How driveways can contribute to foundation cracking

Structure · Problems · printed page 41 (PDF page 42)

Book index entries

Cracking – Foundation due to Driveways Driveways – and Foundation Cracking Foundation – near Driveways Footings – and Foundations Foundation – and Footing

Text in the illustration

the load of heavy vehicles can be translated into horizontal forces capable of causing horizontal cracking
wall framing
floor framing
surface water flow
backfill
foundation wall
force
if the driveway slopes towards the house, large amounts of water can collect next to the foundations leading to high hydrostatic pressures and possible horizontal cracking
footing

Generated explanation

The illustration shows a heavy vehicle on a driveway beside a house foundation in cross-section. The foundation wall supports floor and wall framing and bears on a footing, with backfill against its exterior face. A large arrow illustrates vehicle loads being translated into lateral pressure through the backfill, and a horizontal crack is shown in the foundation wall. The driveway slopes toward the house, with an arrow showing surface water flowing toward the foundation. An annotation explains that water collecting beside the foundation can produce high hydrostatic pressure and possible horizontal cracking.