FOUNDATION CRACKS. MORE CLARITY AT HOME.

Understand the cracks
in your foundation.

Learn what to record when you find a crack.
Explore repair options and request an assessment
for your Ottawa home.

Tell us where the crack is and whether you have noticed water or movement.
Call 613 454-8329

Read the house cutaway

Daylight shows interior spaces: The cutaway exposes the rooms above the basement.
Visible basement-wall crack: The exposed wall shows a crack that can be photographed.
Concealed foundation areas: The drawing cannot show the condition of areas behind finished walls or soil.
What the drawing cannot tell you: The cutaway explains the view; it cannot identify the cause of a crack in your home.

Ottawa Foundation CracksFoundation assessment and repair enquiriesHOMESPEOPLESTRONGER COMMUNITIES

Start with the visible evidence.

A crack’s shape alone does not tell you what caused it. Photograph the whole wall and take a close-up with a ruler for scale. Note any water entry or change over time, then share those observations with the person assessing your foundation.

A useful crack photo

Show the whole wall and where the crack begins and ends.
Take a close-up with a ruler or coin for scale.
Note the date, recent rain, and any water entry.

Send your observations

What should prompt a closer look?

Use these patterns to describe what you see. A wall needs an assessment to determine the cause and the appropriate repair.

Hairline or vertical

A narrow crack running up or down the wall. Record its width and any water entry; the pattern alone does not establish its cause.

Stepped or diagonal

A crack that follows mortar joints or crosses the wall at an angle. Note any widening and whether nearby doors or windows have become difficult to open.

Horizontal or bowing

A crack across the wall, sometimes accompanied by a bulge or lean. Seek a prompt professional assessment if the wall is moving; structural concerns should be reviewed by an engineer.

Read about structural crack assessment

Possible repair approaches

Repair choices depend on the wall and the findings from an on-site assessment. Ask how the proposed work addresses the problem you are seeing.

Crack injectionFor some cracks in poured concrete walls. Exterior waterproofingExpose and protect the outside of the wall. Interior drainage & sumpCollect and direct water with an interior drainage system. Weeping tileAddress drainage near the footing. PargingRepair the exposed foundation surface.

Local conditions matter.

Soil, drainage and seasonal changes can affect a foundation. That local context does not explain every crack. Our guides help you prepare questions for an assessment of your own home.

Why Ottawa basements crack

Planning resources for Ottawa homeowners

Ottawa, Barrhaven, Orléans, Kanata, Nepean, the Glebe and Old Ottawa South.

Explore local area pages

Ready to get a clearer picture?

Send a clear photo and tell us where the crack is. Include the wall type if you know it, any water entry, and whether you have noticed a change.

Send a request Or call 613 454-8329