Cracks may appear on your building’s foundation after you have already started living in your house. Cracking could be as a result of advanced age, pressure and also due to expansion and contraction of concrete. Foundation cracks in Long Island NY have the tendency to form at weak points such as window frames, corners and pipe areas. As soon as you notice these cracks, it is important to track them and see if they are advancing.
Common Causes of Foundation Cracks in Long Island NY:
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Too much or too little water
When there is too much water, the soil supporting your foundation will expand causing it to move. Similarly, when there is drought, the soil shrinks and pulls itself away from that foundation.
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Extremely high or low temperatures
On days that temperatures are too high because of the sun, concrete tends to expand. At night, the temperatures go down causing the concrete to shrink back to its original position. The sudden expansion and shrinkage of the concrete is what creates foundation cracks in Long Island NY.
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Earthquakes
Earthquakes and tremors shake the ground and the foundation of your home. An unstable foundation may be moved and weakened resulting in cracks. If there were cracks existing before the quake, they may be intensified in size.
Impact of Foundation Cracks in Long Island NY:
Cracks on a foundation are not a good sign and should get any home owner worried. If they are left unattended to, they will only get worse with time. Not only are the cracks unsightly on the face of your building, they can also be pathways and homes for small insects like termites.
If water finds its way through the cracks and gets inside your building, then you will be dealing with intensified problems. A damp and wet building will definitely tamper with air flow in and out of the building and may also become breeding ground for molds.
Solutions for Foundation Cracks in Long Island NY:
Ideally, you should act on a crack as soon as it appears. Concrete cracks can easily be fixed using a concrete crack injection material that is under pressure. Leaking cracks are best repaired using a polyurethane material to stop the leakage.
Moving cracks can be corrected using a material that is epoxy-based. When epoxy is bonded to the concrete, a stronger material that holds the foundation in place is created.
While the concrete injections and the epoxy materials repair the crack, do not forget to waterproof your foundation so that you deal with water leaks as well.
