Own an Older Home? Look Out for These 3 Common Foundation Problems

Although older homes typically have higher-quality workmanship and unique features, they may also have age-related issues. Some, like creaky floors or broken shutters, are mere nuisances; but others, such as foundation problems, can be very dangerous. Here are some signs and symptoms that your older home may have a foundation problem.

Cracks in Interior and Exterior Walls

Not all concrete cracks indicate foundation problems; some are just signs of ageing. The rule of thumb to use when determining if your crack is problematic is to measure its width. If it's wider than ¼ inch, have a foundation expert come and complete an inspection. Hairline cracks are typically nothing to worry about, but hiring a professional is the best way to know for sure.

Inside your home, cracks usually show up near walls, windows, or chimney flues. Large cracks known as stair-step cracks on your home's exterior are vertical cracks that expand wider over time, leading to more issues.

Sometimes, cracks can be repaired with injections. Either polyurethane or epoxy is activated and injected into the crack to create a watertight gasket seal.

Uneven Floors and Walls

When walking through your home, do your floors look and feel uneven? Drop an object – does it roll under furniture out of sight? If you have a foundation problem, floors or supports may show signs of wear and tear and be cracking or crumbling.

The same goes for your home's exterior walls. Perform an inspection and see if you notice any bulges in foundation walls or areas that don't appear plumb. Check for chipping or flaking on your home's foundation. If anything seems amiss, it's best to call in a professional.

Sticking Doors and Windows

When doors and windows are not latching correctly, a foundation issue is often to blame. Typically, improperly closing doors or windows is caused by settlement or upheaval.

Settlement is usually due to a decrease of soil bearing capacity, resulting in a portion of your home's foundation dropping below the original elevation of the foundation.

Upheaval is the opposite – and occurs when the slab becomes higher than the original elevation of the foundation. Often, a plumbing leak below your home is the cause of upheaval. Developing either in your home's incoming water line or outgoing sewer line, slab leaks can cause a foundation to shift or settle significantly as your home ages. Extra stress is put on the pipes, placing them at risk of becoming damaged. As water accumulates from an undetected slab leak, mildew, mould, rot, and soil erosion create more foundation damage.

Both settlement and upheaval problems need to be addressed immediately before major structural damage occurs.

Minimize Foundation Damage

Uncovering the cause of your foundation problem can be tricky since this part of your home is hidden from view. Hiring a foundation professional when you notice potential issues is the best way to minimize the damage. For more information about our foundation services, contact us today.