Hello everyone. Looking for some insight into a foundation crack that I came across on my own home while doing some practice inspections. The crack can be seen inside the garage also and appears to go completely through the foundation wall. It is a poured concrete foundation wall on the garage side so no basement underneath. After scraping some dirt away it appears that the section of foundation in between the black arrows ends instead of extending down below the frost line almost as if it were cut out, such as what you would see for a window or door opening. The yellow arrow shows the crack. Any ideas on this? Thanks!
Welcome Spencer! You mention frost line, so where are you located.
Southwest Iowa
That will help some of the inspectors in that area that may be more familiar with how poured foundations work with the frost line. Curious that in your picture, under the right black arrow, it looks like there is a void with no footings poured? Maybe just an optical illusion on my end?
Yes, the entire area between the two black arrows is a void. I’m able to probe a long screwdriver through that entire area.
I guess another question is; Is that a “stamped” brick finish integrated with the poured wall, or is it veneer siding added on?
It is a stamped finish
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Does that yellow arrow happen to coincide with the location of the transition wall of the home to the garage?
How about another photo from further back of the entire elevation?
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One other question, where is the garage floor in elevation? At grade or up higher along the top plate?
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Where is the surrounding grade and what is the “lay of the land” so to speak?
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Just from the pic, the wall appears to be stepped and my guess is the lower slope is to the right side.
Heres a picture from further out to give better context. This is in the center wall on the side of the garage. The garage floor would be just above where the siding starts.
…all that I am sure of is… there’s a crack in the wall, and an unknown void. Without more FACTS, all I can do is ‘roll the dice’ for possible answers!
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So this is located on/in the side of a hill?
MORE info necessary!
On a slope with a walk out basement
Pretty sure that side was stepped based on your pics. Maybe once or twice? Then backfilled for the garage. Settlement or shrinkage most likely for the vertical crack. Something that is pretty common, but lack of footing under that upper “step” would be a concern.
Any slab settlement or cracking in that area?
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Looks like that front downspout has been washing along the side of the house too. The steps have shifted/settled. Any cracks in the garage floor slab?
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