What to Do When Your Basement Walls Crack in South Jersey

When walls in basements start to crack in South Jersey, many homeowners mistakenly think these cracks are cosmetic and can be ignored until the issue becomes substantial. When that happens, homeowners are faced with trying to get the walls repaired effectively so the integrity of the basement stays solid. Here’s what to do when your basement walls crack.

What causes basement walls to crack in South Jersey?

It’s important to understand what causes basement walls to crack so you can intelligently determine what your best option is for repair. Oftentimes, unstable soil can cause basement wall damage in South Jersey homes. Unstable soils are detrimental to basement stability and can include expansive clay or improperly compacted fill. The result of these soils is an imbalanced foundation which causes settling and cracking of the basement and subsequently, basement walls. The walls of the basement can actually bow causing damage that will only get worse over time if the issue is not repaired quickly.

Bowed basement walls are more than a cosmetic issue

Some homeowners may see a bowed wall as a cosmetic issue only, but left unchecked, the walls can shear away from the foundation, and it then becomes a structural issue that can no longer be ignored and will be more expensive to repair. Even worse, the foundation will ultimately fail and impact the structural integrity of the entire home. If it gets to this point, the wall will need to be completely replaced and attached to the foundation base to reinstate structural integrity. It’s a long and expensive proposition so don’t let your basement walls get to this point!

How to repair cracked basement walls in South Jersey

A sustainable option for basement wall repair is called the Rhino Carbon Fiber System which can be used to address bowed basement walls and restore the integrity of the structure. Rhino Carbon Fiber is a patented carbon fiber system we use that repairs bowed and cracked basement and foundation walls by connecting the foundation base with the house or building framing. As a result, it’s the strongest system on the market, and the only solution to be considered for bowed or cracked concrete basement wall repairs. This repair should be done by a trained concrete professional that is well-versed in this technique. The Rhino system is known for protecting against future movement and pressure on basement walls so not only is the issue repaired, but the same issue is prevented from happening again in the future. Galvanized brackets are used to secure to the foundation and allows for equal distribution of outside pressure for further stability. The bowed walls are fixed, future issues are prevented, and no further cracking or bowing will occur.

If your South Jersey home has a situation with cracked or bowed basement walls, contact a professional like Concrete Chiropractor to address the situation and prevent and further damage from happening to your basement.