House Settling with Cracks – Causes and Repairs (2024)

Is your House Settling with Cracks?

Settling houses often have cracks in the drywall above doors, ceilings, and bricks. To fix the foundation requires a strong understanding of the building construction, the causes of the settlement, and foundation repair options.

When a house is settling, cracks begin to form because voids are created. One part of the house is staying still, while another part of the house is dropping. The crack opens and expands as one part of the house settles faster than another.

The challenge with diagnosing houses with settlement is to determine exactly what is settling because there are multiple building components that could be the source of the settling. Since many things could be going wrong, a professional assessment is recommended.

For help with foundation settlement in the greater Hampton Roads, VA / NC region, learn more about BAY Crawl Space & Foundation Repair at our Home Page,About Us Page, orRequest A Free Quote Page.

Top 10 Causes of a House Settling, with Cracks in the Drywall or Brick:

  1. Floor supports, aka piers, are settling
  2. The exterior foundation has cracks and is settling
  3. Floor joists are sagging
  4. Support beams, aka girders, are bowing
  5. The heaviest weight in a home is not supported on top of the proper supports
  6. Joists or beams are moist and crushing under the weight of the home
  7. Walls were installed in between floor joists
  8. Partition walls were installed ‘Mid-Span’ between beams
  9. The house is shrinking due to a decrease in moisture
  10. The house is swelling due to an increase in moisture

While this list may seem long, a building expert trained in foundation repair should be able to identify the specific causes of the house settling and construct a plan that will halt futuresettlement.

Since there are so many causes of houses settling, there are many repairs. The main focus should be to permanently stabilize the house in the areas that are settling and control moisture.

Top 10 Recommended Repairs for Settling Houses Include:

  1. Add floor supports, aka Titan Crawl Jacks
  2. Add new beams as needed
  3. Sister floor joists
  4. Replace beams
  5. Reinforce beams
  6. Foundation push piersfor cracked exterior footings
  7. Custom structural repairs, including removal and replacement of floors
  8. Control the moisture from crawl space flooding
  9. Control the moisture from the damp earth
  10. Control the moisture from outside humidity

These are only a few of the most common repairs we recommend, but we do not condone a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Every house and crack should be diagnosed and assigned a repair solution based on the unique circ*mstances of that individual home, along with the homeowner’s preferences.

Inspecting Your Home for Settling and Cracks:

Our Expert Advisors are trained to identify the causes and best repair options for your home. If you’re concerned about the integrity of your home, we offer free, no-obligation inspections and estimates. When we inspect your home, we explain the problems and solutions and explore multiple options to find the best solution for you.

Why Choose BAY to Fix Your Foundation Settlement?

BAY Crawl Space & Foundation Repair is your one-stop solution for foundation settlement in Virginia Beach, Newport News, Suffolk, and the surrounding region. Our expert teams have over 400 collective years of experience fixing homes in the Hampton Roads, VA & NC region.

Our staff includes engineering experts, repair specialists, and a full support team ready to deliver exceptional customer service and a fast turnaround of your project. This is why BAY Crawl Space can offer great long-term warranties on the installation and materials for your repair.

You can learn more about BAY’s foundation settlement solutions by taking advantage of our free crawl space and foundation inspection. Your inspection will give you a much better understanding of the issues at hand, along with your best options for repair.

ContactBAYCrawl Space&Foundation Repairtoday by filling outour online form or call 757-460-0444 for a free inspection.

About BAY Crawl Space & Foundation Repair

BAY is an award-winning crawl space and foundation repair contractor. We’re proud to service an 80-mile radius around our Norfolk, VA headquarters, Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 5 pm.

BAY is best known for having amazing reviews (quality & quantity), superior expertise, special methods, and affordable pricing options. We have the ‘Best of the Best’ on our team. Our All-Star Team delivers great customer experiences and the best quality for a great price.

Our reputation in the Hampton Roads community is with homeowners, engineers, city permitting offices, home services professionals, and online as a crawl space foundation repair contractor is outstanding.

Reviews Summary & Links

We have ranked #1 for crawl space repair in Hampton Roads for 8 years (Google: 2015-2023), ranked top 5% in the USA with Super Service Awards for 5 years (Angi: 2017-2022), were voted Best of Foundation Repair locally for 6 years (CoVA BIZ 2018-2023), were voted “Best of the Best” nationally in 2020 for the foundation repair category, and won the “Best Places to Work” award (CoVA BIZ).

House Settling with Cracks – Causes and Repairs (2024)

FAQs

How do you fix cracks in a house when settling? ›

Top 10 Recommended Repairs for Settling Houses Include:
  1. Add floor supports, aka Titan Crawl Jacks.
  2. Add new beams as needed.
  3. Sister floor joists.
  4. Replace beams.
  5. Reinforce beams.
  6. Foundation push piers for cracked exterior footings.
  7. Custom structural repairs, including removal and replacement of floors.

When should I worry about settling cracks in my house? ›

Cracks in walls or floors may be a sign of the foundation settling. If the cracks are larger than 1/4 inch, it is important to have them inspected by a professional to determine if it is a serious issue.

Should I buy house with settlement cracks? ›

If the home inspection or personal observation reveals cracks in the walls, ceilings or the home's exterior, you should consider hiring a structural engineer to carry out a closer inspection of the foundation. The engineer will determine whether the problems are minor and not a small symptom of a much bigger problem.

Why do settling cracks keep coming back? ›

Drywall cracks usually emerge due to your home's foundation being compromised either by its natural settlement, foundation swaying, fluctuations in humidity temperature levels based on local climate, and seismic activity, which all put an immense amount of concentrated stress on the drywall's materials.

Do cracks in walls always mean foundation problems? ›

Before you panic, realize that narrow drywall cracks don't necessarily indicate foundation problems. Without calling a professional, you won't know for sure, but your own observations can be helpful.

When should I worry about cracks in my house walls? ›

Cracks of less than 5 millimetres wide are usually a crack in the plaster, rather than the wall itself, and can be filled and decorated over. Cracks between 5mm and 15mm wide are more likely to be serious and may need professional repairs. Any crack bigger than 25mm wide should definitely be examined by a professional.

Do cracks indicate a structural problem? ›

Typically, larger cracks (those bigger than 15mm in width) are a cause for concern, as they could point to structural issues. You'll want to get these inspected by a structural engineer. The following table can help you assess how severe cracks in your home could be and what you might need to do to fix the problem.

How much house settling is too much? ›

The amount of settling generally depends on the composition of the underlying soil, but it's not abnormal to see up to a few inches of sinkage. However, if your house settles more than that, if it settles unevenly, or if it continues to settle over time, you may have cause for concern.

Is it safe to live in a house with cracks? ›

Minor concerns, such as cracks or gaps, usually do not pose an immediate risk but indicate the need for a professional inspection soon. Neglecting this inspection will allow the issues to worsen, as foundation damage does not improve over time.

Are settling cracks covered by insurance? ›

Home insurance does not usually cover foundation cracks or settling, which are considered normal wear and tear and part of regular home maintenance.

Will a house ever stop settling? ›

Typically, a new house settles during its first three years of existence. House settling shouldn't cause major issues — just cosmetic ones, such as a thin crack where the wall meets the ceiling, which can be patched up with a bit of spackle.

Do settlement cracks reappear? ›

You may find that the crack reappears after a year or so, but this is likely to be due to thermal movement and isn't anything to worry about - unless it's getting progressively wider.

What do non-structural cracks look like? ›

Non-structural cracks range between 1 to 2 mm and are vertical or diagonal. These cracks do not pose a threat to the foundation. However, they leak water when the snow melts and during the rainy season.

Can settling cracks be repaired? ›

The key to repairing foundation settlement cracks is permanently stabilizing the footing that has settled. Correction is also a key benefit of foundation push piers. Once installed, the installation crew has the opportunity to attempt lift on the home to achieve maximum correction.

What do normal settling cracks look like? ›

“If the crack is thinner than the penny, you have a hairline crack—but if it is wider than the penny, especially if it tapers and widens, this is a settling crack.” Cracks around door frames, windows, and the ceiling can also indicate your foundation is settling.

How do you fill settlement cracks? ›

Add a little filler mixture to the crack, apply the tape and smooth out with your putty or filling knife. Now add another layer of filler to cover the tape and smooth out with your putty knife and leave to dry as instructed. Once dry, sand down the filler until it is flat and blends in with the surrounding surface.

How do you fill a settling crack? ›

How to Fill Cracks
  1. Chisel out the crack to create a backward-angled cut. ...
  2. Clean out any loose material from the crack. ...
  3. Apply a thin layer of bonding adhesive. ...
  4. Mix and trowel reinforced patching compound into the crack.

Can a cracked home foundation be fixed? ›

DIY solutions, such as epoxy injections or concrete crack sealants, can be applied to minor cracks with no signs of shifting soil or structural damage. In cases where the cracks are deeper and more severe, licensed contractors who specialize in foundation repair should be consulted.

Can house cracks be repaired? ›

The basics of crack repair are to remove all debris and excavate the crack down to firm material. A suitable, flexible crack filler or mortar mix can be used to fill the crack. Once dry, apply a new coat of paint to finish the repair.

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