[jedofarc]

Figured this would be the place to get some opinions. Basement walls are poured concrete. Noticed some cracking appearing on them (some was here when we bought the house, a few are new (hairline). Had a foundation guy out, took a look said they are pretty common out here (Kansas) with the clay in our soils but long story short they are caused by pressure on the walls from the soil on the outside of the house. I am working on doing what's required to help alleviate that (sloping of soils around the foundation and removing a giant old shrub/bush thing).

My question is and he didn't really have much of an opinion on, should I patch/fill these cracks? None are leaking, most are hairline and even the larger horizontal ones are not wide enough to fit a dime in. He actually was convinced the largest of the cracks which is the horizontal one occurred a long time ago shortly after pouring. If the recommendation is to patch, anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advanced! Will post some photos

https://ibb.co/GCSk33Q
https://ibb.co/2PM9tYX
https://ibb.co/CHbDF1s

 

[Nealtw]

I don't think you have a problem, but taking precise measurement that you can check over time will help you feel better about it.



With a sharp pencil put marks on both sides of the cracks and measure and record, so when you think hey look bigger you can check .
Mark the ends of every crack so you can see spread at a glance.


We worry about them bowing in. Put a level against the wall across a crack and mark exactly where you have it and if it doesn't sit flat, Hold it tight at one end and measure how far away the other end is and record that.

 

[stadry]

just spread some dabs of patching plaster & see if it cracks,,, saves pencils & tape measures
who was the fellow you had inspect ?
from where i sit, i agree w/him

 

[jedofarc]

Inspected by a structural engineer from a foundation place, which in all fairness I figured if nothing else he would be excited to sell me some kind of wall bracing/patching solution. But he said everything he saw was pretty standard fare for this area. I did mention that one of the hairline cracks was new (horizontal one). He said yes would have been caused by pressure being put on the wall by the soil outside. He's the one who made the recommendations for ripping out the bush as well as getting that soil graded right against the foundation and also working on a gutter solution since ours dont always do a great job in the worst rains due to steep roof (even when the gutters are clean). I have been tracking the cracks since we moved in, nothing has gotten bigger but like I said that one is new. I also read that the spalling I'm seeing starting would be caused by moisture working its way out from the outside on the dryer inside, which I suppose is in line with the foundation guy's estimate that my cracks are caused by pressure from the water in the clay soil outside.

As for the flatness of the wall it is mostly flat I have a long metal ruler/level. There is one small bulge in that first picture its just about 6 inches below the hanging tooth brush. I also just realized that tooth brush has been hanging there since we bought the house 2+ years ago gross... anyway... the bulge is just enough to get a smaller say a 1 foot metal level to not lay flush. It'll wiggle and its out maybe 1/10 of an inch or less. the bulge is also only maybe about 3 inches in diameter wide. Im not sure how long thats been there to be honest.

 

[stadry]

maybe someday you'll need some stitching pins but wouldn't think so now

 

[Nealtw]

They used quick tie forms for the concrete, They never make a perfectly flat wall and the inside is always less flat than the outside.