Why Is My Building Cracking?

EDT

Why Is My Building Cracking?

The structural design and analysis of all buildings are crucial to the service life of the structure. The design and analysis of the foundation system are equally important to provide support to the building. However, more often than not, an adequate investigation, design, and preparation of the ground where the structure and its supporting foundation system are to be built are not taken into consideration. The lack of an adequate geotechnical investigation and the improper site preparation results in expensive damages to buildings that typically manifest as a result of soil settlement.

Most soils settle to some extent. The rate and magnitude of the settlement are dependent upon various factors, including the soil type, soil density, applied loads, moisture content, foundation system, and the presence of organic materials.

The main factor for high moisture content in the soils is improper surface drainage. Current Building Codes require that lots drain surface water away from foundation walls.  Improper grading of the lot can result in surface water draining against the building resulting in settlement of the patio slabs around the building, and cracking of the brick veneer, as shown below:

sloped corner lot
Figure 1. The lot is sloped towards the building
Displaced patio slab
Figure 2. The patio slab has displaced downwards (note the displacement of the first step at the doorway)

Prolonged elevated soil moisture degrades the soils’ load-bearing capacity which results in soil settlement. The reduction of the soils’ load-bearing capacity has a direct effect on the foundation system, as shown below:

Tilted Concrete Block Piers Under Home
Figure 3. The concrete block piers have tilted and displaced downwards (the floor structure sagged and the floor tiles cracked)

An adequate geotechnical investigation should be completed prior to the construction of a new structure or addition. The information gathered by the geotechnical investigation includes the soil type, soil density, and if organic materials are present. Preparation of the soils is important to provide adequate support for the future structure. Improper site preparation, which is overlooked by property owners occasionally, can result in half of your building settling, as shown below:

Vertical Crack on Outside Wall
Figure 4. Note that the vertical crack on the wall appeared at the joint between the original construction and the addition
Ceiling Crack
Figure 5. The observed ceiling crack extended the full width of the building

The typical indication that a building has undergone soil settlement consists of the stepped cracks that are observed on concrete block walls, as shown below:

Cracks in concrete wall
Figure 6.
Concrete wall crack
Figure 7.

Concrete patio slabs are regularly damaged, in the form of cracks, as a result of soil settlement, as shown below:

Cracks in concrete around pool's edge
Figure 8.
Crack on concrete around pool
Figure 9.

In a past case, after the building and patio slab had cracked and displaced downwards, an investigation of the subsurface conditions was completed. To the surprise of the property owner, the geotechnical investigation discovered debris that included wood, concrete, and asphalt at a depth between 5 feet and 10 feet below the building, as shown below:

Geotechnical investigation of ground around residence
Figure 10.

As shown in the previous examples, the proper geotechnical investigation and site preparation are the cornerstones to provide adequate support for structures. High moisture content in the supporting soils as a result of improper surface drainage can result in expensive damages that could have been prevented.
 

About the Author

Sergio G. Arratia, P.E., M.S.C.E. is a Consulting Engineer in our South Florida Office. Mr. Arratia provides consultation related to construction evaluation of residential and commercial structures, failure analysis, evaluation of scope and cause of damage to structures, wind and hail damage assessment, water intrusion investigation, remediation analysis, structural load analysis, and structural design analysis. You may contact him for your forensic engineering needs at sarratia@edtengineers.com or 954-743-4500.

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