Arizona Foundation Solutions Q&A

No; cracks in concrete should not be fixed with tile grout.

This is a great question... while it isn’t required, it is the best practice.

This insures that you are only dehumidifying the crawl space & drawing in outside air.

In order to determine the cuase of a foundation issue (be it sinking / setteling or an issue with foundation heave), we reccomend a Forensic Engineered Report (a Level 'B' Foundation Inspection).  

Below are items that should be accounted for in your home’s level B investigation:

1. Determine from as many sources as possible what the soil layer compositions and properties are.
2. Gather and understand long term precipitation and its effect on soils at that location.
3. Use of Aerial photography to understand drainage, landscaping (trees vs grass), sunshine, and how they affect the various areas around the house.
4. Understand the original topography and modifications to the soil before house was built (and after).
5. A complete understanding of the structural systems and path loads of a home including truss systems vs non-truss systems, interior load bearing walls, and post tension vs conventional vs pier and beam systems and how they interact with various soil conditions.
6. Age of the structure and its effect on moisture migration under the foundation.
7. Scaled complete floor plan.
8. Complete floor level survey with topological mapping and an understanding of topological patterns and their interpretations.
9. A complete damage map overlaid with the topological map to understand how the damage relates to the observed elevations. Extensive experience understanding nuanced damages and their varied interpretation with even similar symptoms.
10. A complete tilt and deflection analysis with engineering consensus allowables.
11. Written observations and recommendations supported by the data gathered.
12. Complete repair plan with specifications and placement of various recommended elements.
13. Included are guttering and drainage improvement plans, and specifications and placement of those elements.
14. Pictures with a photo numbering plan that corresponds to a floor plan numbering.
15. A review of all the factors to see how their convergence creates a holistic interpretation.
16. Peer review to check assumptions and that conclusions are supported by the data.
17. Entire Report sealed by a licensed professional engineer with observations and recommendations, not just pile spacing for the permitting process.

If you are not getting all of the items above included with your foundation inspection, then you will likely not have repairs that are designed to remediate the specific issues (soil problems, drainage, weather history, etc.) affecting the performance of your home's foundation.

At Arizona Foundation Solutions, our Forensic Engineered Report (or FER) contains ALL of the 17 items referenced above. We use licensed, professional engineers to interpret the data collected, diagnose the problem, and suggest a repair plan.

Learn more: foundationrepairsaz.com/forensic-engineered-report.html 

The first step is to address the cause of the crack.  Once the cause of the concrete crack has been identified and addressed, you can repair the concrete.

For interior & exterior slab cracks, our Crack Stitching method addresses the crack while allowing for some future movement.  The end result is a repair that lasts.

Learn more about Crack Stitching here: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/crack-stitching.html

Radon testing allows you to determine the radon levels in your home.  Radon test kits may be purchased online or at home improvement stores.  Alternately, Homeowners may secure the services of a Radon Testing Specialist.

The U.S. Surgeon General has recommenced that every home be tested for radon.

Learn more about Radon Testing & Mitigation here: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/radon-gas-mitigation/radon-testing.html

Concrete cracks are the result of a number of causes, including:

- Shrinkage

- Expansion 

- Heave

- Settling

- Excessive weight

- Premature drying

Solutions to prevent concrete cracking will depend on the cause.  The best practices in the prevention of cracking concrete is to not overwater the concrete when mixing, make sure the area was compacted properly & not place excess weight on the slab.

Regardless of the reason for the cracks in your home's concrete, we are the Solution!