Your foundation is one of the most important pieces of your home. Not only does it provide a level plane for your home to sit on, but it can also protect your home against standing water and act as an insulator against energy loss that can go through the bottom of the house and into the ground.
For those reasons, making sure that your foundation is in good condition is critical to maintaining the structural integrity of your home. Below are four signs that you need foundation repair. If you see any of them, contact a foundation contractor to service your home immediately.
Concrete Cracks
The classic sign of foundation damage is cracks appearing in your home's foundation. These can appear because the ground underneath it has shifted due to erosion or contracting and expanding of the soil. Horizontal cracks are worse than vertical cracks, though, because they represent a more universal threat to your home's foundation; rather than one part of your home moving, the entire structure is in motion. You might also notice cracks that are appearing in your brick and even in your roof, so keep an eye out for any sort of fracture that you find in your home.
Uneven Doors
While you can expect that your foundation will shift a little bit at the beginning, if it's shifted so much that your doors are having trouble opening and closing, that represents a significant shift in your home's foundation. The location of the uneven doors is important also: exterior doors tend to stick near the top, while interior doors usually drag at the bottom. Other types of doors may also not meet correctly, such as sliding wood and glass doors. If you notice this, it means your home is under stress of some kind and is in need of foundation repair immediately.
Sagging Floors
Your foundation is designed to present you with a level surface with which to build your home on. If your flooring starts to sag or creak, or even appears uneven at places, that means that you have a foundation issue. Pier and beam homes will most likely notice the sagging and squeaking, whereas concrete foundations will reveal varying heights in the affected areas. Aside from this being a major issue with your home's foundation, it also presents a unique danger point for elderly people and those prone to falls.
Cabinets Separating
Though usually not the first sign that there are issues with your home's foundation, if you notice that your cabinets are starting separate from the wall — particularly those on the floor — that means that your foundation isn't level anymore. You may also notice that the drawers don't close all the way or that the cabinet doors seem off-center, but regardless, any gap that's larger than 1/4 of an inch is a cause for concern.
For more information, reach out to a foundation repair service in your area.
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