To be honest, this question is too big for this guide, but we cover it in our blog post, Kansas City foundation types—The Complete Breakdown.
Many types of cracks appear not only in the foundation but also in the walls, ceilings, and floors.
But I’ll touch on the types of cracks that give my clients the biggest scares.
Most of the time, they worry about foundation cracks.
There are 3 different types of foundation cracks:
1. Shrinkage cracks—These are hairline cracks that occur due to the normal drying and shrinkage of the concrete.
In fact, there are 2 promises they make in the concrete business:
1) It will get hard
2) It will crack.
90% of the time, these hairline cracks are harmless. They will be random and can be vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.
2. Settlement cracks—These are caused by movement in the soil around your home. They can be major concerns, particularly if they go all the way through the foundation or are greater than ¼”.
These are almost always vertical or diagonal and will start at the floor and move upward.
3. Hydrostatic (Horizontal) Cracks—When people talk about bad foundation cracks, this is it. These are caused when the soil pushes the foundation wall inward and often require a support system to keep the cracking from getting worse.
Home inspectors are trained to evaluate and report on all types of cracks. If you have any questions about the type of crack you have or how serious it is, never hesitate to ask your inspector.
