Ceiling Cracks
If you notice cracks in the ceiling of your Alabama home, you may assume that they were caused by water damage or have appeared as a result of aging. While this may be the case, ceiling cracks can also show signs of a foundation problem in your home. If your foundation starts to shift or settle, it can cause bowing walls, uneven floors, gaps, and spaces, sticking doors or windows, and cracks in the walls, floors, or ceiling. If you do see ceiling cracks in your home, Affordable Foundation and Home Repair can help.
The first step in repairing cracks is determining the cause. This can be done by examining the type of crack in your ceiling:
Spiderweb Cracks
If you have cracks shaped like a spiderweb, they are probably the result of normal home aging. Cracks smaller than 1/16 inch are probably not a major issue, but larger cracks may be a sign of structural damage.
Vertical Cracks
Cracks that run lengthwise across the ceiling and down the wall may indicate a weak wall stud, but can also indicate serious foundation settlement or shifting.
Cracks at Edges of Ceiling
If there are cracks around the edges of your ceiling, these cracks are likely caused by normal home settlement. If these cracks expand or are wider than 1/16 inch, they should be looked at by a professional foundation repair contractor.
Cracks with a Bowed Ceiling
If the cracks in your ceiling are accompanied by a sagging or bowing ceiling, they may be the result of sagging ceiling joists. This structural problem may be the result of foundation shifting, settlement, or failure in your home.
If you find vertical ceiling cracks or cracks larger than 1/16 inch, call Affordable Foundation and Home Repair for a free inspection and estimate.
Repairing Ceiling Cracks in Alabama
We offer several foundation repair options for ceiling cracks in your home or business. Because ceiling cracks are often caused by a sinking or settling foundation, lifting and stabilizing your foundation with foundation piers can help. Our team provides helical pier installation to lift sinking foundations. These underpinning devices are driven deep underground beneath the settling portion of the foundation until they reach stable soils. Helical piers are screwed into the ground instead of driven in to add extra stabilization. Once they reach stable soil, the piers are secured to the foundation and it is lifted using a hydraulic system. This raises the home back to the appropriate level and provides long-term stability.
We also offer solutions for bowing and leaning basement walls that have caused ceiling cracks or other issues. These solutions include helical tiebacks and wall plate anchors. Helical tiebacks are like helical piers that are installed horizontally through the basement wall to pull it back into place. Plate anchors also pull the wall back into place but utilize a wall plate attached to the interior basement wall and a rod and anchor installed in the adjacent ground outside the basement.
Contact our team today to learn which is the best solution for the ceiling cracks in your Alabama home or business.
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