure. therefore, you cannot dig under the foundation without securing it. A strengthening method is often used, in which a reinforcing concrete belt is erected on all sides. Such work is carried out as follows:

A trench is dug along the strip base of the house, the width of which is approximately 45 cm. During such work, the base of the foundation must not be exposed.
After this, the foundation is cleaned of dirt and dust. In this case, all cracks must be expanded with a spatula.
Then the falling off parts of the old foundation are removed.
At the next stage, the concrete surface is treated with a primer. It is worth remembering that you need to choose deep penetration formulations.
After this, holes are drilled in the foundation. The distance between them should be about 60 cm.
Anchors are driven into the created holes, which are subsequently welded to the reinforcement frame. The diameter of the reinforcement should be approximately 12 mm.
At the last stage, the concrete mixture is poured into the created trench. To ensure that the concrete solution is evenly distributed throughout the trench, it is necessary to use a construction vibrator. This also helps to fill cracks in the old foundation. If this stage of work is neglected, voids may remain in the concrete, which will subsequently cause the destruction of the foundation.

Backfilling of soil occurs only after the concrete has completely hardened. If the cracks are not caused by subsidence or deformation of the foundation, they can be repaired with mortar and plastered.

It is worth remembering that if the work is carried out incorrectly, the foundation will quickly begin to collapse even with additional reinforcing structural elements.

Repair of the base of a wooden house

A cracked foundation of a wooden house can be strengthened quite simply, since such structures can be lifted with a jack and installed on temporary supports. But it is worth remembering that if the lower logs are rotten, the structure cannot be raised.

If the crowns are unreliable, rotten areas are cut out of them, after which the house is raised. After this, you can restore the foundation using one of the common methods. Often, owners of country houses install a concrete bandage around the base. You can also dig under the base and pour concrete pillars. This will make the foundation resistant to significant loads.

It is worth remembering that before raising the house, it is necessary to dismantle part of the roof at the place where it connects to the chimney. It is better to invite professional builders to carry out such work.

Reinforcement with piles

In some cases, it is not possible to increase the density of the soil under a building. In such a situation, it is necessary to strengthen the foundation with piles:

If the house is wooden, the entire structure is lifted onto temporary supports, after which the tops are tied together with a grillage. After this, the structure is lowered onto a new foundation.
In cases where it is necessary to strengthen the foundation without raising the house, “bulls” are used. They are piles that are driven obliquely from different sides of the corner. Beams are welded onto the heads of these elements, which will serve as support for the structure.

When using piles, it is worth remembering that their length must be sufficient so that they rest on solid ground.

Monolithic slab repair

Monolithic foundations are destroyed quite rarely, but under certain conditions this is possible. If a serious crack appears on such a base, it can only be replaced with a new slab. No method will help stop the destruction of a monolithic foundation if it is already beginning to deform.

Conclusion

If it is impossible to completely replace the foundation for some reason, the walls are strengthened and old sections of the slab are removed. In these places, concrete mortar is poured, which helps to temporarily maintain the integrity of the structure. You can also install concrete blocks or piles as supports.

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Very often, when building a foundation, novice builders make a lot of mistakes. Some people carry out work without taking into account the time it takes for concrete to gain grade strength. Others use low-quality mixtures for construction, since they cost much less. As a result, such savings can cost a pretty penny, since cracks will appear in the foundation of the house, which can lead to the complete destruction of the entire structure. As a result, a novice builder will spend a lot of time and money restoring the house. Therefore, it is worth considering the recommendations of professionals on this issue.

Causes of cracks

Heaving soils and high groundwater levels can negatively affect the foundation of a building. That is why it is strictly prohibited to build a strip foundation on such land. For this type of soil, only monolithic foundations are suitable. However, many do not take this into account and end up making a huge mistake.

The lack of a blind area can also cause similar problems. The fact is that concrete paths around the house are not made for aesthetic purposes, but with the aim of protecting the fundamental foundation from waterlogging. Water constantly drips from the roof and collects at the base of the house. Therefore, the blind area acts as a reliable waterproofing. However, it should be erected only a year after pouring the foundation, when it will sink a little in the soil and take the most stable position.

In addition, many novice builders make mistakes even in the process of designing the foundation. Calculations need to be made only armed with all the data on the condition of the soil and the characteristics of the suburban area.

Unscrupulous construction companies try to complete the work as quickly as possible. You need to understand that if, after erecting the foundation, you do not give it 1 year to shrink, but instead immediately start building walls, this will lead to very rapid destruction of the entire building.

What is the danger of cracking

If you close your eyes to a problem, it will not be solved. On the contrary, the situation will worsen every year. If cracks in the foundation of a house in Astrokhani, Moscow, St. Petersburg or any other city are not repaired in a timely manner, then the doors and windows will warp, causing the products to simply begin to burst. Brick buildings are destroyed even faster due to this.

Methods for repairing foundation cracks vary depending on the severity of the damage. Therefore, before starting work, you need to clarify the type of gap. To do this, the crack is cleaned of dirt and washed with water. After this, you need to install a beacon in it and remember the date of its creation. If within a few weeks it does not change its position and remains intact, this will indicate that ordinary mortar can be used to seal the gap. In the event that a lighthouse bursts, more serious measures of reconstruction have to be resorted to. To do this, you will need to strengthen the base with piles.

Diagnostics

Before you begin repairing foundation cracks with your own hands, you need to determine the cause of excessive pressure on the foundation. This can be determined according to the external parameters of the cracks. If they:

vertical and diverge more towards the upper part, then most likely the reason lies in the fact that the soil swelled during the thawing of snow after a period of winter frosts;
inclined, directed from the central zone to the corner, then the backfill of one of the adjacent walls may have sagged;
vertical, diverging downwards, then, most likely, the whole thing is due to subsidence of the soil under the central part of the house, or uneven freezing of the walls has occurred.

If there are several cracks at once and they form an arch, then this also indicates subsidence of the central part of the foundation.

Once you've identified the area that suffered the most damage, you need to get your foundation cracks repaired as quickly as possible.

What measures need to be taken immediately?

First of all, it is worth making a professional assessment of the soil, since it is the characteristics of the soil cover that cause cracking. It is also recommended that you try to fix the cracks yourself so that they do not begin to diverge even more. To do this, you can perform temporary repairs of foundation cracks using metal angles. However, after this it will be necessary to carry out more serious restoration measures.

Sealing cracks with mortar

To do this, you can prepare a special mixture for sealing joints. To prepare it, you need to mix 1 part of high-grade quick-drying Portland cement, 3 parts of sifted river sand and fill the mixture with 2/3 parts of water. The composition must be thoroughly mixed to a paste-like consistency. The mixture must be applied immediately after its preparation. The fact is that, depending on the hardener, the solution can set within 10-30 minutes.

To properly repair cracks in the foundation of a house in Astrokhan, Moscow or any other city, you must first wash the cracks with water, remove dust from them and go over the edges with a chisel. Only after this can the solution be applied.

For this it is recommended to use a special trowel. After processing, the mixture should protrude slightly above the crack. As soon as it begins to set, the solution must be leveled and thoroughly smoothed, completely leveling the surface levels.

At the final stage of repairing cracks in the foundation, it is necessary to cover the treated surface with a damp cloth and wet it until the solution has completely hardened.

Application of epoxy resin

As a rule, this method is used when it comes to small cracks with a depth of no more than 3-5 mm. This method is also optimal for repairing cracks in monolithic foundations.

Before starting work, it is necessary to thoroughly clean and dry the cracks. It is best to use a hair dryer for this. The surface must be absolutely dry. In addition, you definitely need to get rid of concrete chips. For this purpose it is recommended to use high pressure air.

At the next stage, special nozzles are applied to the cracks, which are installed at a distance of 30 cm from each other.

The epoxy resin is mixed with the hardener using a spatula. After this, the composition is applied to the lower surfaces of the prepared nozzles. Next, the elements are applied to the cracks.

At the next stage, another portion of resin is prepared, which covers the entire surface of the crack. In this form, the sealed area should be left overnight, after which the procedure is repeated. The resin hardening time is 5 days.

It is worth considering that repairing cracks in the foundation should be done in such a way as to avoid recurrence of problems in the future.

Features of strengthening stone buildings

To slow down the settlement of weakened soil under a strip foundation, it is necessary to erect a special belt-overlay. To install it you will need:

Dig a trench around the perimeter of the strip foundation at an angle of 35 degrees. Its depth should be approximately 40-50 cm, but no less.
Clean the base and the foundation itself from dust and dirt.
Tap the surface and remove all crumbling and weak fragments of concrete.
Treat the foundation base with a primer. It is recommended to give preference to deep penetration formulations.
Drill 3-4 rows of horizontal holes at a distance of 60-120 cm from each other.
Drive anchors into them and weld these elements with reinforcement, the diameter of which will be approximately 10-14 mm.

After this, formwork panels are installed around the foundation base. You can make them yourself from boards or rent ready-made structures. You also need to make reinforcement, after which you can fill the trench with high quality concrete.

Features of repairing cracks in the foundation of a wooden house

Such damage is much easier to repair. The fact is that the log house is quite easily lifted onto temporary supports for repair work. However, if we are talking about an old wooden house, then such manipulations can lead to dire consequences. The lower rotten crowns of the foundation may simply fall apart. Therefore, before starting work, it is recommended to assess the condition of the log house and, if necessary, cut out the affected wood.

Depending on the features of the building, it may be necessary to dismantle the roof. This will definitely have to be done if there is a chimney going into the roof.

However, the described means of repairing cracks in the foundation may not be effective if the thickness of the loose layer of earth is too large. In this case, resistance can only be increased through more serious measures.

Reinforcement using pile structures

This technology is associated with certain difficulties, so it is used only in the most difficult cases.

Piles are of two types:

Screw. Such elements are installed around the perimeter of the foundation. After this, the building is raised to the required level and connected with a grillage. The result is a new foundation on which the house is lowered. This method is only suitable for wooden buildings.
"Bulls". Such piles can be driven or twisted at an angle at opposite corners of the foundation. After this, it is necessary to weld I-beams or channel beams onto their heads, which will take on the loads of the ground parts of the buildings.

Features of repair of monolithic slabs

This type of foundation is considered the most reliable, so it is destroyed very rarely. However, if this happens, then such a foundation is practically impossible to repair. In this case, you will have to partially or completely replace the slab.

If the cracks are not through

Such damage most often occurs during weathering. To repair this type of crack, it is enough to spray or plaster the surface. After this, it is advisable to cover the foundation with a waterproofing compound.

Shotcrete is a fairly simple procedure, which consists of spraying the base with a special solution of cement laitance and quartz sand. The composition is applied under pressure.

Hello Svarog! I did a lot of work and therefore I kindly ask you to read the message to the end :)

At your request, I have inspected all sides of the foundation and garage walls, inside and outside, for additional cracks.

In this post below I have attached a DIAGRAM OF THE LOCATION OF CRACKS on the outer and inner sides of the foundation and walls of the garage.

In the next message I posted PHOTOS OF CRACKS (11 pieces).

Explanations for the diagram in the attached file:

The diagram shows 4 walls - front, back, left, right.

The diagram shows red circles - these are microcracks (less than 1.5 mm);

The diagram shows red squares and a rectangle - these are cracks larger than 1.5 mm;

In the diagram, please note that, based on the nature of the markings of dots and squares, cracks can be located either on the outside of the walls and foundation, or on the inside of the walls and foundation;

The diagram shows the distances to the cracks, from the garage to the drainage pit and from the garage to the road;

The diagram shows 2 doorways and 1 window;

The diagram highlights an area of dry soil - this conventionally designated the covered area, where there was dry sand during digging;

In the diagram, the photograph numbers of cracks photo1, photo2 - photo11 correspond to real photographs that are posted in the next message.

FRONT OF WORK COMPLETED.

Over the past 4 weeks, during the work before laying the EPS, it was necessary to remove the soil inside the garage to a depth of 1-2 shovels (picture attached). I removed about 13 cubic meters of soil from the garage and discovered that there was compacted sand underneath the soil. This made me happy, since I don’t need to carry sand :) For better compaction, I watered this sand once a week in those places where it was dry.

I installed marks to control and measure the width of the crack on the front wall of the garage.

I managed to buy a grid in 100mmx100mm cards with a thickness of 4 mm. I bought a superplasticizer for concrete 20 liters (450 rubles). There was no such large quantity of EPPS (200 slabs) at any base in our city. I had to order separately. I've been waiting for 3 weeks for it to arrive. I ordered EPPS from the company for 35 thousand rubles, calculating two layers per 70 square meters with an EPPS thickness of 50+50=100 mm. The price is steep.

Briefly about cracks.

You mentioned the reasons for the formation of cracks (by priority):

1. Wetting and freezing (HEANING) of the soil near the foundation (According to the diagram, compacted wet sand was found lying near the back, left and front sides of the garage - indicating that the soil was getting wet; I was especially surprised that on the right side of the wall the sand is dry and soft, as if beach);

2. VIBRATION from the passing federal road, causing settlement of the foundation (when large cars pass, the walls in the house shake).

The consequence of these reasons is the presence of cracks in the foundation and walls and further destruction of the foundation and walls of the building.

In my case, getting wet and freezing occurs due to (by priority):

1) the presence of a local sewage pit near the garage;

2) lack of soil insulation near the foundation;

3) lack of foundation blind area and drainage pipe near the foundation;

4) lack of rain drainage on the roof;

5) lack of waterproofing of the foundation from the outside around the perimeter;

6) unheated room (heat does not warm the ground).

MEASURES TO ELIMINATE CRACKS.

Currently, it is not within my power to eliminate cause 1 (I don’t have that much money), but it is possible to eliminate reasons 2-5 in the near future.

1. I attach particular importance to point 2 - insulation of the soil outside and inside the premises with EPS. By insulating the soil with EPS, will I prevent heaving and freezing of the soil around the foundation?;

2. What can you recommend to prevent crack growth?;

3. Are there ways to dampen vibration from a nearby road?;

4. After completing steps 2-5, I want to strengthen the walls to prevent rapid destruction of the walls due to vibration in the future. For this I want to buy a steel tape. Cut strips for each side of the wall, then insert metal bolts/nuts into the strips and tie the top of all walls around the perimeter and along the foundation. Do you think this will provide reinforcement for the walls? If not, then what could this lead to in the future?;

5. What minimum thickness of EPS is recommended to be laid on the floor (country Russia, region Nizhny Novgorod region, Vyksa) so that the floor does not freeze? I chose 100 mm, but I am interested in the minimum possible thickness of EPS for my region. Here frosts can reach 25-30 degrees.

Many people know the expression of the famous poet Faina Ranevskaya that after a few years life gives cracks, which will grow over time if they are not patched up in time. So it is with a residential building, if a split or small crack appears on the load-bearing wall, then it is urgently necessary to solve this problem.

The very first question that comes to mind is “ What to do if a brick wall is cracked?”

First of all, you need to consult with a professional builder, because a person who does not have even a minimal level of knowledge in the field of foundation construction and repair will find it very difficult to understand how to get rid of this problem once and for all.

Why does brick crack and how to repair cracks in a brick wall, and similar to brickwork? These questions need to be examined from many angles. So let's get started.

Types and causes of crack formation

Today, construction companies offer revolutionary, strong and durable Portland cement, which has revolutionized construction materials. It is distinguished not only by its durability, but also by its instant hardening speed, which is perhaps its main advantage among its competitors in the field of reinforcing materials.

All experienced builders know that immediately after construction, the building does not immediately take its place firmly and for a long time in the main foundation, this process takes about five to ten years, and the cement mortar, on the contrary, very quickly gains its strength. Such a very large difference between the subsidence time and settlement of the house can lead to the appearance of cracks and large splits, which will intensively tear apart the mass of load-bearing masonry.

Well, as for the solution of lime with the addition of sand, things are much simpler. It hardens quite slowly and when settlement of the foundation itself begins, empty or through voids should not appear in the walls. This strengthening technology is mainly used exclusively for the construction of new houses according to today's standard, and as time shows, in new buildings there are no problems with cracks and settlement of the foundation for a long time.

Builders - specialists divide cracks among themselves in brickwork according to the following signs:

What causes them to appear: deformation of the house structure, shrinkage or temperature wear of a residential building;
External and internal view of the destruction itself on the wall: Split, rupture, cut;
Direction of destruction: horizontal, vertical, inclined at various angles;
Shape: curved, straight, closed or broken in half (that is, it almost does not reach the edge of the load-bearing wall).
Size and depth: on the surface of the wall and inside it;
How complex the repair work is, what is the risk of wall destruction: dangerous and non-hazardous;
Time since destruction: stable or unstable;
Size of the opening of the split or crack itself: microscopic (up to one millimeter), small (up to three millimeters), medium (from four to eight millimeters), large (more than ten millimeters), very large (from fifteen millimeters or more).

Several main reasons for the appearance of such destruction on the wall, of which there are quite a lot:

Settlement or destruction of the soil itself. This problem can be caused by uneven natural burning of the soil (its strong and weak sections), incorrect and unacceptable load of the main foundation, leakage of a very large amount of waste water, as well as contaminated water, into the soil. It is these reasons that can lead to the appearance of large indirect splits or to the formation of vertical cracks that can reach right up to the edge of the load-bearing wall, and so on.
The soil on which the house stands is very hardened. This phenomenon can be caused by severe frosts, which can cause uneven lifting of the foundation. In particular, soil hardening is very dangerous for an unfinished building, the walls of which have not yet hardened and have not acquired the necessary stability. In this particular case, uneven and deep cracks may form near the walls, and when the soil begins to melt after winter, the opposite process may most likely occur - settlement of the foundation, which can lead to new damage to the load-bearing walls.
New repairs to a load-bearing wall may be needed after a small building or room has been added, as the foundation may not be able to support the new, additional weight and may settle.
Uneven and inconsistent loads on the foundation of the house. For example, if a house is built in the Art Nouveau style, then luxurious and long glazing (which is very often used in this architectural style) can quite often alternate with small blind areas of the house, which will lead to a large difference in weight and ground settlement.
If the pit is located next to a building, then very high temperature conditions also have a detrimental effect on the soil, which in the future can lead not only to sedimentation of the soil, but also to its excessive looseness. It is for these reasons that medium-sized cracks can form on the walls.
Extra load due to neighboring houses. On a common foundation, the zones of greatest stress are superimposed on each other and allow the soil to settle very strongly.
The reasons may lie not only in the soil itself, but also above it. For example, collecting heavy building material in large quantities next to an unfinished building and already in the ground itself, additional loads and stresses can appear, and they can cause very strong external settlement of the foundation and the appearance of large cracks and splits.
Constant impacts on the foundation. For example, if you are driving piles on the territory of a residential building, you are constantly moving heavy vehicles, compressors are running - all this leads to the sinking of sandy soil and a strong softening of clay masses in the soil. The combination of all these factors can result in soil settlement and cracks in load-bearing walls.
High temperatures can cause vertical cracks and splits in the walls of your home. Repairing cracks in masonry is mainly required for longer buildings that do not have expansion joints.
Overloading of brickwork. In this case, cracks may appear between the walls and on the pillars. Such cracks can be identified by the characteristic closedness and verticality of their direction. Overload of masonry. They appear in walls and on pillars. A characteristic feature of crush cracks is closedness and a vertical direction.
Various non-hazardous shrinkage deformations can be observed on the plastered walls of a house - these can be small or small cracks that are very randomly scattered over the entire area of the wall and are mostly closed, and the most important thing is that they do not reach the edge of the wall. They appear due to shrinkage of an overly thick plaster mortar.

Crack sealing technology

There are many ways to repair a crack in brickwork:

You can install a brick lock or a lock with an anchor;
Reinforcement of walls using tension bolts;
Repairing a through crack with steel staples;
Carry out repair work in the area where the floor slab is unlocked;
Strengthen the cracked wall;
Make an overlay from hardened steel;
Install special brackets
Install the floor slab;
Cover the wall with a finishing layer.

Watch this video for more details:

Conclusion

Judging by all of the above, it can be noted that the general condition of a house made of building bricks must be monitored very carefully. Since the sooner a crack or split is detected, the less time and money will have to be spent on fixing this problem.