Q - I heard you talking on your show about horizontal cracks in the foundation and how bad they are.

I have a vertical crack in my basement wall.  My neighbor says caulk will fix it, another says use hydraulic cement.  What say you?

Ricky in Acworth

A - While a vertical foundation crack may not be as urgent as a horizontal one, that doesn’t mean you are in the clear.

As with any crack in concrete anywhere you need to be vigilant.  Measure it and inspect it on a regular basis to make sure it is not getting longer or wider.

If you have a vertical crack in your foundation that is shifting - meaning one edge is moving up or down, then you have big potential trouble and it needs immediate attention.

So what about fixing a stable vertical crack?

First know that water was probably instrumental in making the crack, or helping to grow the crack, and no matter if you caulk it or use hydraulic cement to repair the crack, if you don’t take care of the water intrusion the repair is doomed to fail.

Of course, the water intrusion goes back to basic things like, are your gutters clean, does water naturally run away from your foundation, and do you have a working drain around your home.

I would be more inclined to contact either a structural engineer or a foundation expert for an inspection. I would then use their opinion to begin my repairs.

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