Foundation Crack Repair in Pittsburgh, PA

What kind of crack do you have?

Not every crack is bad news. Some are just a sign that concrete shrank as it dried. Others mean a wall is moving. Here is what Pittsburgh homeowners tell us they see:

• "A thin crack runs straight up and down the basement wall."
• "The crack leaks every time it rains."
• "There is a long crack running sideways across my block wall."
• "The block wall has a stair-step crack and it bulges."
• "The crack is wider at the top than the bottom."
• "My stone foundation is losing mortar and the stones are loose."
• "There are cracks in the brick outside near the corner."
• "A crack in the plaster upstairs keeps coming back."

How to read a foundation crack

Thin up-and-down cracks in poured concrete. These are common. If they are dry and not growing, they are often cosmetic. If they leak, they can be sealed.

Sideways cracks in a block wall. A long crack that runs along the middle of a block wall often means soil is pushing the wall in. This is a structural crack. It usually needs bracing, not just sealing. See bowing wall repair.

Stair-step cracks. These follow the mortar joints in block or brick. They can mean settling at one corner or pressure from outside. If the wall bulges too, it needs attention soon.

Wider at one end. A crack that is wider at the top or the bottom often means part of the foundation has moved up or down. A sunken corner may need piers. See foundation repair.

One side sticks out. If one side of the crack is pushed in past the other, the wall has shifted. Get it looked at.

Why walls crack in Pittsburgh

Freeze and thaw. Pittsburgh winters go above and below freezing again and again. Water in a crack or in the soil freezes and pushes. Each cycle can open a crack a little more.

Wet clay on the hills. Many Pittsburgh hillsides have a layer of clay-rich soil called the Pittsburgh red beds. Wet clay is heavy and slick. It presses on the uphill wall and can creep downhill, which loads the wall even more.

Old block, brick and stone. About half of the homes in the city were built before 1940. Old mortar wears out, and old walls have had many decades of freeze, thaw and soil pressure working on them.

Old mines. Some neighborhoods sit over abandoned coal mines. When the ground over a mine settles, foundations can crack fast. In 2023, at least seven homes in Lincoln Place had foundation cracks after a mine collapse. If cracks appear suddenly across several homes on your street, tell the inspector. The state runs a mine subsidence insurance program and a risk map you can check by address.

How cracks get fixed

Injection for poured concrete walls

The crew seals the face of the crack and pumps foam or epoxy into it from the inside. Foam stays flexible and is good for stopping leaks. Epoxy bonds the concrete and is used when strength matters. Either way, the work is done from the basement, with no digging.

Sealing and repointing block, brick and stone

Block and stone walls cannot be injected the same way. The crew cleans out loose mortar and fills the joints with new mortar, called repointing. Leaks are often handled with an inside drain that catches the water. See basement waterproofing.

Bracing

If the crack means the wall is moving, the wall needs support. Carbon fiber straps, steel beams or wall anchors hold the wall in place. Sealing a moving crack without bracing it usually fails.

Fixing the cause

Gutters that overflow, downspouts that dump at the wall, and soil that slopes toward the house all feed cracks. A good crew will point these out and include the fix in the plan.

What foundation crack repair costs in Pittsburgh

Here are typical ranges from published cost guides. They are not quotes.

Long cracks, cracks behind finished walls, and cracks with old failed patches cost more. Many crews give a lower price per crack when you have several. See the full Pittsburgh cost guide.

You get the price in writing before any work starts. No hidden fees.

Before you hire

• Ask what kind of crack it is. A good inspector explains if it is cosmetic, a leak, or structural.
• Ask what caused it. Sealing a crack without fixing the cause can mean paying twice.
• Ask what the warranty covers. Leaks only, or new cracks too?
• Check the state registration. Pennsylvania home improvement contractors must list their registration number on every estimate and contract.
• Get a written contract. State law requires one for jobs over $500, and you have three business days to cancel.

Where we help

We connect homeowners with local crack repair crews across Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, including Lincoln Place, Mount Washington, Polish Hill, Dormont, Bethel Park, Penn Hills and Shaler. See all service areas.

Get your crack checked for free

A crack that leaks or grows only gets worse with each winter. Call (412) 990-2570 or send the short form, and a local crew will call you back to set up a free look.