The foundation of your home is what supports and keeps the rest of the structure standing upright. Your foundation is a slab of brick, treated lumber, or concrete the house rests on so that it’s not resting directly on the house’s surrounding dirt, soil, or clay. Without a foundation, your house would fall apart almost immediately since the ground underneath your house is liable to shift around. Due to the weight that it bears and the fact that the ground underneath it has the potential to shift, it’s important to make keep the foundation sturdy and in place. If your foundation becomes damaged, the cost of fixing it can become higher and higher the longer you wait to get it repaired. Discussed below are signs that you may be in need of foundation repairs.
Door or Window Gaps and Wall Cracks
If any of your doors or windows are not closing completely, or you happen to notice gaps forming in how they should fit into their frames, then this is a sign that your foundation is probably in need of repairs. This isn’t the only sign that there’s a problem though, some things are out of sight and as a result much more difficult to spot, especially if you don’t know that you should be on the lookout for them. For example, you may notice cracks beginning to form in the walls either around the door or on their own across the walls, but it might be difficult to tell where they originated. These cracks are a sign that the foundation has become uneven, and as a result, your house is being literally pulled apart by the base. That’s why it’s important to get someone to assess the damage to your foundation as soon as you suspect it could be the problem, especially if you see a combination of symptoms and not just one or two.
Poor Water Drainage
Water damage is one of the biggest things that can lead to foundational damage, especially if you take too long to get that water damage repaired. One of the most significant signs that your foundation needs repair is poor water drainage. Water should flow through the home’s foundation and away from the structure. If it doesn’t, it can start to prematurely age your foundation, causing damage to the entire structure. Your foundation may need repair if you notice water pooling near or under your home or if you notice damp spots on walls or ceilings that don’t go away quickly. You may also see a buildup of moss around the outside edges of your foundation as the moister allow for plant growth. In addition to this, standing water, which can indicate flooding, can cause the foundations to settle further than they already have over time, leading to worsening cracks as the house pulls itself apart.
Check your roof for signs of damage, as it’s very easy for shingles to be ripped off or holes to form that allow water in without your knowledge. Since the roof is constantly out of sight out of mind, it can be easy to overlook this as a potential source of the problem. It could be very easy for water to get in through the roof, cause damage to the walls, and eventually make its way to the foundation. If you’ve suffered a major storm or high winds recently, it’s a good idea to check on your roof to prevent potential water damage to the rest of your home.
Sticking Windows and Doors
If your windows or doors are sticking when you try to open or close them, it can be a sign that you are in need of foundation repair. A common sign that your house is sinking or pulling apart is when things like doors and windows no longer fit like they used to where they were installed, such as when gaps form, as mentioned above, or they begin to stick, simply because the literal shape of the house where they were installed has morphed and changed. If this is the case, you’ll find it difficult to open or close anything completely or properly. This is also one of the biggest and most classic signs that something has gone wrong with your foundation.
Moisture in Your Crawlspace
One of the other most obvious signs that your foundation needs repair is when you find moisture in your crawlspace. If a homeowner finds water leaking into their crawlspace, it might be time to call a professional. They will inspect the area and determine if any other issues need to be addressed, such as concluding the cause is a foundational issue or if the problem originated from somewhere else, such as a damaged roof. A professional looking at the situation can fix potential problems before they worsen. This could prevent more extensive damage to your home’s foundation as you’re able to catch the problem sooner rather than later.
In conclusion, there are several potential signs that can indicate your home’s foundation needs some sort of repair, or could be in danger of needing repair. If you find any of the signs listed above, especially if you see many of them at once, it may be time to call in a professional to have them evaluate your home. A professional will determine if your foundation needs repair or if any of the problems could be related to something else, such as roof damage that’s only created water damage but hasn’t reached your foundation yet. Or poorly installed doors or windows, which simply need to be readjusted.
