Sticky Doors and Others Signs of Potential Structural Problems
/Accidents and natural disasters can cause structural damage to homes in the Niagara Falls area or as is often the case, just by age. But how do you know if your home has structural damage? Here are a few signs to watch for:
Sticking windows and doors
Have your doors and windows been getting progressively challenging to open and close? This problem could have been caused by a settling foundation or shifting soil around your home. One way that you can check for this is to go outside and perform a visual inspection of your exterior walls. From one corner, look down the length of each wall and note any curving, leaning or sloping. The problem may be difficult to see, so you can also check using a level.
Bowing and bulging
Your interior walls may start to curve if the structure is not adequate to support the weight of the upper floors or ceiling weight. If you notice bowing and bulging of your interior walls, it usually means that the joists, and beams, and the partitions must be reinforced.
Cracks in the foundation or masonry
Foundation cracks are quite common in the Niagara area, and not all of them indicate a serious problem. Regardless though, you should pay attention to cracks and monitor the progression of their severity.
Here are some common types of cracks and what they might mean:
Hairline cracks in concrete or between bricks are usually harmless.
Cracks found on an L-shaped part of your foundation that taper off at the end are usually caused by shrinkage. These cracks can be patched.
Cracks forming a stair pattern along the joints may be caused by water weight from a plugged-up gutter. If cracks like this are wider than one quarter of an inch, you should repair them immediately.
Horizontal foundation cracks are the most serious. These are a sign that moisture is seeping into the foundation. When this water freezes and thaws, it expands and contracts. Each time it does so, it is weakening the area around it. Contact a repair foundation company immediately if you find these types of cracks.
Cracks on walls and around door and window frames
You can tell a lot about a home’s structural integrity by looking at cracks that form on walls and around door and window frames. Cracks in window sills, for example, are a sign that there is moisture inside the walls that need to be addressed.
Cracks that extend diagonally from the corners of window and door frames can occur on load-bearing walls and may indicate that the footings of the home are sinking.
Sagging floors and roofs
If you have an older home that was built on a water table, you may notice the floors starting to sag. This could be a sign that the foundation needs to be reinforced.
A sagging roof is a sign of a much more serious issue. Usually, this means that there is excessive moisture which has caused rot in the substrate. By the time this is noticeable, the problem has usually been there for some time. This should be inspected by a professional as soon as possible.
Contact Foundation Fix today
If you have noticed any of these issues in your Niagara home, it’s important to get it looked at as soon as you can. The earlier you catch these problems, the easier they usually are to fix. For an inspection of possible structural issues with your home, contact Foundation Fix today.
