Problems with your home’s foundation should always be on your radar. Foundation repairs can be costly, and any damages and expenses will keep adding up the longer you wait to fix them. Fortunately, when your foundation is in trouble, early telltale signs crop up around your house.
These signs of foundation damage can be subtle and elusive though. Some of them are as trivial as a crack in your wall or seemingly unrelated, like mold in the corners of your basement. A good approach is to check if any of these problems occurs simultaneously. Here are the five most common problems with house foundations and how you can spot them.
1. Inspect Cracks in Walls and Floor
Cracks in your home are not always a cause for concern. Small cracks can form in new houses two or three years after construction as the house settles. They also occur because of the expansion of the drywall or wood because of seasonal changes. However, some cracks in your walls and floors can indicate serious foundation problems. You should keep a lookout for these kinds of cracks:
- Horizontal cracks in your walls
- Diagonal cracks from your door and windows to the ceiling
- Cracks that look like stair steps
- Cracks in tiles, vinyl, and concrete floors
- Cracks that are wider than ¼ inches
- Cracks that leak water
- Cracks that keep growing in size
Cracks require immediate attention because if they get invaded by water and pests, the damage will escalate. You should also know that horizontal cracks are much more serious than vertical cracks because that often indicates there’s a lot of pressure around the edges of your foundation.
If you see vertical cracks on your foundation walls that are wider at the top than the bottom, this also points to serious trouble. Diagonal cracks are less serious unless they are large (over 6 inches). You should also check how deep the crack is, it should not appear deeper than your drywall.
Quick tip: If you can fit a coin through a crack in your home, get help (or at least advice) from a professional concrete contractor as soon as possible.
2. Pay Attention to Your Doors and Windows
Examining your doors and windows can help you determine foundation problems. They are often the first parts of the house that show observable changes when your foundation shifts. Pay attention to these changes in your windows and doors:
- Doors inside your house are sticking or dragging at the top
- Doors outside your house drag at the bottom
- There are gaps around your window frames
- Doors appear crooked
- You have to make an effort to close and open windows
- You can’t completely close your windows or doors
- Your door doesn’t latch anymore
- Double doors don’t meet in the middle
The signs above don’t always mean that you have a foundation problem. They commonly occur in humid areas and rainy seasons too, so they might also need lubrication. However, if these issues persist after the humid season or lubrication, then you might have a foundation problem (especially if you also notice any cracks around your doors and windows).
3. Beware of the Pest Attack
The major culprit of foundation damage is water. If your basement or crawlspace is damp, then you might have a foundation problem. Or if you don’t have it yet, you might soon develop one. Whenever there’s a moisture problem, a pest infestation will soon follow. This can compromise your foundation to a greater extent. Keep an eye out for the signs of a pest attack:
- Your basement and crawlspaces smell musty
- There are termites in your basement, crawlspaces, and home
- You notice a lot of bugs like centipedes, roaches, silverfish, earwigs, and ants in your basement, crawlspaces, and home
- There is mold and mildew growing in your basement and crawlspaces
- You can also see mold and mildew in the corners of your house and near windows and walls
Moisture problems and recurring pest infestations may be because of an ineffective drainage system in your foundation. Standing water can seriously damage your foundation. More water and moisture can then seep through the cracks that form in your foundation because of the damage.
4. Examine Floors and Ceilings
When your foundation shifts and moves, it can warp your floors and ceilings. An uneven floor might be a construction mistake. But if you notice changes in your floors and ceilings that were not there before, your foundation might be in trouble. These changes include:
- When you place a ball on your floor, it rolls in the same direction each time
- There is a slope in your home that keeps getting steeper
- Your home or parts of it appear to be sinking
- Your foundation or floors are bulging upwards
- Your ceiling is uneven and appears to be sagging
These are signs of serious damage to your foundation. When they start appearing, you should immediately seek professional help. To monitor the foundation damage yourself or prepare for future problems, try using a level to measure the slope of your home. You can also download an app on your phone to measure the slope of your floor.
5. Check Walls and Chimney
Another serious sign of foundation damage is crooked walls and chimneys. They are one of the most revealing signs of foundation damage. Look for these changes in your walls and chimney:
- Your chimney is lopsided
- There are cracks and fractures in your chimney
- The walls of your basement are bowed
- The exterior walls in your home are crooked
- The walls don’t meet the ceiling or floor
- Your cabinets and kitchen counters are pulling away from the walls
- Nails are popping out of the drywall
- Anything you hang on your walls appears crooked
If you notice any of these signs, your foundation could have any one of several serious issues. Hiring a contractor to fix your foundation should become your priority because damage like this gets worse over time.
The Takeaway
Realizing your foundation has problems can be intimidating. Foundation repairs are costly and time-consuming. But if you catch the signs early and diagnose the problem, you can save both time and money in the long run. The best thing to do if you think you have a problem or aren’t sure is to talk to an expert today who can offer advice for your situation without any pressure or obligation.