Crack Identification

Learn to identify different types of foundation cracks. Understand vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and stair-step crack patterns.

Understanding Cracks in Slab Foundations

Learn about different types of slab foundation cracks, what causes them, and which ones indicate serious problems. Pract...

Jan 24, 2026

Cold Joint Cracks: What They Are and When to Worry

Learn to identify cold joint cracks in poured concrete foundations. Understand why they form, their severity, and when r...

Jan 17, 2026

Basement Floor Cracks: What They Actually Mean

My basement floor has at least 8 visible cracks. Here's why I stopped panicking and which floor cracks actually matter.

Dec 30, 2024

Block Wall Foundation Cracks: A Different Animal

Block foundations crack differently than poured concrete. Here's what I learned helping my parents deal with cracks in t...

Dec 30, 2024

Corner Foundation Cracks: The Universal Weak Point

Every corner of my foundation has some kind of crack. Here's what I learned about why corners crack and which ones actua...

Dec 30, 2024

Crack Identification FAQs

What kind of crack is that? Common questions about identifying vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and stair-step foundation...

Dec 30, 2024

Diagonal Foundation Cracks: What They Mean

Found a diagonal crack running from my basement window to the corner. Here's what I learned about diagonal foundation cr...

Dec 30, 2024

Hairline Foundation Cracks: When to Ignore Them

Found hairline cracks in my basement and panicked. Bought a $180 crack repair kit I never used. Here's what I learned ab...

Dec 30, 2024

Horizontal Foundation Cracks: When to Actually Worry

Horizontal foundation cracks are the ones that actually matter. I watched my neighbor Gary ignore one for two years. Her...

Dec 30, 2024

Old vs New Cracks: What the Age Tells You

Is that foundation crack from 1978 or last month? How to tell old, dormant cracks from new, active ones. The signs that...

Dec 30, 2024

Poured Concrete Foundation Cracks: My House, My Experience

My house has a poured concrete foundation built in 1978. Here's everything I've learned about the cracks I've found and...

Dec 30, 2024

Poured vs Block Foundation: How They Crack Differently

Comparing crack patterns in poured concrete versus concrete block foundations. Different construction means different fa...

Dec 30, 2024

Shrinkage Cracks: The Most Common Foundation Crack

Paid a structural engineer $350 to tell me my foundation cracks were just shrinkage. Here's what I learned about the mos...

Dec 30, 2024

Stair-Step Foundation Cracks: What They Actually Mean

Stair-step cracks in block foundations follow the mortar joints in a zigzag pattern. Here's what I learned when my in-la...

Dec 30, 2024

Vertical Foundation Cracks: What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

When I found a vertical crack in my basement, I thought my house was falling apart. Three contractors later, I learned t...

Dec 30, 2024