Cracks in the wall of a house: causes and elimination. Cracks in the house

Today, a turnkey frame house in Vologda is ordered very often. If a crack appears in the wall of a house, it should not be treated carelessly. After all, this is all due to the fact that a technological error was made during the construction of the foundation or wall of the building! But, having noticed such a nuisance and figured out what’s going on in time, you can eliminate the problem before serious negative consequences begin.

Causes of cracks in the wall of a house, and what to do?

When the foundation of a building is done correctly, it will stand strong, despite the movement of soil layers in different directions. But if cracks appear on the walls, then something is wrong with the foundation...

In addition, there are other reasons why a crack may appear in the wall. brick house, or panel. For example, due to the fact that the design of the entire structure is absolutely imperfect, or errors were made in the design, or perhaps shortcomings during the construction process.

The first thing to say is the heterogeneity of the soil under the foundation. And the most interesting thing is that the density of the soil changes over time!

Well, before you repair cracks in the walls of your house, you need to understand where they came from.

How to understand the reasons for the formation of cracks on the walls of houses

Be sure to record the temperature and amount of precipitation during this period. It is advisable to keep this record for a whole year.

To clearly see what changes are taking place, you need to attach alabaster lumps to the crack, after soaking them. They will resemble plasticine in consistency. Beacons must be installed at intervals of 1 meter throughout the crack. Well, by checking such marks at a certain interval, you will determine the reason:

• Naturally, if the mark cracks, or maybe even falls off, the crack will grow. Based on the gap, you can draw conclusions about how quickly the cracks increase.
• The mark may crack, but there will be no gap left, dynamic loads are applied to the wall, and there are no stresses or further discrepancies in the material.
• The mark is intact and there is no tension in the wall. This means that the crack appeared as a result of the shrinkage occurring once.

At the same time, it can be quite difficult to determine the causes of cracks on your own. Therefore, in many cases it is still worth turning to professional craftsmen. After all, the matter is quite serious.

Of course, the most dangerous case is when the crack grows. This means that either the foundation or the walls will be destroyed in any case. Of course, there is always a way out. For example, rebuilding a damaged area of ​​a house. But, if you notice the problem in time, then you can save yourself with such an option as tight fitting.

In general, this is a fairly simple process:

• It is necessary to install steel corners along the outer corners; they must have 10 cm shelves.
• Along the walls, on the crutches, it is necessary to lay at least a couple of smooth reinforcing lines (at the top and bottom).
• Cut threads on all rods, and screw nuts onto the reinforcement, welded to steel corners.
• On the side of the reinforcement bars, at a distance of 1 m, small rods should be welded to transmit rotation using an ordinary adjustable wrench.
• When the tightening is completed, two people need to simultaneously twist the rods, while the tension must be gradually increased.

In this case, cracks can be immediately avoided and they will not even be visible.

To strengthen the wall in problem areas, nessesary to use:

• Reinforcement on the outside using steel or carbon fiber mesh.
• Anchor fastenings, metal frames.
• Embedded reinforcing elements along grooves.
• Injection method.

To seal any crack, you need to completely clean it and widen it to 1.5 cm. Next, the gap needs to be filled with mortar.

If cracks appear in the walls of a panel house, brick or in the foundation, it is imperative, and as soon as possible, to take necessary measures to eliminate them. For example, you may need to strengthen the foundation. This can be done using screw piles, as well as side or bottom gravies. Only after a construction examination has been carried out will you be able to determine ways to strengthen the foundation, and indeed, eliminate the problem of cracks.

10 photos of cracks in the wall of the house

Sooner or later, almost every property owner is faced with such an unpleasant thing as the discovery of a crack. And the reasons for this can be very diverse. This article will talk about repairing cracks in the walls of a house.

Preventing cracks in the walls of a new home

The appearance of cracks on the surface of the walls does not bode well. IN best case scenario you will have to do the finishing work again, and you don’t even want to think about the worst options. However, it is difficult for the average person to assess the level of threat, so it is worth resorting to the services of specialized organizations that will carry out design and survey work. The result will be an act that will indicate the reasons for the appearance of these defects, the dynamics of development, a conclusion about the hazard class, as well as recommendations (design solution) for their elimination.

Most residents, seeing cracks, begin to sound the alarm and contact housing companies and other similar services. Upon arrival of specialists, it turns out that the cracks were formed due to temperature changes, low-quality finishing materials or their natural wear and tear. However, in such situations, finding out the origin of the various depressions and sizes of the crevices will not be superfluous.

General information

• It should be remembered that any building construction must meet the relevant standards and a number of important requirements. When a structure ceases to resist operational loads, it begins to collapse. This state is called limiting. The resulting damage does not allow further operation of the building.
• Therefore, if any element of a structure (foundation, floors, walls) ceases to meet certain standards and rules, it means that it has reached a limiting state. As a result, signs of wear begin to appear, namely cracks of various shapes and sizes. And the larger they are, the wider the depth of opening, the more dangerous they are.

• But the appearance of small cracks, the so-called cobwebs, in new buildings does not pose any danger. After all, the reason for this is the natural subsidence of the building. After 3-6 months, new microcracks stop appearing, and old ones stop expanding.
• The progression of cracks should alert you; this indicates the beginning of structural destruction. Here measures should be taken to eliminate the cause of destruction.

Cracks in the walls of wooden houses

• As for wooden buildings, cracks often occur under the influence of moisture retained in the inner layers of timber or logs. Their formation can be minimized by compensatory cutting, which is performed along the entire length of the lumber with a depth of no more than 1/5 of the log diameter.

• In cases where large cracks have formed in an exploited building, there is no need to panic. Such defects are harmless and do not in any way affect the user properties of the walls. To be convinced of this, just look at the log houses riddled with cracks in remote villages that have stood there for several decades.
• Therefore, sealing cracks in wooden houses is carried out only for aesthetics. The materials used are different, but, unfortunately, none of them have a long service life:
  • sealant cannot provide long-term adhesion to wood. This seal will last no more than 2-3 seasons. But after peeling off, you can apply a new layer on top of the old one, but again it will last for a couple of years;

• strands made of foamed polyethylene are intended for indoor use, so their use is impractical;
• any solid compositions are also not suitable for this type of building. The tree constantly absorbs and releases moisture back, changing its size depending on the time of year. This is why any sealing material peels off
• the best option for sealing cracks in wooden surfaces carried out by caulking with moss or flax-hemp braids.

Why do cracks form in the walls of a brick house?

The appearance of this kind of defect on walls made of brick, foam blocks or aerated concrete can be influenced by various reasons, the most common are:

• violation of the masonry process (thickened horizontal seams, lack of dressing and reinforcement);
• poor-quality material and/or incorrectly mixed solution (violation of proportions when mixing, that is, by eye);
• use of building materials for other purposes (for example, a silicate product cannot be used in rooms with high humidity);
• combining materials with different characteristics (the combination of clay bricks and cinder blocks is unacceptable);
• uneven shrinkage of the foundation.

Formation of cracks in reinforced concrete structures occurs due to the following factors:

• non-compliance with concrete pouring technology (low vibration, quick drying, error in the recipe when mixing the concrete solution);
• mechanical deformations, external load (lack of expansion joints and skipping or reducing the amount of reinforcement);
• uneven settlement of the base.

Cracks in the wall what to do

Cracks can be patched in different ways; their opening will be determined by the choice of material.

• If the depth of the crack is small, then it is plastered with sand-cement mortar, with the addition of PVA glue or cement putty for external use. Of course, the previously damaged area and the adjacent part of the wall must be cleaned of crumbling fragments, dusted, treated with a primer, and reinforcing tape applied.

• A medium-sized crack is sealed using a metal mesh. Here, all cracked coating is removed and must be primed. Next, holes are drilled for the dowels in increments of 25-30 cm. A mesh with 5x5 cm cells is attached to the surface using screws with wide washers. If the emergency area is large and it is necessary to lay another strip of reinforcing material, then this is done with an overlap (at least 10 cm). The cement-based plaster is pressed into the mesh so that it is attached to the wall. After light leveling, you need to wait until it dries completely, and only then apply the next finishing layer.
• You can also use polyurethane foam - the gap is foamed, after drying the residue is cut off and then applied Decoration Materials(plastering, painting, etc.).

Drastic methods for eliminating a crack in the wall of a house

Determining whether a crack is progressing is quite simple. To do this, take paper strips that are glued across the crack in several places (top, bottom and middle). Then everything is simple, if the paper is torn, then it is accordingly necessary to identify and eliminate the causes of this defect.

Tip: a gypsum plate can also act as a beacon. You can take plastic (glass) elements that fit tightly together and are attached on opposite sides of the crack. Once every 7-10 days, the beacons are inspected, data is recorded and compared with the original records. Their displacement or deformation signals the development (expansion) of the gap.

Anchor installation

• You can stop the “spreading” of large cracks with a wide opening using an anchor (channel). First, the plaster is knocked down to the length of the metal plate; if this parameter is 1 meter, then the area is cleaned 50 cm on each side of the gap. The depth of the groove must correspond to the thickness of the metal.
• Depending on the thickness of the wall, the material from which it is made, as well as its condition, fastening is carried out using dowels, anchor bolts or long bolts and nuts. In the latter case, the wall is drilled through.

• The crack and grooves are cleaned and filled with polyurethane foam. The anchor is inserted into the recess and secured with hardware. It is better to install the tightening system in 3 places, stepping back a little from the beginning and end of the gap, and in the middle. Then the reinforcing material is installed and the emergency zone is plastered.
• Instead of plates, staples will do. You can prepare them yourself; to do this, take reinforcement of the required length; you must take into account the bending of both ends of the metal by approximately 15-20 cm.
• Grooves are prepared across the crack in several places so that the metal bracket sits a little deeper in relation to the surface. For example, if the cross-section of the reinforcement is 10 mm, then the depth of the groove should be 13-15 mm.
• Holes for the ends of the workpiece are drilled with the appropriate diameter and equal to its length. You should not hammer a bracket into a wall, as this may cause a crack to widen or cause destruction of the area adjacent to it.
• Next, standard manipulations are performed: cleaning, priming, reinforcement, plastering.

Diagnosis of cracks by specialists

• If the manipulations carried out did not lead to a positive result (cracks expand or appear in other areas), then the time has come to correct the mistakes made during the construction of the structure.
• To do this, you should contact a specialized company that will conduct research and offer the optimal solution to this difficult issue. Specialists will prepare a project for the restoration of the building’s structural elements.

The result will depend on the violations detected during the construction process:

• dismantling the emergency wall and relaying brick and block rows;
• performance monolithic design- reinforcing belt;
• strengthening of supports or their complete replacement;
• restoration of the blind area;
• lengthening the load-bearing wall and strengthening the piers.

How to repair a crack in a wall inside a house

There are many factors that influence the appearance of different “caliber” of cracks and cracks on the walls and ceilings of a room:

• natural shrinkage of the house, violation of construction technology;
• low-quality materials or their incompatibility, improper application;
• unfavorable operating conditions (high humidity, temperature changes).

Before you begin to eliminate cracks, it is necessary to identify and correct the reason why the surface is cracking. Otherwise, all the efforts and money spent will not be worth it.

Drywall

• Small cracks are more likely to appear on such material. The cobwebs indicate that a thick layer of putty may have been applied. Another reason is a violation of the temperature regime, so many people artificially pump up heat (with guns, hair dryers or heaters) to dry the surface faster. You definitely can’t do this; the finishing material should dry and not harden.
• Such defects in the horizontal or vertical direction often occur at the joints of sheets. There are two sources of their formation:
  • weakened frame;
  • absence of serpyanka on the seams.

Correction

You can get rid of the defect only by removing the damaged layer and applying a thinner one, not exceeding 2 mm. If there is a need for another coating of the surface, then you must first wait until the applied material has completely dried, and only then proceed with applying the next layer.

If the problem is in the metal structure underneath the drywall, then deeper cracks cannot be repaired. But when the base is securely fixed to the wall renovation work are produced as follows:

• - cracks are deepened using a sharp knife at an angle of 45°, a kind of groove is made;
• - the furrow is filled with a small amount of mixture intended specifically for these purposes;
• - a serpyanka tape is “glued” on top and the surface is leveled.

Plastered walls

Often the sources of such damage are incorrect application of the material or improper proportions when mixing the dry mixture with water. Of course, there are more serious reasons that cause surface cracking, but this was discussed above.

Correction

• The ideal material for masking an imperfect surface is fiberglass. It will hide existing cracks, prevent new ones from forming and old ones from expanding. Before work, it is enough to fill only particularly deep recesses with putty and treat the wall with a deep penetration primer.
• You can completely remove the peeling plaster, after which the surface is primed and puttied. Before work, carefully read the information on the packaging regarding dilution proportions, as well as the recommended thickness of the material layer.

Conclusion

Almost all cracks that form in the walls of a house are due to the lack of proper supervision, low qualifications of workers and, consequently, poor quality work. Therefore, it is very important when constructing buildings for any purpose to follow all technical conditions, norms and rules. And:

• take into account soil properties;
• calculate the safety factor of load-bearing structures;
• use high quality building materials.

Before you cover up a crack in the wall of a house yourself, you need to make sure that it does not affect the strength of the entire structure and does not pose a threat. And to avoid such a problem, it is better to entrust construction to licensed contractors, to whom, based on the contract, you can make claims for poorly performed work.

Guaranteed results with experts who defend their findings in court for free.

Cracks in the walls of buildings can appear suddenly, and not only in old houses, but also in new buildings, panel and brick. This, of course, is not the norm, but there is no need to panic about it. It is better to sensibly assess the scale and understand how dangerous the destruction is in order to determine how to eliminate it.

All cracks are divided into two types:

• Passive - if the cracking occurred instantly and does not go further, in this case you can eliminate the defect yourself;
• Active - if a crack in the wall of a house expands or lengthens over time, there is a risk of the wall or building collapsing, in this case you need to call specialists from the specialized service, who will make a decision.

There are dozens of reasons why a building deforms and, as a consequence, serious faults or “spider webs” appear. They are caused by various factors, but the most common is problems with the foundation. It is also the most dangerous and difficult, since in some cases you have to redo everything anew, or somehow strengthen the foundation, and this is often not easy.

So, let’s look in detail at why cracks appear on the walls in various buildings, whether to worry, and how to repair them.

Why do wall cracks occur so often in new homes?

Cracking of new buildings is a fairly common phenomenon. 9 out of 10 houses may crack in a few years due to shrinkage, but, as a rule, cracks on the walls in a new house are small and passive, and after sealing there are no problems.

Experts do not recommend making major renovations in the first year and a half, and if your apartment is on the lower floors, and many people will be doing renovations on top, you should wait a little longer. The fact is that all the neighbors above will “add” weight to the structure with plaster and finishing, which means the house will shrink even more noticeably. Small cracks on the walls in a new house do not seem to be terrible, but they can lead to tiles falling off, wallpaper deformation and similar problems. It is better to wait with finishing than to redo everything again. In addition, small “cobwebs” under the wallpaper will not be noticeable, and it is advisable to repair it as soon as it appears.

Why did a crack appear in the wall of a house that no longer shrinks?

In more lived-in and seemingly strong houses, cracks can appear completely unexpectedly, and usually they are what frighten residents the most. The reasons in this case can be very different.

• Violation of construction technology, in which the brick wall was bandaged incorrectly. Long years everything is fine, and then a fault appears, which is also difficult to repair.
• Violation of communication technology. It happens that first a house is built, and then communications are brought in, as a result of which the foundation is dug up - this is one of the common causes of horizontal cracks in the wall.
• The foundation can settle on its own, for example, due to an incorrectly calculated load or insufficiently competent design without specialized calculations. Owners of private houses often suffer from this because they do not conduct geodetic surveys, do not study the soil characteristics, and choose the wrong type of foundation. Causes of cracks in walls can also include improperly placed sand under the foundation, or groundwater not taken into account during construction.

Why did a crack appear on the wall of the old house?

In old houses that have stood for decades without problems, sudden cracking can occur due to new construction taking place nearby, digging a pit nearby, or vibrations occurring when installing piles or re-laying a road. Often problems arise due to unsuccessful, ill-conceived redevelopment, when the new owner demolishes load-bearing supports, or illegal construction of basements and subfloors, as a result of which the load shifts and the foundation suffers. A crack in the outer wall of a house also occurs due to the fact that the mortar can crumble over time, and if floors were added to the house or it was extended, the problem can become critical.

Problem with a crack in the load-bearing wall at the base of the building

Another common answer to the question of why cracks appear on walls is ill-conceived redevelopment, especially on the ground and first floors. This happens when residential apartments are converted into non-residential buildings, shops or service establishments are installed, and at the same time load-bearing walls are affected. The load on those remaining is greater, and the house is destroyed from the inside, and the residents of the upper floors are usually the first to notice the problem.

It is usually impossible to resolve the issue with the owners of the premises, so if cracks appear on the internal walls, and at the same time there are offices or retail premises below, it is necessary to contact the relevant authorities to check the condition of the building.

Types of cracks in walls

You can try to determine the cause of cracking yourself, focusing on the direction of the fault: vertical, horizontal, in the corner. In brick walls, the direction may be broken, but the general trend is usually visible.

• Vertical cracks. In the middle part of the building, thermal deformation may occur if there is a problem with expansion joints. In places of supports and beams - due to overloading of the walls (this is very dangerous). The reason may also be a weak foundation, as a result of which one part of the building settles differently.
• Horizontal cracks on the wall of a house can be caused by subsidence of the foundation in its central part, and moisture entering the walls and foundation. They are less dangerous for the structure as a whole, but it is necessary to check the quality of the insulation. The causes of horizontal cracks in the wall are usually less dangerous, and the building collapses more slowly than with vertical ones. But it is also more difficult to fasten the structure; serious measures may be required to correct the situation.
• In the corner of the wall, destruction can occur due to flooding of the foundation; this often happens when moisture drips from the roof into this corner. Microcracks are usually harmless, although they are more difficult to repair.

In any case, if there is a crack in the wall of the house, you should call specialists who will determine the cause and scale of the problem.

What kind of cracks in the walls of a house are dangerous?

A fine web of cracks is generally not dangerous, no matter where it is located. But in any case, it is better to control this process.

To determine the danger, that is, the future divergence of the wall, various beacons are used. In domestic conditions, to control a crack in a wall inside a house, you can use paper or plaster, which is applied to the crack at its different ends, and possibly in the middle. If the line is broken, you will need to apply beacons to all areas. Be sure to write down the installation date next to it.

It happens that it is not possible to install a beacon on an external wall yourself if the fault occurs on high floors. In addition, plaster and paper simply will not withstand weather conditions, and a gypsum beacon can generally crack due to temperature changes. There are other options for beacons, which are available to specialized specialists, and are suitable for external monitoring.

• If over the course of 8-12 months a crack in the outer wall of a house or inside it has not changed or enlarged, it can be considered passive, stable, and can be repaired.
• If the beacon is deformed or destroyed, be sure to call specialists, this means that the process is active and measures need to be taken.

Crack in the wall of a house: what to do and how to repair it

There are many ways to solve the problem, and the choice of a particular one depends on the characteristics of the fault and its development.

Keep in mind: if a large crack in the wall quickly spreads and the beacons are destroyed, you are unlikely to cope on your own; you may have to fasten the house with metal plates, raise the building to adjust the foundation, strengthen it, put supports instead of load-bearing walls, etc.

Crack in the outer wall

Small stable cracks are cleaned of plaster and finishing, a deep penetration primer is applied, and the entire crack is covered with a putty mesh so that it reliably covers the edges. Putty is applied on top, which is better reinforced, as it will withstand temperature changes and exposure to weather conditions.

Cracks in the brick are sealed using a metal mesh for plaster, which is secured with bolts. A layer of mortar (cement + sand) is applied to it.

A large crack in the wall is filled with polyurethane foam, but first you need to widen and clean it, perhaps rinse it with water and dry it so that more solution gets inside. There are various nozzles for the cylinders, so you can seal even complex bends.

Cracks in concrete are also cleaned, blown out with foam and sealed cement-sand mixture.

Crack in the corner of the wall

It especially often occurs at the joints of slabs, and if it is a corner of the house, then it can blow noticeably from it. It is sealed either with polyurethane foam and then plastered, or a system of metal plates is used; the entire house, if the problem is serious, or part of it can be pulled together.

IN multi-storey buildings you have to do everything from the inside, or order insulation along with sealing cracks. If the crack is large, it must be deepened and thoroughly cleaned, preferably with a construction vacuum cleaner, or at least with a brush, and the foam is applied to the primer that has not yet dried.

Wall cracks inside the house

The fine cobwebs that have formed as a result of the shrinkage of the new building can be easily covered up: you will need a putty mesh and a deep penetration primer. A primer is applied to the cleaned wall with the coating removed, covered with a mesh, and sealed with putty. Then, after drying, the surface can be rubbed and painted, or covered with wallpaper. It's better to wait a little to make sure the problem doesn't happen again.

If there is a crack in the wall concrete house, it needs to be expanded, creating 45-degree angles, and primed well. Sealing is carried out either with concrete mortar or sealant. The sealant is better because it is a little “rubbery,” which means that future movements will be compensated and the crack will not expand. Do not use silicone-based sealant, as nothing sticks to it and it will be difficult to paint over or wallpaper it later. A crack in the wall of a house can also be sealed with any cement-based mixtures, for example, tile adhesive, or plaster. You can use an emulsion to which cement is added, or there is an even more budget-friendly option - PVA glue and cement. This mixture can be applied with a spatula, and special guns are used for the sealant to help squeeze it out of the tube. The remaining mixture is removed with a spatula flush with the wall.

Cracks in a plasterboard wall are usually caused by excess moisture, dampness, or improper installation. If flooding occurs, the sheets need to be changed; in other cases, you can save the situation using a special putty for drywall, or use acrylic (sold in the same tubes as sealant). Another option is to glue fiberglass; it is more reliable, although more expensive and labor-intensive. All these methods can only be used if the plasterboard sheet is properly attached to the wall, if it does not wobble, otherwise the sheet itself needs to be changed.

Vertical and horizontal cracks on the wall of a brick house are repaired in various ways, depending on the depth and nature of the fault. In any case, if the crack is active, there is no point in sealing it using simple methods, since it will continue to grow. Repair only makes sense when the fault has stopped and been stable for several months. Small cracks on internal brick walls are sealed with cement mortar, but if the crack is larger than 7-10 mm, you need to widen it with a hammer (for better adhesion of the mortar) and seal it with a mixture of cement and sand. A crack larger than 10mm requires professional intervention, regardless of whether it is expanding or not.

Crack in the wall of a house: what to do if the wall is load-bearing?

You can repair cracks yourself only if the crack is small and does not expand. In this case, the same technologies are used as when repairing small damage in a brick wall. But it is important to understand that a fault in a load-bearing wall can lead to the collapse of the entire building, so it is worth contacting specialists. They will check the condition of the building and find out why the cracks in the wall appeared in the first place: perhaps the neighbors did a redevelopment somewhere, or something happened in the basement of the building, and it urgently needs to be strengthened, water pumped out, the roof raised and the load reduced.

A crack in a load-bearing wall is always very dangerous, so there is no point in delaying it, especially if it is active and expanding. You can identify a dangerous fault within a day or two by installing a simple plaster or paper beacon and checking its safety and absence of deformation. In any case, it's better to be safe.

Through cracks in the walls

The most dangerous type of cracking, in which the building can be considered unsafe. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, but most often there are problems with the foundation or extension, or construction work ongoing nearby.

To seal through cracks in the walls, a lime-cement mortar is used; if the crack is large, brick fragments can be added to it. Formwork may be needed to hold the mortar in place until it hardens completely.

Sometimes they use metal plates made of durable material, and at least three strips will be needed, sometimes more. They are secured with bolts and dowels. After fixing, a specialist’s decision is required - if a crack appears in the wall of the house, then the problem is already quite serious. The crack can be repaired from the inside with polyurethane foam, but in any case, the cause must be eliminated.

Conclusion

If a crack appears in the wall of a house, assess its scale and danger, visually (in the case of “cobweb” cracks) or using a beacon. Different materials and technologies are used to seal different types of walls, but if the crack grows or is large in itself, it is better to consult with specialists. Minor repairs can be done independently, but only if the fault is stable and there is no reason to believe that future cracks in the walls of buildings can lead to an emergency.

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Cracks in the house - causes, methods of elimination

A crack may appear on the wall of a house at any moment, and the owners of the building immediately wonder how dangerous this phenomenon is. Experts distinguish between two types of cracks – passive and active. And if in the first case the defect in question can be “removed” with your own hands, then in the second case you will have to involve professionals in the work. But first you need to understand what factors provoke the appearance of cracks.

Contents: Causes of cracks in a house How to determine the level of danger of cracks in a house Methods for eliminating cracks in a house - How to eliminate a crack in a house from the inside - Eliminating a crack in a house from the outside of a wall What to do if a crack in a house diverges Prevention of cracks in a house

Causes of cracks in the house

It is believed that in the first five years after the construction of a house, cracks appear on the walls in 90% of cases - experts call this natural shrinkage, which does not pose any danger. But it also happens that the house is many years old, it is quite lived-in, all structures are regularly repaired, but cracks still appear. What is the reason for this phenomenon?

Firstly, cracks in the house may appear due to violations in the technology of constructing the walls themselves. For example, if the dressing of brickwork was carried out incorrectly.

Secondly, the phenomenon in question on the walls of a house may be caused by non-compliance with the sequence of construction work. For example, communication systems (water supply, sewerage) are often installed after the house has been built - the foundation has to be excavated, which negatively affects its quality characteristics.

Thirdly, settlement of the foundation often occurs - for example, due to compression of the foundation soil or too much pressure from the house on the foundation. This is possible if the construction of the foundation was carried out without preliminary calculations and design. The most common mistakes:

• During the construction of the foundation, geodetic surveys were not carried out, the nature of the soil was not studied;
• the ground resistance taken as a basis was erroneous and greatly overestimated;
• geodetic surveys on construction site were carried out in the summer - the level of rise was not calculated groundwater;
• a mistake was made when choosing the type of foundation - for example, instead of a columnar one, a linear one was laid;
• calculations of the depth of the foundation and its thickness were not made - usually data from past construction projects are taken as the basis for these parameters;
• violations of the technology for laying a sand cushion under the foundation - for example, insufficient layer thickness or poor-quality sand compaction.

Please note: cracks in an old house can also occur due to structural changes in the building. Often, owners install a subfloor in a foundation that is not intended for this purpose, and the result will be displacement/shrinkage of the foundation base.

When even a small crack is detected, the main question arises: is it dangerous? Checking this is quite simple - you need to install a control beacon and observe the “behavior” of the crack for a long time. Professionals install special control beacons such as plate ones, which must be registered with the supervisory authorities. At home, when solving the problem yourself, you can use one of the following methods:

• stick a strip of paper onto the crack indicating the installation date;
• prepare a gypsum solution and place a strip of it on the crack.

And then all that remains is to wait and periodically check the status of the control beacon. It may take several months before any conclusions can be drawn - experts say that the crack needs to be monitored for 8-12 months.

How dangerous it is will be shown by a break in the control beacon - if there is such a phenomenon, then you will need to use complex technical solutions to eliminate the problem, if there is no break in the beacon, then you should not worry at all.

Methods for eliminating cracks in the house

Different cracks can be fixed in certain ways - you must first determine the level of the problem.

Please note: if the control beacon shows a rapidly expanding crack, then no DIY methods for eliminating cracks will help - they will only have a short-term effect. Be sure to invite specialists to solve the problem, otherwise the consequences will be the most terrible - the collapse of the wall or the entire structure!

How to fix a crack in a house from the inside

If small cracks are found on the wall inside the house, then eliminating them is as easy as shelling pears. All you need is a primer and a special putty mesh. You need to act according to the instructions below:

• we clean the surface of building materials and finishing - the wall should be perfectly clean;
• we use a deep penetration primer (with exactly this marking!) - we cover the entire cleaned surface;
• glue the putty mesh onto the entire prepared surface;

Please note: a special mesh must be used to cover the entire area of ​​damage on the wall - even small sections of cracks should not protrude beyond its boundaries.

• Apply a small layer of putty to the mesh and leave until completely dry.

Only after the putty layer has completely dried can you begin to grout the surface and glue wallpaper or other finishing materials.

Repairing a crack in a house from the outside of a wall

If small cracks appear on the outside of the house, you should proceed according to the same principle as in the above option. Procedure:

• the crack site is cleared of plaster or debris;
• apply a layer of deep penetration primer and glue the putty mesh onto it;
• apply putty. But! In case of eliminating cracks on external walls, it is advisable to use a special reinforced putty - it is resistant to the negative effects of atmospheric changes.

If the cracks on the outside of the walls of the house are not only in the plaster, but also extend to the brickwork, then you will have to put in much more effort. And in this case, the algorithm of actions will be as follows:

Please note: the metal mesh must cover the entire surface intended for applying a new layer of plaster. This way, the new plaster will not spread, which will allow finishing materials to be applied flawlessly.

This situation means only one thing - it is urgently necessary to take drastic measures to eliminate this problem. If you ignore all the recommendations of specialists and limit yourself only to the repair options described above, the result will be the collapse of the entire house. But even a beginner can cope with the work of eliminating such complex active cracks - the main thing is to strictly adhere to the following instructions:

1. All the plaster on the wall at the location of the crack is knocked off - be sure to maintain a distance of 50 cm on each side of the crack.
2. The crack is cleaned of mortar and dirt - this can be done with a metal spatula.
3. The cleaned crack is filled with polyurethane foam.
4. Fastening metal plates that will tighten the crack, preventing it from spreading further. The following points must be taken into account:

• the plate must be selected from thick, high-quality metal;
• to obtain an optimal result, you will need to tighten the crack with at least 3 plates, and if the crack is long, then you may need 4 or 5 metal plates;
• The plates are fastened using self-tapping screws, but using dowels.

After applying the fastening metal plates, you can continue working according to the usual algorithm - priming/fixing the reinforcing mesh/applying new plaster.

But keep in mind that such measures serve as a temporary measure, since without a specific formation it will not be possible to determine the cause of the appearance of active cracks. Most often, in the future it will be necessary to carry out corrective work on the foundation - it will either be strengthened/strengthened, or the walls/roof of the house will be raised and the foundation will be completely replaced.

Preventing cracks in the house

To avoid having to deal with cracks in your home, you should familiarize yourself with the prevention of this phenomenon.

Firstly, if you are just designing a house, you need to consider several points:

• geodetic surveys must be carried out - this will help determine the type of soil, the location of aquifers, and the depth of groundwater;
• Even at the stage of drawing up the project, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of building a subfloor/cellar under the house - this will entail serious design changes;
• It is imperative to familiarize yourself with the depth of soil freezing - the depth of the foundation will depend on this.

Secondly, when buying an old house, pay attention to the existing walls, invite specialists to assess their condition - often small cracks hide serious problems in the stability/reliability of the entire structure. One more point - there should be a blind area around the entire house - this will prevent moisture from entering the foundation, and therefore will prevent its destruction.

Thirdly, if you want to add a second floor to an already inhabited house, you should consult with professionals about the advisability of such actions. The fact is that each foundation is designed for a certain load and exceeding it leads to the appearance of cracks.

Cracks in the house are not a reason for panic, but just an impetus for action. Even an absolute beginner in the construction business can cope with the work described above, but it is much easier to prevent the appearance of cracks in advance.

okeymaster.ru

“diagnosis” of the problem and solutions

Cracks that appear on the walls are perhaps the most obvious indicator of the developer’s miscalculations. In this case, the seriousness of the situation is obvious even to those who are far from construction. What are the reasons for the deformation of brick walls and what should the home owner do in this case?

Let's start with the fact that not every gap in the covering of brick walls is a threat to their strength and bearing capacity. Immediately after construction, the house “shrinks”: this is a normal process that can lead to the appearance of minor (1-3 mm) cracks.

We are talking about surface cracks that do not increase over time. In this case, you need to wait until the house shrinks and carry out cosmetic repairs. Much more dangerous are through cracks that are visible from the outside of the building.

In such a situation, urgent measures are needed. To decide on a repair technology, you must first understand the reason for the appearance of gaps in the wall. They can be divided into five groups:

Errors during masonry: insufficient bond between bricks

It appears as a vertical gap along the entire height of the wall.

This problem is most often encountered when dressing rules are violated during the construction of a brick house, as well as when constructing an extension to a building whose shrinkage has already completed.

Wrong choice of materials

This may include the use of masonry mortars with high ash content, as well as the use non-standard materials when arranging a reinforcing belt.

Design errors

Errors at the project development stage are one of the most common causes of cracks in brick walls. For example, incorrect assessment of the load on walls and foundations leads to a decrease in structural rigidity, concentration of the load from floors at individual points, uneven settlement and ruptures. Errors in calculations when designing a beam floor lead to the same result.

Mistakes when arranging the foundation

The most serious problems with cracks in walls arise from miscalculations made during the design and construction of the foundation. These include increasing the number of storeys of a house, the foundation of which is not designed for such a load, and using too “weak” concrete with insufficient frost resistance to fill the foundation. The cause of deformations can also be the use of cellular concrete when installing the foundation, insufficient depth of its placement (below the soil freezing level), errors in the installation of blind areas, or the location of the pit for draining sewage too close to the foundation.

It is also necessary to mention reasons that are difficult to predict in advance - a wastewater leak that changes the condition of the soil, the construction of a large facility near the house, strong ground vibration due to heavy vehicles.

Surface and through cracks: how to determine the type of deformation phenomenon?

Depending on the cause, cracks can behave differently - remain stable, increase with at different speeds, or immediately “tear” the walls. Until you have determined the type of deformation and found out its cause, there is no point in sealing the cracks.

“Making a diagnosis” in this case will not be difficult. To do this, you need to use beacons made of available materials - glass or paper. For example, a strip of glass is attached across a crack using plaster.

Observing the beacon will answer the question of whether the crack is growing or remaining unchanged. For the same purpose, you can use a strip of paper, which is fixed with silicate glue, or apply a strip of gypsum with a length of 10 cm, a width of 4 cm and a thickness of no more than 1 cm.

Beacons need to be checked daily for 4-5 weeks. If they remain intact within the specified period, then the solution to the problem will be low-cost repair walls. If the beacons burst, this means that the process of deformation of the wall continues, and it is required major renovation. Choosing a repair strategy.

Ways to strengthen brickwork

The determining factor in this case is the type and width of the gap.

• Superficial, thin (up to 5 mm) and shallow tears. If we are talking about interior renovation, then gypsum-based solutions and putties can be used for this purpose. To seal cracks on the outside of the wall, you need to use moisture-resistant materials, for example, cement mortar. Before filling a crack with a solution, it must be jointed and wetted with water or a primer mixture;
• Through wall cracks 10 mm wide or more. If a gap is more than 10 mm wide, strengthening the wall with a metal reinforcing mesh or simply sealing the crack with mortar will no longer be enough. In this case, a metal tie and locking connections can be used.

• Dowels are inserted along the edges of the gap into which T-shaped anchors are driven. Another method recommended for repairing deformations on the outside of a wall is to drill holes along the edges of the break and install steel brackets in these holes, which are then coated with a cement mixture.

The described types of repair involve solving the problem with an average investment of time and labor. If the cause of cracks is a problem with the foundation, then repairing the crack should be preceded by restoring the integrity of the foundation of the house: this is a more complex and time-consuming type of work. If this is not done, the process of wall deformation will be impossible to stop.

Foundation repair in this case includes increasing the area of ​​its support on the ground and reinforcement.

The procedure includes the following types of work:

• A trench is dug in the crack zone (width - 0.6 m, length - 1.5 m). The depth of the ditch should correspond to the freezing point of the soil. From under the foundation in this place, soil is removed to the level of the bottom of the dug trench - this is necessary so that the poured concrete mixture penetrates under the foundation;
• Reinforcement is carried out using metal reinforcement (from 14 mm). Reinforcement rods (8-10 pcs.) are stuck into the walls of the ditch by 15-20 cm;
• Holes are drilled in the old foundation for pieces of reinforcement, which are then welded to previously installed rods;
• The ditch is being filled concrete mixture, after which it is processed with a vibrating tool to remove air and compact it.

The number of such ditches and their location are determined based on the results of inspection of deformations.

When placing several ditches in close proximity to each other, the ends of the reinforcement rods are welded together, which will strengthen the structure. After the concrete has hardened, you can begin to seal the crack.

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Cracks in walls cause and effect

Cracks in walls, to our great regret, are not uncommon; their presence is clearly observed in high-rise buildings, as well as on the walls of outbuildings and residential buildings in the private sector.

Defects in the walls of high-rise buildings are dealt with by specialized utility services, since this is a responsible and rather expensive undertaking. In this article on the website “Our House and Yard” we will look at the causes of cracks in houses and buildings of the private, low-rise sector.

With a high degree of probability it can be said that there are no houses without cracks. After all, cracks form not only from shortcomings and defects during construction, but also from the natural shrinkage of the structure, and even from its aging.

Cracks in the walls

The main and most common cause of cracks in walls is low-rise buildings, is a consequence of uneven settlement or destruction of the foundation. This happens for a number of quite different reasons, which we will discuss below.

Causes of cracks

Small (insufficient) foundation depth: quite common in old buildings, it can lead to mobility of the soil under the foundation due to heaving or other reasons.

Exceeding the design load on the soil: this usually happens when you want to save money by making a foundation that is too narrow on moving soil.

When pouring the foundation, low-quality building materials were used: low-quality concrete or gravel that does not match the strength or resistance to aggressive environments. The grade of concrete used for the manufacture of such structures should not be less than M 200.

All of the above mentioned reasons can be attributed to a violation of technology during the construction of the foundation. But there are other reasons that cannot always be taken into account:

• unpredictable rise in groundwater levels;
• heterogeneity of the soil under the foundation;
• destruction of the foundation body over time;
• the slope of the site on which the building stands;
• weather and geological factors also contribute to the formation of cracks in walls.

Violation of the integrity or lack of blind area around the house can also cause cracks in the walls of the house. In this case, non-monolithic or non-monolithic ones suffer more. reinforced foundations, which are more prone to uneven shrinkage.

Quality also plays an important role. building material the walls themselves, namely its behavior under the influence of external factors and loads: swelling, shrinkage, as well as vibration, which can activate the occurrence of cracks. These factors can be: sun, rain, wind and even the proximity of busy traffic.

Are wall cracks dangerous?

As a rule, most cracks, whether external or internal, are not dangerous. Even in fairly old houses, which are over 50 or even 100 years old, new cracks may appear.

The reason for these processes may be changes in the structure of the soil (due to increased humidity), construction work taking place nearby, or, as already mentioned, heavy traffic.

It’s the same in new buildings: the appearance of cracks in the walls is not that uncommon. Typically, small cracks in the plaster or cladding of a building appear in the first years of operation. These processes are associated with the natural shrinkage of the structure and can last from 3 to 5 years.

These cracks are usually “quiet,” meaning they remain in the condition in which they were found and can simply be hidden cosmetically.

Of course, we must not forget the fact that cracks in walls can be the result of quite serious problems: defects in construction or weakening of load-bearing elements. The latter happens by various reasons, this may not be a professional redevelopment or reconstruction of the building, or maybe a banal washout of the soil.

If a vertical crack appears on the foundation, plinth and wall, growing in length and width, then everything is very serious, and simple cosmetic measures cannot be done. Also cause for concern should be windows and doors that suddenly close poorly, a noticeable skew of the porch, and, in general, curvature and cracking of horizontal lines on the facade.

To determine the level of danger, it is necessary to find out how the crack behaves. It is quite simple to make such observations: a control strip of paper is glued to the crack, but for more convenient observation it is better to apply a plaster mark.

Such a mark, the width of your palm, made of thickly diluted gypsum, is applied to the crack and observed for 3 to 4 weeks. If the crack breaks the mark and continues to grow further, then drastic measures should be taken to prevent further damage.

Control marks made of paper and plaster.

If you are not an expert in construction, or are afraid to do something wrong, then the most in a simple way will contact qualified specialist, who can analyze the causes and offer options for eliminating them. But in some cases, you can do this yourself.

Causes and characteristic wall defects

Majority serious problems arise due to several factors that most likely were not taken into account when constructing the foundation. Defects of this kind are expressed in the settlement of part of the building, which leads to cracks in the external or internal walls.

Most often, these are errors at the design stage during research - any external factors are not taken into account.

Seasonal changes in the soil: provoke subsidence, leaching and frost heaving, characteristic of a number of soils (clays, loams, dusty soils), as well as changes in groundwater levels.

Incorrect or incomplete assessment of the strength of the foundation: the problem arises when, in various sections of the trench or foundation pit, filled holes (ditches), as well as rigid supports (natural or artificial boulders, concreted wells, etc.) are not identified.

Violations in the operation of the building: usually occur when flooding, and not rarely when the base of the foundation is washed out by domestic or atmospheric waters (burst of sewerage, water supply or destruction of the blind area).

Also, such design defects as omission of reinforcing inserts at the intersections of walls, lack of transverse connections, insufficient rigidity of the longitudinal wall, and in some cases, large expansion from the rafters can cause the wall to deviate from the vertical, and, accordingly, cause the appearance of cracks in the walls.

dimon-dom.ru

A crack in a brick wall is a sign of uneven settlement of the foundation

• unreliability or incompleteness of engineering and geological surveys. For example: a layer of weak soils, the mechanical characteristics of which are insufficient to bear the load from the building structures, was not discovered. Or: during field work when extracting cores, a violation of their structure occurred, due to which the strength parameters of the soil were incorrectly determined, which led to subsidence of the structure.
• an initially incorrectly executed foundation or foundation. There may be poor-quality waterproofing and drainage, which led to the soil under the building becoming soaked, or a small area of ​​the foundation base, due to which the load on the soil was greater than permissible.
• improper operation of building engineering systems. In this case, a crack in a brick wall may occur due to water supply or sewerage leaks with subsequent soaking of the soil.

There is a possibility of groundwater appearing in the area, changing its course due to new buildings that have arisen along its path. Such situations often arise when developing large areas, when engineering and geological surveys are carried out not throughout the entire territory, but for each individual area separately. In this case, there is a risk of changing the direction of groundwater movement in an unpredictable direction.
A crack appeared in the wall. What to do? You should know what to do if a crack has already appeared in a brick wall. First of all, it is necessary to invite specialists who can find the causes of deformations and determine methods to prevent their further development. Also, from the moment cracks are detected, cement marks should be installed on them: in 2-3 places along the crack, small rectangles of cement mortar, several millimeters thick, should be made in order to understand whether deformation is continuing or whether it has already stopped. If the marks remain intact for 2-3 weeks, it means that most likely the subsidence has ended and you need to think about how to seal the cracks in order to preserve the appearance of the house and prevent the wall from freezing in this place. If the seals are cracked, then the deformations continue, and serious, expensive measures will have to be developed and carried out, including possible strengthening of walls and foundations. Most often, to eliminate the possibility of further soaking of the foundation soils, the following measures are recommended:

• installation of reinforced adhesive waterproofing of the foundation and basement walls. For this purpose, you can use various welded roll materials, offered trading network in a wide range.
• repair and increase in the width of the blind area, as well as arrangement drainage system along the perimeter of the building, which will prevent soaking of the foundation soils by rain and melt water.
• inspection and repair of pipeline joints running in the basement of the house and near it.

If these measures are not enough, then you will have to strengthen the foundation. One of the most effective methods of strengthening is the installation of inclined piles, which are placed under the foundation finished house and transfer the loads from its weight to the soil, which has the necessary strength characteristics. After completing work to eliminate the causes of subsidence and prevent the possibility of its occurrence in the future, the crack in the brick wall can be sealed to its full depth.

postroika.biz

Cracks in the walls are one of the most terrible structural defects, indicating that load-bearing elements began to move. There are 3 main reasons for cracks in the walls that cause this - collapse, blockage, or separation of the extension.

The deviation of walls outward from the vertical plane is considered to be collapse. Wave-like deformation or deviation along the entire plane is also possible. Often, when it falls apart, cracks form above windows and doors.

The collapse in terms of coverage can be complete or partial. For prevention, a screed is used, which should be applied around the perimeter of the entire house to prevent movement of other walls.

Conventionally, three types of camber can be distinguished: light, medium and strong.

Easy camber

With slight collapse, deformations are noticeable on the walls, a third of the height of the wall itself. In every second case, cracks appear at the corners of the openings.

The main causes of cracks in walls:

Complete absence or weakness of the armored belt;

Roof overload;

Construction on old attic walls.

The most effective means of combating is a steel mono-clip mounted on corner-type supports. Required tools:

4 meters of steel angle;

Meter pipe with inch diameter;

4 meters of studs, 20mm thread, as well as nuts and washers for them;

20 mm steel rod located around the perimeter of the building;

Welding machine, dye.

Important! It is not advisable to use reinforcement due to its inadequacy and susceptibility to corrosion.

150 mm pipe sections are welded to the corner, the length of which should be 20% greater than the distance from the top of the wall to the top of the windows. A total of 4 such stops need to be made.

Installation procedure:

By welding the rods, lashes are obtained for each wall, leaving a 20cm gap for tightening;

It is necessary to weld studs to each end of the whip, with a free end length of 20 cm;

The studs are placed in tubes, the lashes are welded together;

Assembling the entire frame on the ground and then fixing the height;

The nuts are tightened.

Important! Do not forget that such a structure will only support the wall. There is no need to try to use it to return the wall to starting position.

Average camber

Signs are similar to slight collapse, but extend to half the height of the walls. Cracks above openings appear in every 4 out of 5 cases.

The main reasons are a weakened armored belt, overloads, and a weak connection of corners.

For protection, a solid corner clip is used, similar to a mono clip. However, it extends to the entire height of the wall, and also includes three screed belts at once.

As an alternative to the circle, a 10x40mm steel strip can be used.

Important! Due to the high expected load, welds must be made as efficiently as possible.

Strong collapse

It is characterized by the characteristics of the two previous types, but with a doubled level. Deep cracks may appear on the wall or foundation.

The main reason is the deformed base in combination with signs characteristic of other collapses.

Repair is carried out by installing a corner frame in combination with a support or an entire support belt.

The support must have half the thickness of the foundation layer, but this value must exceed 400mm. It is desirable that they are in the same horizontal plane. In this case, a third of the length of the support should be underground.

Installation procedure:

It is necessary to clean the foundation in the damaged area;

In its wall, 18 mm are made with a depth and a pitch of 200 mm;

16 mm pins are driven into these holes, the length of which is 160 mm greater than the thickness of the retaining wall;

Reinforcement is tied to the pins;

Clamps are made from it U-shaped, corresponding in size to the base of the beam;

Formwork is installed;

Compacted concrete is laid;

After 72 hours, the formwork is dismantled and a waterproofing layer is applied instead;

The foundation is covered with soil.

In this case, the walls are completely or partially collapsed inside the building.

Complete blockage

The main sign is the blockage of three and more walls inside the building.

The main reasons are the weakness of the armored belt and violations during the construction process.

To counteract the complete collapse of the walls, a self-supporting steel frame with a through fastening is used.

Required materials and tools:

Installation sequence:

We calculate the perimeter of the walls requiring reinforcement;

We divide the wall into sections with a pitch of about 600-700mm, the distance from the corner is half a step;

We use a hammer drill to drill through holes;

Reinforcement is welded onto the plates at right angles, 100 mm longer than the thickness of the walls;

IN drilled holes the anchors are inserted with the plate facing outwards;

We mark the channel for the holes;

Using welding, we make a hole in the channel for the reinforcement;

We prime outside channel;

We mount it to the pins;

We scald the pins;

The continuation of the channel is mounted in a similar way;

After installation along the entire perimeter, the channel is welded at the joint. On top of it we place reinforcement linings;

We are strengthening the corners.

For additional protection of the clip, you can use suspended ceiling, otherwise the tire is closed using a box.

Partial blockage

It is observed when one or two walls collapse. Occurs due to excessive proximity to a busy street, or due to erosion by precipitation.

To eliminate this, a partial clip is used, which is manufactured in a manner similar to a solid one. The length of the interrupted corner is calculated as 1/3 of the wall if this value exceeds one and a half meters.

Annex department

The main sign is a crack in the wall that appears at the junction of the extension, which is accompanied by a moderate or severe collapse.

In most cases, this situation arises due to the fact that the extension is not tied to the wall of the main building.

To eliminate the problem, you should use a combination of a retaining wall and a through, semi-through or anchor cage.

To arrange any of the presented types of clips, you can use the above tips.

building.club

Repairing cracks in brick walls, how to get rid of cracks, photo video

Many people know the expression of the famous poetess Faina Ranevskaya that after a few years life gives cracks, which will grow over time if they are not patched up in time. Same with residential building, if a split or small crack appears on the load-bearing wall, then it is urgently necessary to address this problem.

The very first question that comes to mind is “What to do if a brick wall is cracked?”

First of all, you need to consult with a professional builder, because a person who does not have even a minimum level of knowledge in the field of foundation construction and repair will find it very difficult to understand how to get rid of this problem once and for all.

Why does brick crack and how can you repair cracks in a brick wall, as well as in similar brickwork? These questions need to be examined from many angles. So let's get started.

Types and causes of crack formation

To date construction companies offer revolutionary, strong and durable Portland cement, which has revolutionized construction materials. It is distinguished not only by its durability, but also by its instant hardening speed, which is perhaps its main advantage among its competitors in the field of reinforcing materials.

Everyone experienced builders what is known is that immediately after construction, the building does not immediately take its place firmly and for a long time in the main foundation, this process takes about five to ten years, and the cement mortar, on the contrary, very quickly gains its strength. Such a very large difference between the subsidence time and settlement of the house can lead to the appearance of cracks and large splits, which will intensively tear apart the mass of load-bearing masonry.

Well, as for the solution of lime with the addition of sand, things are much simpler. It hardens quite slowly and when settlement of the foundation itself begins, empty or through voids should not appear in the walls. This strengthening technology is mainly used exclusively in the construction of new houses according to today's standard, and as time shows, in new buildings for a long time There are no problems with cracks and foundation settlement.

Builders - specialists divide cracks among themselves in brickwork according to the following characteristics:

• What causes them to appear: deformation of the house structure, shrinkage or temperature wear of a residential building;
• External and internal view of the destruction itself on the wall: Split, rupture, cut;
• Direction of destruction: horizontal, vertical, inclined different angles;
• Shape: curved, straight, closed or broken in half (that is, it almost does not reach the edge of the load-bearing wall).
• Size and depth: on the surface of the wall and inside it;
• How complex the repair work is, what is the risk of wall destruction: dangerous and non-hazardous;
• Time since destruction: stable or unstable;
• Size of the opening of the split or crack itself: microscopic (up to one millimeter), small (up to three millimeters), medium (from four to eight millimeters), large (more than ten millimeters), very large (from fifteen millimeters or more).

Several main reasons for the appearance of such destruction on the wall, of which there are quite a lot:

1. Settlement or destruction of the soil itself. This problem can be caused by uneven natural burning of the soil (strong and weak areas), incorrect and unacceptable load of the main foundation, leakage of a very large amount of runoff and polluted water into the soil. It is these reasons that can lead to the appearance of large indirect splits or to the formation of vertical cracks that can reach right up to the edge of the load-bearing wall, and so on.
2. The soil on which the house stands is very hardened. This phenomenon can be caused by severe frosts, which can cause uneven lifting of the foundation. In particular, soil hardening is very dangerous for an unfinished building, the walls of which have not yet hardened and have not acquired the necessary stability. In this particular case, uneven and deep cracks may form near the walls, and when the soil begins to melt after winter, the opposite process may most likely occur - settlement of the foundation, which can lead to new damage to the load-bearing walls.
3. New repairs to a load-bearing wall may be needed after a small building or room has been added, as the foundation may not be able to support the new, additional weight and may settle.
4. Uneven and inconsistent loads on the foundation of the house. For example, if a house is built in the Art Nouveau style, then luxurious and long glazing (which is very often used in this architectural style) can quite often alternate with small blind areas of the house, which will lead to a large difference in weight and ground settlement.
5. If the pit is located next to a building, then very high temperature conditions also have a detrimental effect on the soil, which in the future can lead not only to sedimentation of the soil, but also to its excessive looseness. It is for these reasons that medium-sized cracks can form on the walls.
6. Extra load due to neighboring houses. On a common foundation, the zones of greatest stress are superimposed on each other and allow the soil to settle very strongly.
7. The reasons may lie not only in the soil itself, but also above it. For example, collecting heavy building material in large quantities next to an unfinished building and already in the ground itself, additional loads and stresses can appear, and they can cause very strong external settlement of the foundation and the appearance of large cracks and splits.
8. Constant impacts on the foundation. For example, if you are driving piles on the territory of a residential building, you are constantly moving heavy vehicles, compressors are running - this all leads to drowning sandy soil and strong softening of clay masses in the soil. In the aggregate of all these factors, you can get soil settlement and cracks in the load-bearing walls.
9. High temperatures can cause vertical cracks and splits in the walls of your home. Repairing cracks in masonry is mainly required for longer buildings that do not have expansion joints.
10. Overloading of brickwork. In this case, cracks may appear between the walls and on the pillars. Such cracks can be identified by the characteristic closedness and verticality of their direction. Overload of masonry. They appear in walls and on pillars. A characteristic feature of crush cracks is closedness and a vertical direction.
11. Various non-hazardous shrinkage deformations can be observed on the plastered walls of a house - these can be small or small cracks that are very randomly scattered over the entire area of ​​the wall and are mostly closed, and the most important thing is that they do not reach the edge of the wall. They appear due to shrinkage of an overly thick plaster mortar.

Crack sealing technology

There are many ways to repair a crack in brickwork:

• You can install a brick lock or a lock with an anchor;
• Reinforcement of walls using tension bolts;
• Repairing a through crack with steel staples;
• Carry out repair work in the area where the floor slab is unlocked;
• Strengthen the cracked wall;
• Make an overlay from hardened steel;
• Install special brackets
• Install the floor slab;
• Cover the wall with a finishing layer.

Watch this video for more details:

Conclusion

Judging by all of the above, it can be noted that the general condition of a house made of building bricks must be monitored very carefully. Since the sooner a crack or split is detected, the less time and Money to eliminate this problem.

After years of use, even the best-built and strongest houses can begin to weaken. In many cases, this manifests itself in the appearance of cracks in the walls and ceiling. The streaks may be microscopic at first, but will inevitably increase in size over time. If defects are not repaired, they can cause damage inside and outside the building. As a result, the wall decoration will completely deteriorate. Today we will tell you why cracks can appear and how to eliminate them.

Cause of cracks

It may seem that the only reason for the appearance of cracks is wear and tear on the walls, but this is not entirely true. Deformation is influenced by a number of factors. Cracks can appear when the depth and width of the foundation is shallow and there is excessive pressure on the soil, which can lead to its mobility. This often happens with old buildings.

Problems can also arise if low-quality materials such as gravel or concrete were used to fill the foundation. For such structures, the grade of concrete must be at least M 200. The above factors are associated with violations of construction technology, but the problems do not end there. A house can sink due to rising groundwater, slope of the site, destruction of the foundation body, or soil heterogeneity.

Before reinforcement, it is necessary to prime with a deep penetration compound.

Another factor is the quality of the materials from which the walls are built, how resistant it is to and external influence. Cracks can appear due to their swelling, vibration or shrinkage, or too busy street traffic. Harsh weather can also cause mother-in-law to appear on the walls.

Repairing cracks using reinforced mesh

If your walls are sagging, the most suitable way repair - mesh reinforcement. It consists of stretching special plaster or painting meshes based on fiberglass onto a plaster or putty layer. sold with cell sizes of 2x2 mm, and plaster - from 5x5 mm to 45x45 mm. When plastering or performing painting works the mesh should not be completely immersed in a thick layer of solution.

The mesh absorbs tensile stress and prevents cracks from occurring. The material can stretch by 3%, but if the building settles or moves a lot, the mesh will not help. The putty or plaster will peel off from the surface and hang on the mesh itself.

Repairing cracks in walls (Video)

Mesh reinforcement is used in certain cases. For example, at the corner joints of walls made of different materials: one wall is made of plasterboard, and the other is made of plaster. If your walls are approximately 5 years old, shrinkage of the concrete may cause the entire surface to crack. In this case, there is no need to reinforce the entire surface, but you can do it in the corners.

Such brickwork must be dismantled and replaced with a new one. Fresh bricks are laid in a so-called “brick castle”. It is better to use pieces of reinforcement in the masonry that cover the gap. Bricks are dismantled from top to bottom. If the masonry cannot be disassembled, the gap is sealed with cement mortar. Depending on the length of the gap, T-shaped metal anchors are driven into it and secured with dowels on both sides of the wall. Cracks in brick walls can also be repaired. After the material hardens, it is cut to a depth of 2 cm. The cavity is sealed with cement mortar.

How to fix cracks in concrete walls?

If you have cracks on a concrete wall, you need to perform some preparatory steps before starting the main work. First, the opening in the wall needs to be widened. Then the surface is thoroughly cleaned of dust and plaster residues. Next, apply a primer and wet the surface to be treated. There are several ways to repair a concrete wall.

The first involves blowing out the crack with foam and puttingty. Polyurethane foam sold in cylinders. This foam is excellent for installation because it increases 2-3 times in volume after application. The material can be used not only in working with concrete structures, but also with wooden and metal ones.

In the second case, the gap is filled with cement mortar. After removing foreign objects, it is washed and filled with solution. For better results, use an expanding composition. After treatment, the crack is moistened for 2-3 days in a row. Polyvylacetate can be added to the cement solution.

High-quality finishing of cracks will be obtained if they are filled with resin. They begin to introduce it immediately after preparing the wall. Attention! Be sure to wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself from the harmful effects of the resin. Cracks can also be sealed with special compounds for concrete restoration.