Foundation wall cracks in Mountain View
Not every crack is structural, and the shape tells you more than the width. Here is how to read yours and what each type costs to put right.
Crack monitoring and assessment: often free or $150-400
Epoxy or polyurethane injection: $400-900 per crack
Underpinning with piers: $1,200-2,400 per pier
National researched ranges, one local company, free written quote
Which cracks matter and which do not
| What you see | Usually means | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline, vertical, in concrete | Shrinkage as it cured | Cosmetic |
| Stair-step through brick or block | One corner moving down | Get it looked at |
| Horizontal, mid-wall | Pressure from outside the wall | Structural - do not wait |
| Wider at the top than the bottom | Settlement at that corner | Get it looked at |
The soil under Mountain View is Stevenscreek, measured at about 32% clay with a linear extensibility of 6.0. That number is how much the ground changes volume between wet and dry, and at this level the movement is seasonal rather than permanent: the house is being lifted and dropped every year.
Measure it before you pay anyone
Mark both ends of the crack with a pencil line and write the date next to it. Photograph it monthly with a coin for scale. A crack that has not moved in a year is a different problem, and a much cheaper one, than a crack that opens every summer. Any contractor worth hiring will ask if you have done this.
What a fair assessment includes
- Elevation readings across the floor, not just a look at the wall
- An opinion on the cause, not only the fix
- What happens if you do nothing for a year
- Drainage checked before piers are proposed
Common questions
Will it get worse?
That is what monitoring answers and nothing else does. A single visit can tell you what a crack looks like; only dated marks tell you whether it is moving.
Do I need piers?
Piers are for a foundation that has moved down and needs to be supported at depth. If the cause is water sitting against the wall, drainage is both cheaper and the actual fix - and a contractor who goes straight to piers has skipped a step.
Get written quotes in Mountain View
Tell us the shape of the crack, where it is, and whether you have marked and dated it. Movement over time matters more than width.
Or call (877) 701-2518
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