How do you know if you have a foundation problem or how the soil underneath is affecting your foundation's health? It isn’t always easy, but there are some signs, which tell a great deal about the health of your foundation, and whether or not you need an evaluation. Let’s start your structure's interior, then move to the exterior.
Interior:
- Cracks in walls – As your foundation shifts, raises, and/or lowers, this will put stress on the structure and can cause damage to its walls.
- Sticking doors & windows – This can be as simple as humidity causing your doorframe to swell. It could also be a sign the doorframe is no longer square due to a shifting foundation.
- Gaps around window & door frames – Just as with sticking doors and windows, cracks and separations around their frames mean the same thing: the foundation on which your walls are built, has moved.
- Buckled or uneven flooring – Your flooring sits atop your foundation, so any sign of an unhealthy floor could be a sign of an unhealthy foundation.
Exterior:
- Cracks in masonry – These could be signs of a shifting foundation, and can be viewed as a potential sign of foundation issues.
- Cracks in the foundation – Extremely small foundation cracks aren’t likely to cause problems, but even the smallest cracks can grow over time; this can mean problems for your property.
- Plumbing issues – As your foundation settles — or moves in some other unpredictable manner — your plumbing may fail. If your foundation hasn’t been stabilized, this could lead to repeat plumbing repairs.
- Detached or uneven chimney – While this could be indicative of structural problems with your chimney, it can also indicate foundation issues you need to have repaired.
- Gaps in the fascia – These gaps could be your home settling or reacting to humidity; they could also be signs of a foundation issue.
- New or unusual drainage patterns – If water seems to run toward rather than from your structure during a storm, then you may have foundation problems.
FOUNDATIONS: SETTLING vs ISSUES
Some of these signs may not be the result or indication of foundation failure. In some instances — particularly in new homes or buildings — your foundation will go through a period of time it settles into the soil around it. While every effort was most likely taken to ensure a firm soil bed for your foundation, no one can predict what affect weather and geology will have in five or ten years.
What is the difference between foundation settling and issues? It all comes down to a matter of degree: settling typically involves minimal movement, without any visible damage to the foundation or the plumbing passing through it; you may also experience one of the above signs. When the soil and foundation movement becomes excessive, you’ll see more severe and generally multiple examples of the signs we listed.
How To Know For Sure
While any or all of the signs we’ve shared can indicate a foundation issue, there’s only one way to know for sure. Perma-Pier Foundation Repair of Texas will provide an evaluation at no charge to you to help diagnose the condition of your property.
Schedule your evaluation today and put your concerns to rest!
