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Structural Cracks

WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT STRUCTURAL CRACKING AND HOW IT IS ADDRESSED

CRACKING AND FRACTURING DUE TO STRUCTURAL MOVEMENT

 

Cracking in walls / cracking in ground floor concrete slabs – If cracking observed is not a result of concrete cancer it may be a result of differential settlement in the ground foundation below these elements. We see these issues typically resulting from:

  1. Poor compaction at time of construction.

  2. ‘Dirty fill’ used rather than clean, compacted sand at time of construction.

  3. Excessive vibrations / movement from recent nearby construction 

  4. Landscaping in the adjacent area.

  5. ‘Active’ water sources in the adjacent area (such as leaking plumbing / pipes, soakwells, etc.)

  6. Inability of elements to cope with pressures resulting from thermal expansion and contraction. 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

a. Minor cracks shall be repaired by chasing out with mechanical grinder, and patching with epoxy-based filler. 

b.  Severe cracks repaired with ‘Helifix’ wall reinforcement system. This system requires the installation of stainless steel bars embedded in the mortar joints of the wall at every 3 – 4 courses. This reinforces the wall against future cracking where substantial settlement in the foundations has stopped. 

c. In order to be prevent future cracking due to on-going settlement in the area, the foundations beneath the wall may require stablisation using a variety of systems such as micro-fin grout injection prior to the Helifix being installed. 

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