How do I Know if I Have Foundation Problems?
Most homeowners don’t pay attention to their home’s foundation until something goes awry. If you ignore some of these indicators of foundation problems, you could cause unnecessary damage to your home. It is important to take a proactive approach to detecting and repairing foundation settling. This article from Seattle Times mentions that more and more people are suffering from home foundation problems, but how does one evaluate these problems in the first place?
Signs you need to check
Like spotting a disease in its early stages, it’s best to be vigilant when it comes to home inspection and maintenance. The foundation is an important part of your structure, and once it’s damaged, the market value of your house can decrease tremendously. More than that, you’ll spend thousands of dollars repairing what could’ve been corrected if only you spotted the signs. Here are some early signs of foundation problems that you should be aware of:
- Cracks in the Walls
These could be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, or even come as a pattern following the path of bricks and cement. However they may appear, cracks are never a good sign. When watching out for cracks, you should pay special attention to the “joints” of the foundation or areas where walls are joined together with other walls, doors, the ceiling or the floor. You should watch out for jagged cracks and vertical cracks especially.
- Stuck Doors and Windows
If your doors or windows seem to stick out or you suddenly can’t close them as you used to, this could be a sign that your foundation is shifting.
- Uneven Floors and Floor Gaps
If floors suddenly become uneven, or if you notice a gap between the floor and the wall, then something could be awry.
- Nail Pops
Many things could cause nails to suddenly protrude from your wall, but this can be caused by foundation problems as well, as it could be a sign that the foundation has shifted.
Calling an expert
Once you’ve spotted any of these signs, it’s best to call an expert right away. Foundation problems don’t just disappear over time. In fact, they get worse and you don’t want the problems to reach a point when it will become too expensive to fix. Like any disease, you will save a lot of money and time by getting the problem evaluated by an expert early on. By being proactive in repairing your home and making that decision today, you can save thousands of dollars and prevent your home from further decline.