Home foundation problems are one of the most frustrating problems that a homeowner can deal with. If you’re worried about home foundation problems, you need to make sure that you know how to discover these home foundation problems early on and then get more information about fixing them. Here’s what you need to know about home foundation problem signs.
8 Simple Signs Your Home Has a Foundation Problem Created By: Innovative Basement Authority
The Eight Biggest Signs of Home Foundation Problems
There are a number of home foundation problem signs that you can notice in your own home. None of these warning signs require an expert to look them over before you can discover them, so make sure you keep an eye out for them.
Cracks in the Walls or Floors
Any cracks in your walls or floors should be cause for alarm, especially if you’ve never really had a problem with cracks in the past. However, it’s especially important to pay attention to these cracks in your walls and floors if you’re experiencing diagonal cracks from the corners of your walls or floors, as these are more commonly indicative of foundation failure.
Misaligned and Sticking Doors and Windows
When your foundation has one side that’s sinking more rapidly than the other side, you’re going to run into a variety of problems. One problem that may be less obvious than others is issues with sticking doors and windows. That’s because the frame may become warped over time, causing it to become more difficult to open and close the doors and windows.
Gaps Between Walls, Windows, and Doors
Walls, windows, and doors all need to match up perfectly between each other. If you don’t have a relatively perfect match between walls, windows, and doors, you can end up with a great place for pests to infest and water to come inside. It’s also an indication that your foundation is settling and pulling walls and windows out of place.
Sagging or Slanting Floors
If your floor is sagging or slanting, you need to get to the root of why. Specifically, it’s relatively common for sagging or slanting floors to happen because of issues with the support structure underneath the floors. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including a weak foundation structure for your floor weight.
A Leaning Chimney
The chimney typically has a different foundation from the rest of the home. This means that you may end up with serious problems in your chimney that you might not have in the rest of the home or vice versa. If the chimney is leaning inward or outward from the rest of the home, that indicates one or the other is moving unnecessarily.
Bowing Basement Walls
When you go into your basement, it’s important that you take a look at your basement walls. Your basement walls should stand up straight and tall. If they don’t, chances are that they’re bending inward. This typically happens because of hydrostatic pressure. When you have too much hydrostatic pressure on your basement walls, you can end up with foundation problems.
A Musty Smell From the Basement or Crawl Space
Musty smells in your basement or crawl space definitely aren’t normal. You might have heard that these musty smells are just a common part of having a basement or crawl space, but as a matter of fact, they’re actually an indication of mold and mildew in the basement or crawl space. If you smell this from your basement or crawl space, it’s because of a problem.
Waterproofing Problems
It’s extremely important that you tackle waterproofing problems as soon as you notice them. Waterproofing is one of the most crucial elements of keeping your home safe and sound because if you don’t have waterproofing processes in your home, you’re going to end up with all sorts of problems. If you notice damp spots or standing water, you need to look into it with an expert’s help.
The Biggest Causes of Foundation Problems
Why do foundation problems happen in the first place? There are actually a lot of reasons that foundation problems can occur in your home. It’s important to pay attention to the reasons for foundation problems rather than just trying to diagnose the problems in the first place. These are some of the most common reasons for foundation concerns:
- Load-Bearing Wall Deterioration
- Settling as the Soil Expands and Shrinks
- Soil Surging Under the Home
- Water Damage From Inside the Home
- Poor Exterior Drainage
Not all of these are easy for you to notice in a foundation. Many of them require an expert’s help to understand. If you’re looking to learn more about your foundation problems, it’s a good idea to talk to an expert first and foremost.
How Expensive Is It to Fix Foundation Problems?
The cost of fixing foundation problems can vary dramatically between foundations. Many foundation fixes start at around $3,500, and advanced repairs can cost $10,000 or more. The average foundation repair cost in a place prone to serious problems like Washington D.C. is $50,595. Talking to a foundation repair expert can give you a better idea of how expensive it might be.
Conclusion
As you can see, foundation problems vary dramatically in extent, damage, cost to fix, and ease of identification. If you’re looking for a good way to understand your home’s foundation problems, your best bet will always be to look for a foundation repair expert to give you an insider’s look at what’s going on. Talk to a foundation repair expert if you’re seeing any of these problems so you can fix them as soon as possible.
