Expansive clay
Much of Regina is built on expansive clay. It can swell up to about 10% when saturated and shrink by a similar amount in a dry summer. In spring that means heavy sideways pressure on basement walls. In late summer the soil pulls away from the footings and leaves gaps. (Source)
Deep frost
Frost reaches 8 to 10 feet in Regina, and Saskatchewan sees over 100 freeze-thaw cycles a year. Wet soil above the footings freezes, expands and pushes on the wall. (Source)
Old or failed weeping tile
Many pre-1970s homes have clay weeping tile, which clogs with silt, clay and roots. When it stops draining, water pressure builds against the wall and finds the cracks.
What the cracks tell you
- Horizontal cracks: soil pressure pushing the wall in. The most serious kind. Get it looked at.
- Stair-step cracks in block walls: uneven settling, often from frost or drying clay.
- Vertical hairline cracks: common shrinkage cracks. Seal them if they leak.
Warning signs
- Damp patches or water at the base of walls
- White, chalky deposits on concrete (efflorescence)
- Musty smell or mould near the floor
- Cracks that get wider between spring and late summer
Water in the basement? Serving Regina, White City, Emerald Park, Pilot Butte, Balgonie and Lumsden. Send a request.
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