Foundation failure undermines your house’s integrity, presenting a severe safety hazard for your family. Turning to local foundation repair services is vital, but so is knowing when you need help. Learning to spot early signs of damage lets you respond as soon as possible, preventing the situation from growing worse.

A Sinking Feeling

It’s not uncommon for houses to “settle” over time, typically early on in its life. However, too much settling is a bad sign, as your house sinks into insufficiently backfilled soil underneath it, straining the foundation in the process. This is one of the most common causes behind foundation failure. Telltale signs that house settling is a serious issue include:

• Stair-step cracks form in walls and siding
• Doors and windows jam and fail to close
• Floors and roof slope or sag noticeably
• Chimneys lean away from the house
• Water damage, often from cracked pipes

Depending on soil and foundation conditions, the foundation may sink uniformly or one section may sink more than the rest. The latter is a more serious situation, causing even more strain on the house and forming larger cracks and fractures as a result.

Common Foundation Threats

In many cases, foundational damage stems from problems during construction, when the underlying soil isn’t packed enough or the concrete is poor quality. Sometimes, though, the damage begins to set in some time later. Soil that was stable at first can be compromised by prolonged drought or excessive moisture, causing the soil to—depending on its composition—shrink or expand. Tree roots draining soil moisture, or poor drainage causing excess water to seep into the soil, exacerbate these conditions. If your house is on a slope or hill, gradual soil movement can, over years, cause the house to settle similarly. Such a house is also at risk of the underlying soil eroding during heavy rain.

When something feels off in your home and you suspect a weakened foundation is to blame, performing an inspection, or hiring professionals to do so, can be critical in preventing damage from worsening and costing more to repair.… Read More..