A little bit of settling is natural, but not all foundation problems are created equal. Some are serious, and here is how to spot those.
Thirty may not seem old for you, but if a house has been around for thirty years or more, it’s considered old.
If you’re thinking about buying a new house or trying to sell yours, you should definitely find out when it was built. If it was built more than thirty years ago, it will likely end up having some issues.
Some of those issues could even be with the foundation of the house.
A little bit of settling is natural, but not all foundation problems are created equal. Some are serious, and here is how to spot those.
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Cracks Above the Windows
If you notice that there are cracks above the windows, this may be a sign that there are foundation problems with the house.
You would normally think that a foundation problem would be found by looking at the ground, but it will actually be more obvious when you look at the windows.
If the foundation is damaged, you should inspect the top of your home, both inside and out. You may need a ladder to be able to see the exterior of your home, but you can start by looking above the window frames.
If your home is made of brick, you should look for stair-step-like cracking in the brick’s veneer.
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Uneven Doors and Floors
Sometimes you won’t find the signs that you need foundation repair by looking just at the windows. You should also check the doors and the floor near it.
Over time, you may notice that there will be problems with doors not closing or having to force it shut. Maybe it won’t stay closed because the latch doesn’t line up.
However, if your door is really not in line with the doorframe, this may be a sign of a bigger issue. If the flooring around the door isn’t even either, you probably have a foundation issue.
If you can’t tell if the floor is uneven, try spilling some water on the floor. Does it stay in one spot or does it roll in one direction? If it rolls in another direction, that means your floor isn’t level.
You may also notice bouncing floors. If the wood has rotted, you may notice bubbles in your flooring or that it feels bouncy. This is also a sign of a problem with the foundation.
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Walls Pulling Away From Home
When the foundation starts to shift, so do the walls.
While the Leaning Tower of Pisa may still be standing, you should be concerned if your house’s walls look like they’re all leaning to one side.
All of the walls may not be leaning either. You may have one wall that looks like it’s trying to pull away from the rest of the house.
If you notice this or anything else unsymmetrical, you should call a professional. If that isn’t fixed, eventually your house will collapse.
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Windows Sticking
In addition to your doors not being able to open or close, you may also notice that your windows aren’t closing easily either.
If your foundation is shifting, it will also move the window frame which will stop the window from closing and locking back into its place.
You should go around your house and do an inspection of all the windows to make sure that they open and close easily.
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Cracks in the Wall and Foundation
While looking for cracks above the window is the best place to start, you should probably still check the wall and the foundation itself.
If you see a jagged crack through the foundation, you will definitely need to call an expert. This is a sign that the foundation is shifting and tearing the actual foundation of your house apart.
If you notice a horizontal crack, this could be a sign of too much water pressure building up behind the foundation.
While you may not notice any other signs of problems aside from that crack, you will still have a bigger problem later on down the road.
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Problems with Expansion Joint Separation
You may not have even heard of the term expansion joint separation.
When your house was built, expansion joints are installed into the structure to help compensate for natural changes. These changes could be small shifts in the earth, humidity, wind, rain, and changes in temperature throughout the seasons.
If your foundation is cracking or failing, however, it can also cause the expansion joint to separate and fail. This can cause even more cracking.
On the other hand, a cracked or broken expansion joint can also be the problem that is causing your foundation to fail.
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Cracked Tile
Tiles are normally made at high temperatures, but they can also break easily.
A lot of things can cause a crack in your tile. So while you may notice some cracks, you should look for other signs that we listed to make sure that it really is a problem with your foundation.
If you notice a lot of cracks and don’t know what cause them, though, you may want to call a professional.
There are many companies out there who can provide foundation repair solutions for you.
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Nails Popped Out of Drywall
While you are walking around inspecting your house, you should also check to see if any of the nails are coming out of the drywall.
Like the tile, this may not be a big issue, but if you notice a lot of them, it could mean that there is a problem with your home’s foundation.
You will need to get it fixed as soon as possible.
Fix These Foundation Problems Today
These foundation problems can be bothersome or ugly to look at it, but really they signal a bigger problem.
If you notice any of these issues in your home, you should call an expert right away to avoid further damage.
To learn more about how to keep your home in good shape, make sure you check out some of our other blog posts!
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