Importance of Classification of Cracks
Cracks in a building are like ailments in human body. The building gets weaker and weaker if the cracks are not treated properly. The cracks give an impression of faulty and poor quality work. Moisture penetrates through the cracks and deteriorates the external facade as well as the internal facade. For determining a treatment procedure for the cracks, cracks have to be classified depending on its cause and nature. Different types of cracks have to be treated in different ways depending on its nature of occurrence.
In my earlier articles, I have discussed major and minor causes of cracks. Studying these causes also help in the classification of cracks.
The classification of cracks is based on various factors:
- Direction of the cracks
- Extent of the cracks
- Width of the cracks (if tapers)
- Width of the cracks
- Depth of the cracks
- Alignment of the cracks
- Sharpness of the edges
- Cleanliness
- General