There are many responsibilities that a homeowner has to take care of where their house is concerned. One of the most important tasks is making sure the home’s foundation remains in good condition. There are three primary forms of home foundation: crawl spaces, slabs, and full basements. The foundation is very important because it’s the structure that supports the rest of the house. If the foundation fails, the house is in danger of failing as well. With this in mind, it’s important to know some of the warning signs that can indicate something is wrong with your home’s foundation, and that’s what this article will be looking at.
- Water Damage and Flooding in the Basement: One of the warning signs to look out for is water damage and flooding in the basement, or general foundation area. A little bit of water damage might not indicate a problem, as 98% of all homes with basements will experience some type of water damage at some point. A lot of water damage however, is usually indicative of a major problem, especially if leaking pipes or appliances have been eliminated as a potential culprit. One solution for this problem is to engage basement waterproofing services to seal the basement with interior waterproofing and exterior waterproofing. If water damage is coming through the foundation slab, a slab foundation repair company can also examine the slab to see where the potential issue might be.
- Settling and Sinking Foundation: Another warning sign to watch out for is a foundation that is beginning to settle and sink into the ground. Foundation slabs that are settling into the ground will begin to crack as sections sink lower than the rest of the slab, which can render the entire structure unstable if not corrected. A slab foundation repair company can be brought in to use house leveling services, often referred to as slab jacking when the foundation is involved, to raise the settled portion of the foundation back up until it’s level, allowing the foundation to be repaired.
- Cracks Forming in the Foundation Slab: And finally, a third warning sign to look for is visible cracks forming in the foundation slab. These cracks, whether large or small, can form for a number of reasons, most of which are indicative of a problem relating to the foundation. For any repairs, a slab foundation repair company will have to be contacted to send someone to check the foundation out. Not only will they have to determine if the cracks are symptomatic of a larger issue, but they’ll also look the foundation over to determine the best way to fix it.
In conclusion, there are several warning signs that can indicate a problem with your home’s foundation. These warning signs include water damage or flooding in the basement, a settling and sinking foundation, and cracks forming in the foundation slab. These are all warning signs that indicate a problem is forming with the foundation, and should be taken care of immediately if spotted.