The cracked appeared 12 years ago and is getting bigger. The crack started from the top of the wall and has worked it’s way down to the basement floor. I haven’t pulled a string line across it so at this time I don’t know if the wall is being pushed in or not – it doesn’t appear to be without the string line.
I am aware of the glass trick but over time I know the crack is getting bigger. There does not appear to be any other signs of settleing in the foundation. Once the crack reaches the floor and the crack continues along the floor I’ll have to assume the foundation is settling somewhere.
What are your ideas regarding pouring a slurry of concrete down the openings in the concrete blocks?
thanks for your comments guys.
mykola
Replies
bump...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Did we lose that last version of this discussion?
Put a straightedge on the wall.
If it is not deflected inward or outward, then the probability is that the top half of wall was put into tension, which block walls do not like. The crack is the wall's attempt to resolve that force. In this case, filling the cores with grout would be a waste of time and money. You'd need to address the reason why the wall was deflected along its span.
Another way to say this is that if there is no inward or outward deflection, that leaves two possibilities. Either there is an upward force on the wall in the vicinity of the crack, or a downward force at one or both ends of the wall away from the crack.
I would not assume settling yet.
If there is inward or outward deflection, then yes, it might be worthwhile to put some grout and rebar in the cores.
But we still really do need more info.
Does the crack go nearly straight up and down, splitting the blocks as is goes? Or is it a stair-step type, where it is following the mortar joints?
A couple of pics could help the diagnosis.
Shawn
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checker Contracting - SE Michigan
Good question. This will be interesting.