The following article specifies how one can monitor cracks inside their home. The approaches described are affordable and capable of providing an indication if the cracks are closing or opening.
Keeping an eye on the size and growth rate of a crack can let you determine potential problems with a property. By detecting a problem early, you can undertake quick action to correct a situation and prevent it from deteriorating.
The Significance of Monitoring Cracks in the Buildings
The experts responsible for crack monitoring said cracks in the buildings are signs of structural issues, and it is necessary that you closely observe them. A few reasons why cracks appear in the buildings are –
Moisture Damage
Cracks in the floors or walls happen due to moisture infiltration, which decreases the overall sturdiness of a building. A few more signs of moisture damage are a musty odour, peeling wallpaper or paint.
- Foundational Problems
Cracks are also caused due to a building’s poor foundation. Maybe there is settlement – vertical displacement of soil beneath a house, or heave – expansion of soaked soil. The cracks get bigger at the bottom or top, and you face multiple difficulties. For instance, you fail to close or open the doors and windows.
- Wear & Tear or Aging
Buildings experience wear and tear and that cause cracks as well as other damages. Cracks occur because of natural aging or other factors like fluctuations in humidity or temperature.
Through regular crack monitoring, you can identify and rectify underlying issues before they turn into something complicated. You must pay extra attention to the cracks that are spreading or growing. If you see a crack, please get in touch with a contractor or engineer to learn the cause and proper course of action.
Tools or Equipment You Must Utilize for Crack Monitoring
- Tell-Tale Gauge
A tell-tale gauge has two plates placed on top of each other. There is an accurate cross-hair mark on one side and a measurement grid on the other.
Every plate is fastened to both sides of a crack. If a crack moves, the plates also move. The cross-hair that begins at 0mm indicates the magnitude and direction of the movement.
A tell-tale gauge is extremely useful because it can demonstrate movement and show if a crack is getting smaller or bigger in a particular direction.
You can buy tell-tale gauges from various online platforms.
Advantages
- Can be used for checking the direction of movement.
- No extra equipment needed like measuring calipers.
- Easy to understand.
Disadvantages
- Comparatively expensive to observe several cracks.
- Installation can be a bit challenging.
- Not perfect for cracks where another side of a crack is not flush.
Tell-Tale Gauge Installation
- Find out the crack you want to monitor. See if it is suitable for tell-tale gauges.
- Write the installation date and reference number on the tell-tale gauge.
- Glue both the sides of the gauge to the crack.
- You can also use screws or wall plugs to secure the gauge to the crack.
- You can now monitor the cracks with your phone.
How to Monitor Cracks Using a Tell-Tale Gauge?
Using a tell-tale gauge is quite simple. Take a photo, zoom into the gauge, and see the movement in the X and Y axis. Note down the figures and the date. You may use this for further evaluation. Having a photo on the phone is a great backup if you lose the data.
- Demec Studs
Demec studs are immensely simple to use. They have a tiny dimple in the center of the disk that a caliper can measure. If used in pair, the caliper can find out the difference between two disks. The measurements are then compared to see if a crack is closing or opening.
Measuring calipers have varying price ranges based on the quality and brand. You must get a digitized set as it has an electronic display. You can buy a measuring caliper for only fifty pounds. A few are available for only ten pounds.
Demec studs are installed on both sides of the crack and then secured with a high-quality adhesive. A measuring caliper enables you to determine the distance between two disks.
Advantages
- Pretty easy to install. You can attach the caliper to the crack using a little glue.
- Small and affordable. A bag of hundred Demec studs costs only fifty pounds.
- Not as complex as a tell-tale gauge.
Disadvantages
- You have to get a caliper to measure the distance between every disk.
- You can monitor the crack in a single direction.
- Demec studs cannot be used to monitor cracks in the corners or the cracks close to objects like boiler, pipe, etc.
Demec Stud Installation
- Find out the crack you want to monitor.
- Stick the stud to the crack using glue.
- Write the reference number and installation date.
- After the glue has set, you can start recording the distance between each two disks with a measuring caliper.
- Measure the distance a couple of times. Average the outcomes for optimal precision.
- Note down the distance, reference number, and installation for future use.
How to Monitor Cracks Using a Demec Stud?
Monitoring a crack using a Demec stud is a pretty straightforward. But you have to invest in a measuring caliper. Before you start, set the calipers to zero. Close the calipers and check if the display is zero. All the calipers let you reset to zero.
After the calipers are installed, you can measure each dimple on the stud. It is necessary that you take a plethora of measurements, zeroing the calipers, and then average out all the readings. After you get the reading, write down the reference number, date, and measurements. Keep this data safe and access it whenever you need for other cracks.
If you wish to take care of the cracks in your building, please schedule an appointment with someone proficient, experienced, and reliable. The best contractors are said to pay frequent site visits, offer fixed price quotations, and create detailed graphs and reports.
