Extreme weather, water damage, general wear and tear – there are many elements that can influence the condition of your residential or commercial foundation. The ability to recognize signs of foundation damage can make all the difference in the well-being of the structure. If you catch the damage early enough, you may be saving yourself a headache and otherwise invasive repair needs.
At Perma Pier, we provide thorough foundation repair services for properties throughout Texas. This post will cover the qualities of a good Texas foundation as well as the tell-tale signs of damage, so you can better understand your next steps.
What Good Foundations Have in Common
A good foundation will have been built to meet industry standards and codes with quality material meant to last. Barring disaster, your foundation should sustain your property for decades. But what separates an everyday foundation from the ones that last are foundations with an adequate support system. The following measures can help.
Adequate Drainage & Landscaping Support
Routine gutter maintenance and careful attention to landscape design can keep excess water away from your foundation. The best foundations have clean gutters, gutter spouts protruding five feet or more away from the building, and landscaping materials (like boulders and retaining walls) installed properly to prevent flooding.
Healthy Soil
Dry or unkempt soil can cause several issues to a foundation. Dry soil allows water in, which then gets into the pores of the concrete and damages it from the inside out. And expansive soil can add pressure to concrete slabs and cause cracking. A good foundation will have adequate topsoil for physical support and healthy levels of moisture in the surrounding soil.
Regular Evaluations
There’s no avoiding it. Foundations that have a professional come in to periodically check on them are more likely to sustain their strength – when you can keep an eye on the small things, you keep them from becoming big things.
Foundation Damage Signs
There are ways to tell if your foundation is suffering and in need of serious repairs. Keep an eye out for the following signs.
Damage to Pier & Beam Foundations
Pier and beam foundations will often show signs of excess wear or rotted wood on joists and beams. The blocks or concrete the piers rest on may also become cracked or unlevel. Your walls may become cracked, doors and windows may stick, and your floors may sink.
Concrete Slab Foundation Damage Signs
Concrete slab foundation damage may manifest via water leakage, coming through holes or cracks made from hydrostatic pressure or shrink and swell soil. Concrete can also blister and crack. Like pier and beam signs, unlevel concrete slabs can result in uneven flooring, sticking doors and windows, and other structural issues. Finally, horizontal cracks are a surefire sign of a faulty concrete foundation.
What If My Home Settles?
A settled home isn’t always a bad thing. New homes and buildings go through periods of time in which they settle into the soil around them. However, when the settling becomes excessive it’s likely you’ll see some of the aforementioned signs – like sunken floors and sticking doors.
Unsure If Your Foundation Is Healthy? Learn More With a No-Charge Evaluation
Texas is home to four major regions. Influential factors like weather and moisture will likely look a little different in San Antonio than they do in Dallas, Fort Worth, or Houston for that matter. So, know that while there are measures you can take to ensure the longevity of your foundation, every structure is different and yours may need a professional evaluation to get a clearer picture of what’s going on.
At Perma Pier, our foundation repair professionals want you to have peace of mind about your foundation – whether it comes from repair services or a no-charge evaluation. Schedule your evaluation today or connect with us online to learn more.
