One of the most common occurrences in basements throughout the United States is the development of a crack in the floor. In fact, cracks are so common than many homeowners simply look over them- that is, until they result in the seepage of water within the basement.

If you have a cracked concrete floor in your basement, water seepage – unfortunately – is bound to occur next. That is because the same situation that caused the crack is most commonly the same source that is directly responsible for the seepage of water in the basement.

In this brief guide, you will learn about the common culprits of basement floor cracks and that water seepage that always seems to occur once the crack has developed.

 Potential Causes of Basement Floor Cracks

Generally speaking, the basement floor is constructed in such a way that it is relatively thin. This is because this floor is not considered to be a critical element in the structural integrity of the foundation. This – combined with forces that occur underneath the floor in the soil – are usually directly to blame for basement floor cracks.

Sometimes, the cracks are considered to be normal and stem from the house settling. Other complications include issues with the way that the home sets, shrinkage of the concrete used in the basement floor, curing complications, stress on the floor, undue stress from the water table, and poor construction quality.

What Causes the Water Seepage?

In short, water seepage occurs because of the underlying water table. This is the amount of ground water that is contained within the soil in a certain area. Many factors go into determining the water table. Top factors include the composition of the soil, the basic topography, and whether or not the area is close to a large body of water.

Weather conditions – such as rain, floods, and snow – may all also increase the water table, but usually only for a short amount of time. Anytime that the water table rises, there will be hydrostatic pressure created. This pushes up against the basement floor.

Once the pressure reaches a certain level, a crack will develop. Then, the water from the water table underneath the floor will push its way into the crack and out onto the basement floor. If the pressure goes up against the cove joint of the basement – or where the walls, floor, and the foundational footings of the home meet – even more water may emerge into the basement.

Homeowners are often very limited in the steps that may be taken to avoid basement floor cracks and/or water seepage to occur. In most instances a drain tile must be put into place. Other services may also be needed to reduce the pressure from the ground water table.

We Can Help

Once you have addressed the underlying cause of the underlying pressure that caused a basement floor crack and water seepage, we here at Concrete Coatings of the South can assist you with the necessary concrete repair. It will not do just to do a DIY patch job in your basement.

You will require professional concrete repair services to effectively lock out any additional pressure and moisture from entering through your basement floor. To learn more about our concrete repair services or to set up an appointment for basement floor concrete repair, contact us today by calling: 706-249-4131