Your home’s foundation is the most important part of your structure. How can that be? It’s because everything is built on a solid, competent foundation. Problems with your foundation will eventually translate into major structural issues in other parts of your structure. Problems with foundations can have a variety of causes, including intermittent wetness and dryness, clay types in the substrate, varying climate conditions, and plumbing leaks, to name but a few. Foundation repairs, if needed, will preserve the value of your home as well as save you money and heartache in the long run.
Common Signs that Your Foundation May Have Problems
There are a number of indicators that can suggest that your foundation needs evaluation. The most common are these:
- Cracks on the foundation floor itself, especially if they show increasing gap width
- Fractures in the walls emanating from the foundation
- Settling or sinking, especially in one part of the home in particular
- Doors that don’t open properly anymore or have become “sticky“
- Attached fixtures such as counters or the stone-facing around fireplaces that are gapping away from the walls
- Unusual dampness in the basement, especially when it’s clearly not from rain
In addition to these, other, less-obvious observations can be made by qualified professionals that also may indicate problems with your foundation.
What to Do When You See Signs of Foundation Trouble
If you observe one or more of these things, your foundation may have structural issues or even be compromised. At this point, further investigation by a trained professional is needed. You want them to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of your foundation’s integrity. The best firms will provide these evaluations free of charge.
Upon completion of the foundation evaluation, you’ll receive a detailed report as well as a tour showing you what problems, if any, were found. If foundation trouble is apparent, they will provide you with a written estimate of the proposed repairs and corrections that they can perform.
