4 Signs Your Foundation Needs Professional Attention

A house’s foundation should provide the rest of the building with a strong and sturdy base, but several factors can lead to foundation cracks or movement. When this occurs, it’s imperative that you enlist the help of a foundation expert, like Joe Ramey engineer, to inspect, diagnose, and conduct foundation repairs when needed. 

Here are four common signs that your foundation needs repairs. 

1. You Have Cracks In Your Walls

When foundations shift, they can place immense pressure on walls, causing them to crack. Not all wall cracks are related to foundation problems, but those that run at 45 degree angles or form near windows and doors may allude to foundation problems. 

2. Your Doors and Windows Are Difficult to Open and Close

If your foundation has moved or is beginning to fail, your may notice that your doors and windows become more difficult to open and close than before. This becomes especially apparent in hot and humid weather, but severe enough foundation issues cause this problem all year long. If your doors and windows stick or grind when you try to open or close them, this may indicate that your floors or walls have shifted along with the foundation. 

3. Your Floors Are Uneven or Warped

Homes that have hard wood, concrete, or other hard surfaces on the floors make it quite easy to indentify when the floors have become uneven or warped. In these cases, you may see or feel sagging, hear plenty of creaks, or even feel weak spots. If you want to test whether your hard floors are uneven, you can gently place a ball in the middle of the floor and see if it rolls on its own. 

If it does, you may have foundation issues that have manifested in uneven flooring. This can be more difficult to detect in carpeted rooms, but it can still be possible to feel dips or warping. 

4. You’ve Had Repeated Plumbing Issues

When your foundation moves, it moves everything else, however slightly. Pipes that undergo more pressure or are pulled apart due to foundation issues tend to work less efficiently, and they may even burst, leading to severe water damage. 

Most people go months without thinking about their home’s foundation, but it can be helpful to keep an eye out for the above signs and symptoms that can allude to foundation problems. It’s also always a good idea to have a foundation inspection on your home every year or two, just to make sure it’s still as strong and sturdy as it should be.