Do you have cracks in your foundation floor?

Cracks are a common feature in most homes, especially here in many parts of the US, where you have older homes with foundations that are decades old.   There are many things that can cause cracks to appear, from poor initial workmanship, to a shifting of the foundation itself.  Cracks can be harmless or can mean serious trouble, what you need to find out is what’s causing the cracks in the first place.  Once cracks form in the foundation, water is usually soon to follow.  Many places in the country sit on top of high water tables, which can cause waterproofing issues in your basement.

The good news is that foundation floors are seldom structural. That’s because they are concrete poured in between foundation work. There are two reasons why cracks may develop in this. These are:

  • The earth beneath the foundation was inadequately compacted before the concrete pour, and gave a little under the extra weight, causing uneven support for the foundation.
  • The concrete cracked because that is what large concrete areas generally do as they dry out. Some builders keep concrete flooring moist for longer periods of time to avoid this.

Hence your cracked concrete basement floor is not something you need to fret about for safety’s sake but can also cause water issues. Or is it perhaps? Read on and discover things you may not know.

Gas Intrusion

Undetectable methane and radon gas accumulates in pockets underground which are seldom tested during surveys.  Sometimes a builder may disturb one and cause the gases to gradually escape. While the foundation work is supposed to keep them harmless a cracked basement floor manifestly cannot. Methane gas is violently explosive. Radon gas is the most potent cause of lung cancer after cigarettes.

Insect Infestation

Concrete floor cracks are perfect breeding places for ant and termites, from where they can fan out everywhere in your home. Tackling them upstairs is hardly the right place to start when they’re reproducing themselves constantly in the floor below. In extreme cases wide cracks can even harbor snakes. Thankfully, this is uncommon.

Damp and Mold

There’s always moisture underground. That’s where rainwater naturally ends up, and after that can go almost anywhere. The force of gravity pressing down on the earth above makes ground water surprisingly intrusive. If you ignore non-structural floor cracks, don’t be surprised to find water bubbling up through them after heavy rain.  If your home sits on a high water table, cracks can be an open invitation for a wet basement.

This problem is especially serious in basements underground. That’s because we seldom go down there to inspect. Damp conditions below the earth’s surface are perfect conditions for moss and mold to grow. Especially if the room’s kept tightly closed, and there’s no exchange of fresh air.

Fixing Foundation Floor Cracks

Like most things in life, there’s a right way and a wrong way to seal floor foundation cracks. The wrong way is to conceal the problem with surface filler. The better way is to pour in a polymer compound that forms a bond with both concrete sections. Best of all for wider cracks is to use an epoxy filler to recreate the original monolithic pour. However the stuff is expensive and you may need a concrete flooring specialist with experience and the right injection tools.

 

Digging out a basement (also known an Underpinning or Basement Lowering) can be an ideal way to add some room or additional living space to your home and can often be less expensive than adding room by going upward or outward, which usually requires special permits and lots of red tape.   The best option can be chosen after considering a few factors such as design, feasibility, function, and the cost.

Why Underpinning is Popular in Toronto

Underpinning is a popular option for homeowners in Toronto due to high real estate prices and the fact properties tend to be on smaller lots.  Who wants to give up precious yard space to an extension?

If you intend on adding a finished basement to your dwelling you’ll also need to consider the stability and safety precautions since they’re different underground when compared to other floors of the home. And you also have to ensure that your basement is fully waterproofed and damp free before finishing your basement.

Starting Basement Dig Out Process - Underpinning

If your home already has a basement with decent ceiling height, then digging it out will be relatively inexpensive compared to starting from scratch. Once you have to start digging down several feet or lift the home to add a basement the cost will generally be comparable to adding a ground-level addition to the home. In general, a basement needs about a seven to eight-foot ceiling along with footing drains and foundation walls. If you currently have a basement with the ceiling height lower than seven feet then a digging will usually need to be done

Concrete and dirt will need to be removed when digging a few feet down and the existing concrete footings will need new ones made below them. In addition, a new concrete slab floor will need to be poured. If the home just has crawl space or the existing foundation isn’t adequate enough, then the house may need to be lifted to pour the slab and foundation walls. You’ll be able to install some form of insulation under a new concrete slab to improve the energy efficiency of the area. The new slab will enable you to place radiant heat tubes in the concrete to help heat the basement. Radiant heat could also be used for the entire home if you choose and it could result in more ceiling height if the old ductwork is removed.

Basement is Dug Out of Toronto Home

An egress, which is basically an emergency exit, should also be created. The local building codes will determine exactly where and how big the egress should be. In many cases, a large window that has a low sill is adequate since people can climb out of it of needed. A door can also be used as an egress which means a new door will need to be installed if the house sits on a sloped lot or a concrete stairwell will need to be dug. The question of connecting to the sewer line also needs to be answered when digging out a basement. If you know how deep the line is you’ll know if the basement can be drained by gravity or if water will need to be pushed upwards with a pump.

walkout-basement-apartment-toronto

Another thing you need to consider is how much light will there be in your basement. If you’re using a window as an egress then the light will be fine in that specific area. But you may prefer adding more windows for additional light and/or a more open feeling in the room as well as glass exterior and/or interior doors. Homes with an existing basement will likely already have exterior or interior stairs for access to it. However, you typically have the option if relocating them if you choose as you may be able to free up some extra space by doing so.

Framing of Basement in Toronto After Being Dug Out

If digging out the basement sounds like the ideal way to add living space to your home, it’s imperative that the area is dry. Some basements have a history of flooding or being wet and damp and this would need to be resolved first. For instance, two inches of rain running off the roof of a 2,000 square-foot house can produce more than 2,000 gallons of water. To help solve flooding in a basement, it’s important there are no cracks in the foundation, the gutters aren’t clogged, and the ground doesn’t slope towards the home.

Finishing a walkout basement in Toronto

There are several solutions to a wet basement such as excavating around the home’s perimeter as well as installing drains along the inside of basement walls. For more information and advice on Underpinning your basement  please feel free to contact our team of foundation-repair professionals at Nusite Contractors for a free inspection and written estimate. Our work is fully certified, insured, and guaranteed as well as made to last.  We serve Toronto and the surrounding GTA.