Foundation crack (vertical)...earthquake?
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 709
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Foundation crack (vertical)...earthquake?
I just bought the house about a year ago. There were no cracks in the foundation at that time (or even a few weeks ago...for that matter). We just had a 5.8 earthquake last week. I'm assuming that's where the crack came from.
The crack is several inches long and maybe 1/16-1/8" wide. Is this something that I can repair or keep from spreading?
The crack is several inches long and maybe 1/16-1/8" wide. Is this something that I can repair or keep from spreading?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,004
Likes: 1
From: North of Boston MA
Be careful before submitting a claim. Talk to your agent and ask them to find out in non-specific terms if the damage you have would be covered. Once you submit a claim, even if the insurance company denies payment, you are on record as having made a claim and any discount you get could be gone. They could even cancel you or put you into the high risk pool.
You may want to talk to a structural engineer to see if the crack is even anything to worry about.
You may want to talk to a structural engineer to see if the crack is even anything to worry about.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,473
Likes: 4
From: Lafayette, IN
At the very least, you can install a crack gauge:
Amazon.com: CrackMON Concrete Crack Monitor Kit: Home Improvement
That will let you know if anything is moving over time.
Jason
Amazon.com: CrackMON Concrete Crack Monitor Kit: Home Improvement
That will let you know if anything is moving over time.
Jason
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 91
From: Concord, CA
In order to get earthquake coverage in California you need to buy a rider to your policy. As the rider is expensive you would guess right that no where near 100% buy the rider. The number is 17%. I simply can't imagine an insurance company, in another state, covering any house for earthquake damage. Especially since it was a state requirement that companies, doing business in California, offer their policy holders this coverage.
Trending Topics
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,612
Likes: 2
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 39
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Is the foundation painted or otherwise finished by a film?
There are all kinds of fiber reinforced epoxies and surface bonding cements that should be able to stabilize the entire exposed foundation and keep any crack from spreading.
Hell, if you can dry stack block and parge it with this stuff, and STILL meet code it should be more than enough to hold your house together.
In fact I was using a Kevlar pulp reinforced epoxy just today to bond and patch some stucco.
There are all kinds of fiber reinforced epoxies and surface bonding cements that should be able to stabilize the entire exposed foundation and keep any crack from spreading.
Hell, if you can dry stack block and parge it with this stuff, and STILL meet code it should be more than enough to hold your house together.
In fact I was using a Kevlar pulp reinforced epoxy just today to bond and patch some stucco.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 709
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
Here you go. The crack extends all the way up to the crawlspace vent. I'm assuming it goes down below the surface. I haven't dug it out to confirm that though.
This is a cell phone picture, so the brick/mortar/whatever it is on the right looks distorted.
This is a cell phone picture, so the brick/mortar/whatever it is on the right looks distorted.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 39
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Were it me, I would drill holes a few inches apart along the length of the crack and inject epoxy.
Put some masking tape over it to keep the epoxy from running out all over the brick.
If it's 1/8" wide you might want to add some fiber reinforcement to the epoxy to give it 'body'
The tensile strength of most epoxies is at least 10X that of the bricks or the mortar, so there's no issue with it underperforming.
In the construction fastening industry, Powers and Hilti would have products that will work.
Abatron specializes in repair and restoration epoxies.
And marine epoxies from companies like West Systems (Gougeon Brothers) and System Three would be well suited with the correct fillers such as thinset mortar or unsanded grout to obtain a good color match.
Put some masking tape over it to keep the epoxy from running out all over the brick.
If it's 1/8" wide you might want to add some fiber reinforcement to the epoxy to give it 'body'
The tensile strength of most epoxies is at least 10X that of the bricks or the mortar, so there's no issue with it underperforming.
In the construction fastening industry, Powers and Hilti would have products that will work.
Abatron specializes in repair and restoration epoxies.
And marine epoxies from companies like West Systems (Gougeon Brothers) and System Three would be well suited with the correct fillers such as thinset mortar or unsanded grout to obtain a good color match.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 709
Likes: 0
From: Virginia
I'll look into that. That's something that I know absolutely nothing about.
I reviewed the homeowners policy (USAA). Given the deductible (something like $19k), it's obvious that would only come into play if there was a complete structural failure.
I reviewed the homeowners policy (USAA). Given the deductible (something like $19k), it's obvious that would only come into play if there was a complete structural failure.