Cracks in Your Slab Foundation: When to Worry
Almost every concrete slab cracks a little. The question is whether you’re looking at harmless shrinkage or a structural crack from foundation movement.
Shrinkage cracks
Thin, shallow cracks that appear as concrete cures are normal and usually stable. They rarely affect structure on their own.
Structural cracks
Cracks wider than a quarter inch, with vertical displacement (one side higher), or that run with floor slope and wall cracks signal that the slab is bending over moving soil — a job for slab foundation repair.
Get it measured
Vertical offset across a slab crack is the red flag. A free elevation survey confirms whether the slab has actually dropped, common in Buda and San Marcos.
- Thin curing cracks are usually harmless.
- Width over a quarter inch or vertical offset is structural.
- Elevation measurement confirms real movement.
Not sure how serious it is?
Get a free, ±⅛-inch elevation survey and a written, engineer-backed plan — no pressure.
Book my inspectionFrequently asked
Can a cracked slab be repaired without replacement?
Does sealing a slab crack fix it?
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