Catch the Problem Now: Early Signs of Foundation Issues

As of March this year, the department of housing has issued 135,3000 new residential construction permits. With more than one-million conventional homes constructed annually, the quality of the completed houses often comes to question. Foundation problems are some of the most common quality-related concerns.

A variety of factors may cause the deterioration of your home’s foundation. Without proper attention and speedy repairs, the result may be severe damage to your basement.

When was the last time you inspected your foundation? Constant attention and monitoring can help you observe early signs of foundation issues and respond accordingly.

Are you wondering how to assess the earliest signs of foundation problems so that you can act decisively? Here are some nuggets that can help catch the problem early.

Foundations Upheaval

Has your slab foundation moved upward recently? This could mean that the house is experiencing foundation upheaval. Foundation upheaval is the opposite of settling and often affects the perimeter area of a concrete slab foundation.

Foundation upheavals may harm the interior of your home, including the hallways and doorways. Soil expansion or contraction often leads to such upheavals. If your house stands on clay soil, you may be at risk of experiencing upheavals from time to time.

This may be an early sign of severe foundation damages. A slab foundation repair expert can help you work around the upheaval concerns by restoring stability around the foundation slabs.

Sagging or Uneven Floors

If you have noticed that your floor seems to be unlevel, or appears uneven, your foundation might be experiencing stability issues. Floors tend to sag or squeak when the foundation has problems. If your house has a concrete slab, uneven or unlevel floors may become evident.

Uneven or sagging floors can be dangerous, and increase the risk of sinking. You should consider calling in a slab foundation expert immediately to avoid the escalated safety risks that may follow.

Cracks and Fractures on Walls and Floors

Over time, your house may experience foundation shifts due to a variety of underlying factors. The resulting expansion and contraction eventually leads to foundation cracks and other types of fractures. As soon as you begin to notice wall fissures and floor cracks, this could mean trouble.

Foundations may develop tiny cracks or even sink a little in the first three years after construction. Experts note that this slight shift is typical. However, when such changes escalate cracks, fissures and fractures begin to manifest.

You should never ignore such tale-tell signs. The best move would be to call in a specialist. They will assess the extent of the damage and suggest a way out.

Sinking Foundation

If you notice your home structure beginning to sink, or realize that your foundation may be settling, then it’s time to act. Settling or sinking are early signs of foundation issues and may require immediate intervention. If you’re unsure of whether your house may be sinking, you can consider a few tests.

One common approach is the assessment of the entire structure from the center to evaluate if there’s a sunken side. With expert support, you can be able to establish parts of the house that may be lower than others. Based on such assessments, it’s possible to conclude that your structure’s foundation could be sinking.

The foundation might sink if your home stands on a sinkhole. Whether the sinking foundation is severe or partial, identifying a reliable foundation repair contractor can help you conduct the needed repairs.

If Doors No Longer Work Properly

Your doors and windows should open and shut without a struggle when the foundation is stable. However, as soon as the foundation begins to develop problems, you’ll start to notice that your house’s doors stick or barely hold when shut. Both instances are an indication of foundation concerns.

A change in the way doors and windows open or shut could be an early indicator of foundation concerns. In most cases, this sign eventually escalates into a more serious problem where the doors can’t hold at all, or when they hold, you need to force them open. Such reactions may be due to the contraction or shrinkage of the house’s structure as the foundation moves.

Gaps on the Ceiling

Your ceiling can act as a decisive test for your home’s foundation. You only need to walk around the house and observe the ceiling. If you notice gaps between crown molding and the ceiling, then there may be cause for alarm.

Most times, ceilings develop gaps due to the difference in the surface area on the lower part of the foundation. Depending on the extent of the gaps, you may need to consult professional foundation repairers.

Damp Crawl Place Is Among the Early Signs of Foundation Issues

Your home’s crawl place can be a practical acid test for any underlying foundation issues.

If you notice dampness in the crawl place over a period, then it could mean that you are dealing with a bad foundation. The wetness or moisture often signifies the seepage of water from underground due to faults in the foundation drainage.

A foundation repair expert can offer you different options on how to deal with foundation drainage issues. It is critical to act promptly because wet conditions may further affect the stability of your house.

Counters and Cabinets Tilting

If the counters and cabinets inside your home seem to be tilting and separating from the wall, you have underlying foundation issues. Such movements may seem minimal at first, but will gradually escalate as the cabinets move further away. The earlier you detect such motions, the better for the sake of safety.

You should consider expert advice on the severity of the problem as soon the first signs of tilting are evident.

Don’t Ignore These Early Signs of Foundations Issues

Most homeowners downplay early signs of foundation issues and hope that it’s just a passing cloud. However, these signs will only escalate and eventually pose a real safety threat. Your house is a significant investment, which requires care and constant attention.

If you notice any of these tell-tale signs of foundation issues, it would be prudent to call in a foundation slab repair expert.

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