There are a variety of symptoms that are common in Atlanta that can help identify foundation damage. Understanding what to look for to assess for problems under your home can help limit the extent of the damage and repair costs. We’ll break down the typical warning signs below and the likely cause of each.
Foundation Cracks
Cement is a rigid material, so any ground movement or settling can create foundation cracks. The fissures typically indicate different causes depending on their location on your concrete.
Basement Floor Cracks
Thin cracks in your crawlspace or basement floor typically form in the year or two after new construction in response to the concrete settling under the weight of your home. Provided they’re less than ⅛” wide and don’t become unlevel from side to side, they’re generally harmless. However, they should be sealed to keep water from trickling through them, especially in Atlanta, where water intrusion is a common problem. Wider floor cracks or those that have one side rising above the other are much more of a problem. They are a result of differential settling, and they can signify that structural damage has occurred.

Vertical Wall Cracks
Wall cracks that form in a vertical position are almost always from natural concrete settling. They don’t present any significant issue, with the exception of allowing liquid water or water vapor into your home. As such, most homeowners have them sealed with epoxy or polyurethane.
Horizontal Wall Cracks
Horizontally-oriented wall cracks develop in response to hydrostatic pressure. This is a prevalent issue in Atlanta because of the red clay soil’s absorbency and expansive nature. These gaps usually indicate a loss of structural integrity and need to be addressed by a foundation repair contractor immediately.
Stair-Step Wall Cracks
This last type of crack forms in the shape of a staircase on your concrete block wall and is the most hazardous. These fissures indicate differential settling from karst or drying clay soil, and they signify structural damage. They can lead to foundation failure, so they require stabilization as quickly as possible.
Bowing Foundation Walls
Some homeowners in Atlanta are lucky enough to find evidence of excessive hydrostatic pressure on their foundation walls before it results in horizontal cracking. The cement can flex slightly before a fissure forms, so bowing walls are an indication that your foundation’s integrity is about to be compromised by the stress of the clay soil.
Water Intrusion or Moisture Build-Up
Lastly, water problems and moisture build-up are widespread in Atlanta due to the expansive soil and above-average, frequent rainfall. Unfortunately, many homeowners in the area find evidence of liquid water and water vapor in their crawlspaces and basements. Liquid water typically enters through foundation cracks. You may notice water leaking through fissures in your concrete, wet areas of cement, water pooling under your home, or water damage to sheetrock, insulation, or studs if you have a finished basement. Water vapor usually invades your crawlspace or basement through the pores in the concrete and evaporates into the air. As such, it can be more challenging to identify. Common signs of moisture build-up under your home include mold growth on the walls, musty smells, and heavy or damp air. You might notice efflorescence as well, which is a build-up of minerals left behind on your basement walls after the water evaporates into the air. Lastly, insects and rodents are attracted to humidity, so a pest infestation in the space beneath your house can point to a moisture problem. Moist air and mold spores can seep up into your living area from your crawlspace or basement. Mold spores can cause unseasonal allergic reactions in your or your family members. Itchy eyes and sneezing can indicate moisture issues. Additionally, the temperature of humid air feels more extreme, so utility bills that are more expensive than usual can suggest that moist air is moving from under your house to your living area.
