House settling and walls cracking HELP!

Repair help for the do-it-yourselfer.
For mobile home parts, click here.

Moderators: Greg, Mark, mhrAJ333, JD

Post Reply
BEKM
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:56 pm

Can anyone help me out? For the last couple of years our house has been settling and in several places along the marriage seam and on end of the house several cracks have appeared. In one spot a crack on the ceiling from the outer wall to the marriage seam has shown up. Last year we had a guy come and re level the home and only a very few more cracks have come up. Where do I go for info on fixing the crack/sheet rock/ceiling? Thanks for the help and this wonderful site to ask these questions!
Brian
Top
User avatar
Jim from Canada
Posts: 551
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:39 am

Do you have the home on footers that extend below the frost line?
Top
BEKM
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:56 pm

Our house sits on a cement slab with the cinder block around the edges. I had one guy say that it should be 30-36 inches deep but I we only have 3 blocks high so I don't think that is the full depth needed. I am in the process of raising the dirt level on the outside and placing a rain gutter to divert water away from the home on the side that has the most cracks. I also have a deck off the back of the home that was nailed right onto the fascia for support so I want to install a few more vertical support posts to support more of the weight that the fascia is holding.
I hope that answered your question.
Top
User avatar
Greg
Moderator
Posts: 5696
Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:01 pm
Location: Weedsport, NY

Is the slab also cracking? the deck being attached may also be part of the problem. When the ground freezes & thaws the ground will shift slightly. The deck and home will shift at different rates and many times in different directions.

If possible you may want to seperate the deck so it is free standing, or possibly below the frost line footers. Greg
"If I can't fix it, I can screw it up so bad no one else can either."
Top
BEKM
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:56 pm

Thanks Greg for the reply. The slab is cracking quite a bit. Last time I checked (last November) the cracks were long and wide. Does it help to pour sand down into the cracks or will that hurt also? I have been told this is a good thing to do with cracked cement.
Top
User avatar
Greg
Moderator
Posts: 5696
Joined: Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:01 pm
Location: Weedsport, NY

The cracking could be a result of the ground heaving from the frost, a slab that was made too thin or improperly poured or just plain too much weight on it.
Filling the cracks will not help as far as structrual support goes. If you want to keep water out of it to reduce the freeze damage, you could check the hardware / home centers for crack fillers. Greg
"If I can't fix it, I can screw it up so bad no one else can either."
Top
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Mobile Home Repair”