There are two main types of foundations: poured concrete and concrete block. Both are similar and essentially serve the same purpose, so what's the difference between the two? Â Of course, the way these two are built is the most noticeable difference, but there are a few other important distinctions in their functionality. Understanding how these two foundations differ can help you learn how to best take care of your own foundation and seek out foundation crack repair if necessary.
Poured Concrete Foundation
This foundation, made from seamlessly poured concrete, is a bit more popular than its block counterpart. A poured concrete foundation is good at resisting water pressure from the outside, which means your home is better protected against leaks. These are also pretty easy to waterproof, since the foundation is made of one solidified material. Poured concrete foundations are also a modern design, with more and more builders choosing poured concrete over concrete block foundations for new houses recently.
Concrete Block Foundation
As the name implies, concrete block foundations are made of concrete or cinder blocks stacked together like bricks. The biggest difference and advantage of concrete block foundations is that they can typically hold more weight than poured concrete foundations. If you have a larger/heavier home, your house was most likely built with a concrete block foundation because it can better accommodate the weight. Keep in mind, though, that the gaps and grout lines of concrete block foundations make leaks a bit more likely.
Which One is Better?
There's no clear answer for which of these two types of foundation is better than the other. Poured concrete foundations are a bit more resistant to the elements pushing in from the outside, while concrete block foundations tend to support more weight on top. Most likely, the construction company who built your home chose the best foundation for the house, and unless your foundation has suffered significant damage, replacing it and switching your foundation for a different kind is not easy to do. Alternatively, if you're in the market for a new home and the strength of a foundation is an important selling element to you, you'll need to assess the house for yourself and determine if the pre-built concrete is the right choice for your situation.
How to Prevent Leaks
Just because concrete block foundations are more likely to suffer foundation cracks and have leaks doesn't mean your poured concrete foundation is safe from cracks. Both of these foundations can become cracked over time, so it's important that you trust an expert waterproofing company in Northern Virginia to conduct repairs.
Need Foundation Crack Repair in Northern Virginia?
No matter if your home was built with poured concrete or concrete block foundation, trust NV Waterproofing to provide professional foundation crack repair! If your poured concrete foundation has cracks, we will use polyurethane or epoxy injections to seal them. We use hydraulic cement to fill cracks in concrete block foundations. We stand by our crack repair with a warranty, so you can be sure that you're receiving a lasting solution. We've provided foundation crack repair in Northern Virginia since 1986, and offer unparalleled customer service and high-quality work.
If you need foundation crack repair in Northern Virginia, contact us today at 1-703-690-3889.
