You may have asked yourself “What is the meaning of that crack in the side of my home or foundation?”

Most foundation failure results from soil-related problems: poor compaction, overloading, excessive organic materials, erosion or expansive soils that expand and shrink with changes in moisture content. These conditions can produce stresses that damage a home’s foundation and the rest of the structure as well.

In North Carolina there are areas of high moisture and abnormally dry conditions. [http://www.ncdrought.org/] Because of the lack of or too much rain, annual routine foundation inspections can reveal problems with your foundation.

Water is a big culprit in foundation damage, especially if it seeps into the home from rain, sprinkler systems and other sources of moisture. When water is unable to drain properly, it will accumulate in puddles near the structure.  The soil surrounding your foundation wall becomes too saturated with water. It starts to get heavier and heavier and, since your foundation concrete footers are underground, the soil begins to build up pressure against the side of your walls. Whether this happens because of rain, poor drainage or other problems, the pressure against your walls can begin to cause the walls to bow or bend.

Typically, the first signs that this problem is occurring will be large cracks in your concrete walls. If you fail to act to correct the problem, the cracks will grow larger and larger, and the wall will begin to bend and break.

Should you find cracks in your Cary NC foundation, contact a foundation repair specialist for evaluation to prevent future problems.