Foundation issues occur when moisture in the soil below your house causes the foundation to rise or settle. Both rising or lowering foundations will cause cracks throughout your home, uneven floors, and other signs that your home is slowly wrenching apart from the ground up. If your foundation is taking damage, this means repairs and property improvements will be necessary very soon.
To help homeowners know when to prepare for foundation repairs, let’s spotlight the top six signs that you may have ongoing foundation issues.
Cracks in the Walls or Floor
Look for cracks anywhere in the house – especially the walls, ceiling, and floors. These are signs that rooms are no longer even and the building materials crack when they are pulled in two different directions – half higher or lower than the other. Cracks indoors or outdoors in your home structure is most commonly a foundation shifting issue.
Uneven Doorways and Doors that Swing Open
When doorways are torqued with a shifting foundation, they become uneven and doors no longer hang right. If your doors don’t latch closed anymore or swing open, this could be a sign. If measured with a right-angle tool, you may find your doorways are no longer level at all.
High or Low Floor Sections
Look for spaces where your floor is pushed up or has settled down, creating an uneven flooring surface. Most often, the floors drop near the center of a house but rise around the outer walls like the garage.
Cracks in Basement or Foundation Brickwork
Basement and foundation brickwork (or concrete) are the most likely to show early cracks as the foundation shifts. Damp basements with cracks in the walls are often caused by foundation issues. Stairstep cracks are especially conspicuous. Also look for cracks around your outdoor foundation line.
Gaps Around Window and Door Frames
Window and doorframes need the house to be flat and remain at right angles. When the house shifts and torques with foundation movement, the frames themselves can gap around the moving walls. If you see gaps around window frames or doorframes, your foundation is likely to blame.
Damp Crawlspace and Foundation Flowerbeds
Watch out for unwanted or unexpected dampness. Because moisture is what causes soil to swell or sink, moisture often comes up around areas where the foundation is damaged. Watch for foundation-line flowerbeds that are too damp (and don’t overwater) and for unwanted dampness around cracks and seams in the basement.
Does your house have potential or obvious foundation issues? We can help! Contact us today to consult on your foundation concerns and the best methods to repair and prevent further damage.