Spotting Foundation Problems

Without a doubt, when it comes to expense, foundation problems rank high in the list of home repair costs. This is so because foundation repair often requires digging under your house, either just around the outside or right through your interior slab.

A responsible homeowner regularly checks for foundation problems. By doing this, you may be able to avoid further problems and save you a great deal of money. Below is a list of some of the things you need to observe to help you detect foundation problems.

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o Check for gaps around your fascia boards. Check for uneven or sloping floors as evidenced by sliding furniture. Squeaky floors can mean two things, either the floorboards simply needs to be re-nailed or you have a foundation problem in your hands.

Spotting Foundation Problems

o Check for wrinkles in your wallpaper, gaps between the wall and moldings, or cracks in the sheetrock. Also, look at your windows and see if the frames are distorted. Examine every doorway; see if your doors stick or if the door frames have cracks. Major cracks (/16 wide or larger) or bowing (exceeding 1-1/2" vertically in 7ft. 2-1/2" horizontally in 16 ft) of basement walls is a cause for concern.

o Check if your brickwork is broken or if the mortars are cracked. This usually comes after the slabs have been flexed. See if the concrete driveways, pathways, etcetera slope away and not towards the foundation. If it slopes towards the house, you may have water standing on one side. Water should never be allowed to stand in an area next to the foundation.

o Inspect your foundation for cracks in the slabs that is most often the result of shrinking of the soil underneath a section and swelling in another section of the slab. Do not allow your house to sink further and further each year. If you do, this may turn into a serious problem.

o See if you have termites. Go around your house and search for mud tunnels. The difference between a termite mud tunnel and that of an ant's is that the latter can be wiped away easily.

o Inspect the perimeter of your home for signs of down spout problems. Try to see if there are possible indications of groundwater flowing back toward the foundation due to negative grade.

o Examine your home for possible signs of foundation movement especially settling or sinking. Movement that is more than two inches and appears to be worsening each year is a cause for concern. If you feel the situation is severe, call a professional immediately.

o There should be at least eight feet distance between your foundation and small trees, shrubs, and plants. This is particularly vital to homes built on a clay based soil environment.

In case you come across any one of these signs, do not panic. Most problems can be corrected easily and at a relatively cheap cost. The key is to catch the problem early while it is still small. With modern methods such as jacking and stabilizing, it is now possible to adjust your home back to level and square frame condition with ease.

Spotting Foundation Problems

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