Stone foundations are found in old homes before the requirements of modern construction standards. So, if you are seeing dust and sand next to your stone foundation, is that a sign that it’s failing? Adam explains what to do.
Narrator: It’s time once again for the “Crack Man Podcast” hosted by A1 Foundation Crack Repair. I’m Darren Kincaid here with the Crack Daddy himself, Adam Tracy. Adam and The Crack Man Rich have over 30 years’ experience in the construction industry. Rich as over two5 years as the president and founder of A1 Foundation Crack Repair. This podcast provides expert basement waterproofing, concrete repair, and preventative maintenance tips for homeowners and businesses. A1 Foundation’s valuable insight will help avert a disastrous flood within the basement, health problems associated with water infiltration, and protect your biggest investment….your home. The topic of today’s podcast: Why is there always dust and sand by my stone foundation?
Narrator: So, Adam, we already know that stone foundations are found in old homes before the requirements are modern construction standards. So, if you're seeing dust and sand next to your stone foundation, is that a sign that it's failing?
Adam: It could be a sign that it is failing. However, what it’s truly showing is that the mortar joints between the stones are now in full deterioration mode.
We've talked about this in other podcasts and blogs that stone foundations do need maintenance and it's often forgotten as part of the home envelope that a stone foundation is just like any other building product when it comes to construction on these older houses’ roof, siding, etc. And from time to time, they will need some maintenance. And oftentimes, they’re neglected for decades, and decades, and decades.
When you're starting to see the sand and dust around the perimeter, that's actually the mortar joints with the stuff that's in between the stones breaking down. And now why is that happening? Stone foundations will have slight shifting and movement because they're all stones stacked on top of each other held together by the glue of mortar. And these freezing and thawing cycles, water, and just general activity of around the house throughout the seasons will cause these stones to shift ever so slightly, microscopically from our eyes, and that movement slowly breaks down the cement bond within the mortar. Now what you're seeing is actually sand and these older homes typically would have a very high sand content in the mortar that is going to be used here.
It's very common to see this perimeter around the foundation of this dust pile that no matter how much you sweep it, it's always going to return. So, does that mean that the house should be bulldozed and walked away from? No. This is something that can be saved in general. Unless you've had extreme movement where you've had, like major bulging walls or stones falling out, for the most part, this is going to be in the maintenance category where we'd have to go in, remove the old mortar and then replace it with new mortar. Now it's important that we don't use high strength mortars that are going to be excessively strong because there is a natural movement to these foundations that are going to be needed. And if you exceed the natural movement capability with a very extremely high strength mortar or a modern mortar, it's actually going to cause issues with the foundation in the long term.
It's important that your foundation experts and your foundation repair companies know this, that it's actually something that needs to be married to the old systems and the old foundation as well. So, in these old homes, it doesn't mean that the house is coming down. Usually, it just means it’s time for some work in the foundation. And it's a once in every 30-to-50-year type of work if you do it right. It's not something that you should have to do every year. So kind of a one and done thing. Think of it like replacing a roof, something that you wouldn't be doing on an annual basis.
If you see it, that's time to really get somebody in there, get an expert in there, to have them look at, evaluate and see basically how much time you have left before you can really have to do some major work here.
Narrator: Well, thanks, Adam, for explaining why there may be dust
Narrator: If you have a basement water problem and think you need a professional, or, if you’d like more information on foundation crack repair and basement waterproofing topics, please visit A1FoundationCrackRepair.com or call Rich at (866) 92 9-3171. Or you can email Rich at info@a1foundationcrackrepair.com. Thanks for listening and keep that basement dry.