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If you're a homeowner, then it makes sense that you'd like to keep your home in its best possible condition. After all, it's one of the most important investments of your life.
Unfortunately, not all the factors that can impact a home's condition are visible on the surface. You may have issues with your foundation and not even realize it until you suddenly have serious damage to fix. This makes living in your home seem daunting, and selling your home in the future unlikely.
Here are several warning signs to look out for when it comes to your foundation. We recommend checking these issues immediately and calling a foundation repair service if you notice any of these issues.
1. Sinking Foundation
If you notice that one side of your home is all of a sudden lower than the other side, even if just by a few centimeters, it's probably a sign that your foundation is sinking. Don't ignore it just because it's not a problem right now, or it will grow into a huge dilemma in the future.
This may also be the result of a settling foundation. Even when a structure's weight is evenly distributed across its foundation, the building can start to settle unevenly.
It's hard to tell early on whether you're dealing with typical settling or dangerous settling, so keep a watchful eye out if your home is still in its infancy.
2. Foundation Upheaval
Foundation upheaval is basically the opposite of a sinking foundation. Typically caused by expanding and contracting moisture in the soil around the foundation, it causes the foundation to raise anywhere from a few millimeters to a few inches. Any amount of heaving can cause catastrophic damage to the floors in your home and the bases of your walls.
3. Sticking Doors
Have you noticed any doors around your home not fitting their frames as perfectly as you think they once did? You're not losing your mind. This is also a potential sign of a foundation in dire need of repair. Replacing your door might treat the symptom, but not the disease.
You'll need a licensed professional to come out and evaluate the condition of your home and whether the foundation is an impact.
4. Cabinets Separating From Walls
Waking up one day to your cabinets and countertops toppled over on the floor wouldn't be a pretty sight. It can happen when your foundation warps the structure enough that the walls start to bend and separate cabinets from their original positions.
Luckily you'll be able to notice the warning signs long before your kitchen is destroyed. If you notice a tiny gap between your cabinets and the wall, you should check your foundation immediately even if it looks razor-thin and harmless.
Tiny gaps are just the beginning, and they can grow until the cabinets and all your fine china inside are in a pile in the center of your kitchen floor.
5. Mysterious Cracks or Fractures
If you notice any cracks or fractures in your foundation that seemingly appeared overnight, you might be in trouble. Not all cracks are bad, though: small, vertical fractures are often nothing to worry about, but horizontal cracks scattered around the perimeter could be a sign that the pressure being exerted by your home is too much in the long term.
What Now?
If any of the above sounds a bit too close to something happening right now on your property, it's going to be in your best interests to get to work on your foundation. It might be expensive to pay for supplies and labor now, but it's much less expensive than paying for a brand new house a few years down the line.
