Wall crack repair in Kansas City that finds out why the wall cracked, then fixes it. A family business since 1986.
4.7 ⭐ rating with 90+ Google reviews, BBB A+ accredited, family-owned, and backed by a lifetime transferable warranty on qualifying pier systems. Featured by TheHomeMag and BloggerLocal as one of Kansas City’s top foundation repair contractors.
Each type of foundation wall crack requires a unique repair approach. When these cracks occur, several questions must be answered. For example, is it a structural crack that is compromising the strength and stability of the wall? Is the crack going to get larger as time passes? What caused the crack? Is the crack going to let water leak inside your home’s foundation? What are viable repair methods to try?
If these questions aren’t answered, it may cause a homeowner to lose sleep. This is why it is smart to have an expert from Olson Foundation Repair provide a full evaluation to answer all the questions above – and more.
Crack width | What it usually means |
Hairline, under 1/8″ | Seldom a concern. Often concrete shrinkage. |
Over 1/8″ | Can signal movement. Keep an eye on it. |
Over 1/4″, or a coin fits | Call for an inspection. |
Easy way to track it: pencil-mark both ends of the crack and check again in 30 days. If it has grown, the wall is still moving.
There are several types of foundation wall cracks you may see. These include:
Vertical cracks often come from settlement or concrete shrinkage. A narrow one that isn’t leaking is usually minor. A wide or leaking one should be looked at.
Typical fix: crack injection. Piers if the footing has settled. See push piers in Lee’s Summit and Grandview.
Heavy soil pressure is the most common cause of horizontal cracks. This occurs when the water-saturated soil has exerted pressure against the wall from the exterior. These walls may eventually buckle or bow, and they could cave in.
Typical fix: steel I-beams to stop the wall, then seal the crack. See bowing wall repair in Lee’s Summit and Grandview.
If a concrete block foundation wall develops cracks because of settlement or soil pressure, the cracking will appear along the mortar joints present between the individual blocks. These may run through the wall and create a stair-step pattern. These cracks indicate a foundation issue that needs to be repaired.
Typical fix: depends on the cause. Piers for settlement, I-beams for soil pressure, tuckpointing for the mortar joints.
There are several possible causes of cracks that appear in your foundation walls. These include:
On the outside of your foundation, water-saturated soil or expansive clay soil may push in on your home’s foundation with significant force. If the pressure is too much for the wall, it could develop diagonal or horizontal cracks. You may notice cracks and wall displacement (e.g., tilting or bowing).
The soil under your foundation wall will compress or wash away because of a water leak or heavy rain. The footing may then crack vertically and begin to settle into the depression.
These cracks will be too narrow and small for a fingernail. The cracks caused by shrinkage will not change in size and won’t reduce the stability or strength of your home’s foundation.
Undersized footings, weak concrete, and inadequate reinforcement are all construction defects that may make your home’s foundation walls more likely to crack.
Epoxy fills the crack through the full thickness of a poured wall and bonds it back together, so it seals the leak and restores strength.
Method | Best for | Typical price |
Epoxy injection | Cracks that go all the way through the wall. A structural fix. | 40–50 per foot |
Epoxy patching | Surface cracks only. Cosmetic, not structural. | 12–18 per foot |
Tuckpointing | Mortar joints in stone and block walls (we don’t service brick) | 15–20 per foot |
How long it takes: injecting one 25-foot wall takes about 2 to 3 hours.
Fix the cause first. A crack that’s filled while the wall is still moving usually comes back, anywhere from 6 months to a few years later.
John Murphy has 26 years in foundation repair: 21 years doing the installation and labor, then 5 in sales. He can tell a shrinkage crack from one that means the wall is moving.
Warranty: if your crack is part of a structural repair, I-beams and wall anchors carry 15 years, and qualifying pier systems carry a lifetime transferable warranty.
Foundation repair near you: Lee’s Summit · Grandview
Olson Foundation Repair Will Get it
Done Right the First Time
40 years in Kansas City. Olson has repaired foundation walls here since 1986.
Experienced installers. Our installers know this work, and John, who bids it, spent 21 years as one of them.
A clean, professional crew. We work as if someone lives in the house, and leave the basement orderly.
We've Simplified the Wall Crack Repair Process
We'll schedule you a free in-home consultation today
We check each crack and whether the wall is moving, explain your options, and send a written bid, usually within 24–48 hours.
We'll complete your foundation work on time and in-budget.
You can relax knowing that your foundation issues are solved!
Get professional basement waterproofing & foundation repair services at a
fair price with the quality of service you deserve.
