Foundation Crack Repair — Fix the Crack, Find the Cause
Foundation crack repair for Tallahassee homes — epoxy injection, carbon fiber straps, and drainage correction to address active and stable foundation cracks.
Call now — +1-PLACEHOLDER-TWILIOFoundation crack repair in Tallahassee
Tallahassee homeowners in pre-1980 neighborhoods see a predictable crack pattern. Summer rains saturate the clay under the slab. Fall drought dries it out. The slab flexes slightly with each cycle. After 30–40 years of that, cracks show up — usually at door frames, in corners, or as diagonal cracks running from window corners toward the foundation.
The question isn’t whether to be alarmed. It’s whether the crack is stable or still moving, and whether the cause is cosmetic settling or structural movement that needs intervention.
Types of cracks we repair
Shrinkage cracks: Fine hairline cracks in poured slabs that formed during the curing process. These are normal and don’t indicate structural distress. Sealing them prevents water infiltration and pest entry but doesn’t require structural repair.
Settlement cracks: Wider cracks (1/8”–1/2”+) that develop as sections of the slab shift. These require epoxy injection to restore continuity and may require pier work to stop further movement first.
Horizontal cracks in stem walls or block foundations: Horizontal cracks are the most serious type — they indicate lateral soil pressure pushing inward against the wall. Carbon fiber straps or wall anchors stop further movement and prevent collapse.
Step cracks in brick or block: The stair-step crack pattern running through mortar joints on the exterior is a classic sign of differential settlement. One section of the foundation has dropped relative to another. Crack repair without addressing the settlement is cosmetic only.
The repair process
We don’t patch cracks without first confirming whether they’re stable or active. Stable cracks — documented as not having grown over 12+ months — are sealed with epoxy or polyurea depending on width. Active cracks require structural intervention before sealing.
For epoxy injection: ports are drilled along the crack at intervals, the crack is sealed on the surface, and epoxy is injected under pressure. The result is a bond stronger than the original concrete.
For carbon fiber straps: brackets are mounted to the floor and wall, the strap runs vertically across the crack, and tension is applied to stop inward movement. The strap is covered with a thin skim coat and becomes invisible once painted.
Free inspection determines which situation you have.
Foundation Crack Repair — common questions
- Is every foundation crack serious?
- No. Hairline shrinkage cracks in a cured slab are common and usually cosmetic. Cracks that are wide (wider than 1/4 inch), horizontal, or actively growing are a different matter. The location, direction, and whether the crack has moved over time are more telling than the crack itself.
- What methods do you use to repair cracks?
- For stable cracks in poured concrete, epoxy injection is standard — it bonds the crack and restores structural integrity. For active cracks in block or masonry walls, carbon fiber straps or wall anchors stop further movement. We specify the right method based on the crack type and cause.
- My crack keeps reopening. Why?
- A crack that reopens after patching means the underlying movement hasn't stopped. Cosmetic patching on a moving foundation is a waste of money. If you've had a crack patched twice and it came back, you need a structural repair that addresses the root cause — soil movement, water pressure, or settlement.
- Do you repair bowing basement walls? Tallahassee doesn't have many basements.
- Correct — full basements are rare in Tallahassee. We do see bowing or inward-leaning stem walls on older block foundations, particularly in Frenchtown and Midtown. Carbon fiber strapping is the standard fix for that situation.
- How much does crack repair cost?
- Cosmetic crack sealing runs $300–$800. Structural crack repair using epoxy injection or carbon fiber typically runs $1,500–$5,000 depending on crack length, location, and access. If the crack is active and requires pier work to stop the movement first, that's a separate line item we quote independently.
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Serving Tallahassee and the surrounding area.