Signs Your Home Needs Foundation Repairs
As a homeowner, it would be a dream come true if everything worked together and ran smoothly at all times. However, this is not often the case, and usually there are areas of the home that require work and repairs. Your foundation may be one of those areas. It is important to learn some of the various signs that your home requires foundation repairs. Then, you can be sure to contact a foundation repair contractor as soon as possible to get the problem fully assessed and the necessary repairs completed.
You Have "Sticky" Doors and Windows
One of the first signs of trouble with your foundation that you might notice is actually with your doors and windows. If you have always had doors and windows that open and close with relative ease and suddenly notice them sticking and being difficult to open and shut, you may actually have foundation trouble.
Doors and windows fit into frames in the walls. When the foundation is damaged it shifts slightly over time. The result of this shifting can be frames of doors and windows that have also moved slightly, creating different angles from the original design. Because windows and doors fit tightly in their frames, foundation shifts will cause that "stickiness" that you feel.
Gaps in Your Crown Molding
Another sign that you have foundation trouble occurs along the ceiling. If you have crown molding in your home, you might notice growing gaps between the ceiling and the structure of the molding. This is a sign that your foundation is settling and should be addressed sooner rather than later.
Similarly, caulking around windows and doors or even your bathtub and shower may also show gaps for the same reason. These gaps can cause energy inefficiency or even water leakage in the home which can make the situation significantly worse.
Visible Cracks in the Walls or the Foundation Itself
One of the most telltale signs that you have foundation problems is if you can see cracks in the foundation itself. If you have an unfinished basement, for example, you could potentially see cracks in the structure of the foundation. Alternatively, cracks in your lower level flooring could also be indicative of the same issue.
Because foundation problems cause the entire house to settle and shift, you might also see cracks in either the interior or exterior walls of your home. Be on the lookout for such cracks as they indicate that the issues are significant.
Now that you know some of the signs your home needs foundation repairs, you can call a contractor as soon as you notice issues.