Early detection of foundation issues in your home can prevent extensive damage and costly repairs. Here are some key signs to watch out for:
On the exterior of your home:
- Cracks: Look for cracks in your foundation walls, particularly horizontal cracks wider than ¼ inch, diagonal cracks, or stair-stepped cracks. These can indicate significant foundation movement or pressure.
- Bowing or leaning walls: Do your walls appear to bulge outwards or lean at an angle. This can be a sign of foundation settlement or pressure pushing against the walls.
- Uneven floors: Check for dips or slopes in your floors, especially near doorways or windows. This could indicate uneven settling or foundation issues.
- Gaps between walls and windows/doors: Gaps forming between exterior walls and windows or doors may suggest foundation movement or shrinkage.
- Disintegrating concrete: Crumbling concrete on the foundation surface can indicate water damage or deterioration.
- Slanted chimney: A leaning, or misaligned chimney could be a sign of foundation problems affecting your structural integrity.
On the interior of your home:
- Sticking doors and windows: Doors and windows that get stuck or are difficult to open/close properly can be caused by foundation movement affecting their alignment.
- Nail pops and cracks in drywall: Nails popping out of drywall or hairline cracks appearing on interior walls can indicate foundation movement or stress on the structure.
- Uneven or sagging ceiling: Ceiling joists might sag or become unlevel due to foundation issues affecting the overall structure.
- Musty odor: A persistent damp or musty smell in your basement could be a sign of moisture intrusion due to foundation leaks or cracks.
- Water seepage or puddles: Visible water seepage or puddles in your basement or crawl space are obvious signs of water intrusion stemming from foundation problems.
If you think you have a foundation issue in your home, contact the foundation and structure professionals at Best Buy Waterproofing. We’ll come out and inspect the foundation of your home. If there are any significant issues, we will find and recommend the best solution for resolving your foundation problems.
