3 Signs Your Home May Have Foundation Damage
Over a very long time, the soil beneath your Seattle home has shifted and created numerous different layers. While every layer has unique qualities, they all have a significant impact on the structure and foundation above—your property. The foundation may start to sink and settle into the ground if these soil layers are unable to support the weight of your home on top of them.
When this occurs, the sinking foundation of your home can cause damage in a variety of ways, some more evident than others. The warning indications of foundation damage are obvious when you know what to look for, and acting quickly before the damage worsens is essential.
First, watch out for Foundation Cracks.
Finding significant fractures in your foundation walls is one of the most evident symptoms that you have an issue with the foundation sinking or settling. However, not all fractures in foundation walls are harmful; some are actually typical. So how do you distinguish between them? You have to consider their size, direction, and location.
Foundations made of poured concrete frequently develop shrinkage cracks—and these are normal. These usually develop when the concrete cures within the first year of construction. It’s important to note that these cracks DO NOT change over time. So, if cracks start to show up years after your house is built or if they get longer or wider over time, it usually indicates foundation settlement because something is shifting.
Second, check for cracks in walls or above windows and door frames.
Drywall and plaster cracks are relatively common and easy to patch up. However, you should be suspicious if the same cracks reappear and reopen even after repair.
Foundation movement is frequently the cause of drywall cracks that appear around the corners of windows and doors in your home. The best course of action if you see a crack of this kind is to have an expert inspect the foundation. Another indication of foundation settlement is by using a level—place it on your window frame, and if it is not level, then it’s most likely due to foundation settlement.
The foundation is probably shifting or settling if a crack has been patched once and reopened. Look closely at the area around the crack to see if it has ever been mended, especially if you are not the home's original owner. Previously repaired cracks often appear with a rougher finish or small hump.
Lastly, check if you have uneven floors.
Unless you have a commercial building, most homes are built with a concrete basement and wooden flooring for the higher levels. Regardless, any level of your home that’s uneven can be dangerous.
The foundation settling or heaves are typically to blame for uneven concrete flooring in basements. In either instance, you should have it examined by a professional because those disorders frequently worsen with time.
As for the wood floors on the upper floors, there could be a number of reasons why they aren't level. The basement or internal crawlspace columns could be shifting, or the foundation could be settling. Sagging floor joists, particularly frequent in homes with a dirt crawlspace, are still another possible problem.
Foundation Damage Gets Worse Over Time
The greatest thing you can do is take action right away if any of the warning indications of foundation settlement we've listed above have you concerned about your property. Over time, foundation issues wreak further havoc throughout your house. This indicates that the cost of restoration, both for the foundation of your property and for any further damage it results in, only rises over time.
If you live in Seattle or in the Greater Seattle Area, you can contact our team to visit your home and look at your foundation to see if there is an issue. If there is an issue, you will be informed of the fixes required to solve it and stop additional harm.
