Q: I live in Tucson but have a second home in Show Low. Itβs a two-story unit thatβs half of a duplex. Recently, we found a crack in the slab near a brick wall. The crack is about 3/8ths to a half-inch wide, about 6 to 8 inches away from the brick wall. It runs all the way across the slab and into the other unit. Can this crack be fixed?
A:Β Yes, it can be fixed, but you should find out whatβs causing the crack. It might even be that the slab is heaving up due to clay soils under the duplex.
You and your neighbor need to have a footprint done for the entire building with a manometer; an engineer needs to look at the results as well. Although the test will cost about $650, perhaps you and your neighbor could split the expense.
For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.
