One exceedingly important aspect of waterproofing today relates to repairing cracks in basements and foundations. This field requires expertise. Frequently, utilizing this service helps property owners prevent ongoing damage. In some cases, a successful basement crack repair or foundation repair project in Toronto helps maintain the anticipated useful lifespan of a home or commercial building. Our waterproofing firm offers repair assistance on a case-by-case basis. (Under certain circumstances, we may ask prospective customers to obtain a report from a structural engineer before we can accept a project.)
Why should anyone harbor concern about possible foundation and basement cracks? Properties in the Greater Toronto Area frequently develop small cracks in cement during the “settling” process as a building ages. However, in some cases, fissures in concrete pose a more serious problem. They may become channels for the entry of water from the surrounding ground into the premises. Over time, as the seasons change and water in concrete freezes during winter, cracks may expand significantly in size and depth. Unless corrected, the crack may eventually pose a hazard to the structural integrity of a home or commercial building. Complex factors often enter into this situation.
When construction occurs, builders seek to place framing and other elements of the building atop a level, strong, stable surface. Expanding cracks through basements and foundations jeopardize this goal. They may cause imbalance within a man-made structure, eventually allowing floors or ceiling to slope, windows to appear uneven, and cracks to develop within interior walls. In the worst case scenario, a foundation crack may cause part of a building to collapse. To maintain the structural stability and safety of your property, it generally makes sense to explore foundation repair and basement crack repair concerns with an experienced waterproofing construction firm when you first detect this problem.
Once a crack forms in concrete in a property, it typically expands unless repaired. Water may enter the crack; it freezes during very cold weather, producing ice which expands in size and pushes against the surrounding concrete. This process over time inevitably causes concrete cracks to enlarge in scope.
Cracks develop in foundations and basements in Toronto real estate properties for a wide variety of reasons. Gradual “settlement” causes some cracks as the ground compacts beneath the weight of a new building. Another frequent reason for cracks involves the ongoing penetration of water through concrete: for example, the basement may lie beneath a water table and a small fissure may permit water to soak into the lower level of the building from the exterior. Shifts in the soil may result, producing a variety of stresses on the structure.
In some cases, water begins pooling underneath a slab or a foundation. Sometimes water seeping through a crack causes rebar inside the concrete to rust, degrading the material. It may produce a dangerous situation in which chunks of concrete loosen or break apart. Numerous causes require property owners in Toronto to seek knowledgeable foundation repair and basement crack repair waterproofing services.
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