Your home’s foundation is one of the most important parts of your house. Without it, the rest of the structure would not be standing.
So, whenever there are home foundation problems, problems with the home itself quickly follow.
If you do not know how to recognize and analyze symptoms of issues with your foundation, though, you won’t know to call a foundation repair specialist before your foundation issues turn into major – and expensive – house issues.
Where to Look for Foundation Problem Signs
There are several places where you can find signs that there’s something wrong with your foundation.
The Foundation Itself
This is mainly for basement and crawl space foundations, since a slab foundation can be difficult to view from the outside. The main sign here will be a crack. Sometimes the crack will be small, and sometimes it will be large enough to put your fingers in, in serious cases.
You may only see one crack, or you may see several. Just because you see a crack doesn’t mean your foundation has a problem; it could mean that the concrete is settling.
Cracks can also be a sign that something is wrong, so the larger and more numerous the cracks are, the more of a problem you have.
The Exterior Walls
When a foundation is in trouble, you can often tell by looking at the exterior walls of your house.
You are looking for cracks, especially horizontal and diagonal cracks in the masonry or paneling. You are also looking to see if walls are starting to buckle or bow out. You can also usually detect buckling or bowing in the interior walls of a crawl space or basement.
Cracks don’t automatically mean the foundation is in trouble, but if you see them, you should talk to a foundation repair specialist.
Inside Your Home
Foundation problems can even rear their head inside your house.
You may notice that your windows and doors aren’t shutting properly or staying closed. You may also see sagging floors, bowing or buckling walls, cracks in your walls and ceiling, and broken tile.
These are all signs that the weight of your home is shifting because of an unstable and failing foundation. Those are signs of a foundation problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible.
How to Figure Out if a Foundation Repair Specialist Is Needed
The best way to figure out if a pro is needed is to assume one is needed.
That’s because diagnosing the nature and cause of these symptoms takes a professional eye. And it can save you money in the short-term and long-term; this is because you either won’t fix a problem yourself that does not need fixing, and you likely won’t put off fixing a real issue until it’s too late and too expensive.
If you suspect that your foundation is in trouble, then you should talk to a professional. It’s better to have someone come out to your home and see that everything is okay than to assume everything’s okay only to be rudely awakened later when your home becomes seriously damaged.
Southern Home Structural Specialists are foundation repair specialists who have the experience and skill to diagnose and repair foundation problems. Contact us for an evaluation of your home, or read testimonials from satisfied customers.