The foundation is obviously the most important part of the safety and structural integrity of a home. But, often, it can get damaged which can lead to major problems that are unsafe to live in.
Luckily, there are usually a lot of signs before the problems get to that point and you can have some basement structural repair done to resolve the problems. According to the foundation experts at www.sedonawaterproofing.com in Charlotte, NC, reenforcing your foundation and basement structure is the best way to ensure your home can withstand the test of time and you can feel confident having your family inside.
Here are the top six most common signs that it’s time to look into house foundation repair options near me!
Source: diy.stackexchange.com
Contents
1. Visible Cracks on the Walls
There should never be any cracks or splits in your walls, both exterior and interior. When you see those things it’s a clear sign that there’s some kind of problem happening inside of the walls that should be fixed as soon as possible.
This is especially true when you can tell that the cracks are growing and covering a larger area of the wall.
As your house foundation settles unevenly because of damage, the walls will begin to show signs of pressure and wear as they are pulled in different directions. Sometimes they’ll follow a straight diagonal line and other times it will look more like a set of stairs (mainly on the exterior).
Sometimes we can brush these signs off because they themselves could be fixed but they’re often a sign of a much bigger problem that shouldn’t be ignored.
2. Leaning Chimneys and Exterior Fixtures
Probably the most disconcerting of all the signs of foundation problems is when you notice your chimney is leaning instead of standing straight up. This can also happen with other fixtures on the exterior of the home but is less obvious most of the time.
Not only is this a clear call for help from your home, but it can also be quite dangerous if the angle becomes too steep for the structure to hold up and the whole thing falls down. Once you see the lean, call in the professionals as quickly as possible to avoid an accident or major damage to your roof and the exterior of your home.
Source: Medium.com
3. Uneven, Creaking Floors
Sometimes you can be walking around your house and feel like you just walked through a dip. It can even feel like the floor is floating or softer in one area than another. It’s a good idea to pay close attention to these feelings and do a little extra investigating.
One potential cause of the uneven floors in your home could be that they’re lacking the support they need from underneath.
That support had to be there during the building of the home and for inspections, so it’s likely caused by an issue in the foundation that’s leaving the area vulnerable. Luckily, a little foundation crack repair can help increase the stability and hopefully remove the sagging floors from your home altogether.
4. Hard to Open Doors and Windows
One of the most common signs of a problem with the foundation is sticking doors and windows. But the problem is, these signs can go ignored or unnoticed because it’s a regular problem with a lot of potential causes.
After you’ve tried the typical remedies to make your doors and windows open more smoothly to no avail, it’s time to call the experts to get the foundation checked. What can happen as the home settles into the uneven crack is the frames of those openings change shape and the door or window doesn’t fit properly.
This makes it hard for them to move freely and easily open. If the problem is left unattended for too long there can be significant enough disruption that they won’t open at all. So, it’s better to be safe than sorry and get things checked out.
Source: umama-construction.com
5. Excess Moisture Inside the Home
Every homeowner knows how detrimental excess water can be to the structure of a home. Left alone, water and moisture can cause a whole host of problems to not only the house itself but the people living inside as well.
While it could mean a whole host of things, moisture in your home where it’s not supposed to be could be a sign that there are gaps and holes in the basement that need to be repaired. After the necessary repairs are made, it’s a good idea to go through and waterproof the whole area to avoid further problems of the same kind.
Extra water in your home is never something to mess around with and should be handled as quick as possible.
6. Noticing Large Gaps
Every home will have a little bit of settling and stretching as it ages but when you begin to notice large gaps that continue to grow, it could be a sign that you need some foundation work done.
This is especially true when there seem to be more gaps on one side of the house than the other. Generally, foundation and structural problems don’t happen equally throughout the home and the consequences tend to focus on one area of the home instead.
Keep an eye on areas like where the cabinets meet the wall, window frames, and baseboards. These are the easiest places to see where things aren’t sitting evenly and gaps are beginning to appear that should be looked at.
Source: upgradedhome.com
Signs You Need Basement Structural Repair
There’s nothing worse than knowing your home is having problems but not knowing what the source is. This is why it’s so important to call basement structural repair services as soon as you notice any of these signs. They will be able to come out and evaluate the situation to see if their work is needed or not.
From there, you’ll have a clear path to resolving your issues and making sure your home is as safe as possible for your family members to continue to live in.
If you’ve experienced any of these problems in your home, contact your local foundation repair professional today to set up an appointment today!
