Top 10 Signs That Indicate You May Need a Foundation Repair

 

Have you ever been walking inside a house and noticed cracks on the floor, walls, or even in the ceiling, and you do not know what is causing it or if it is a problem? Well, I think most people have gone through that; that is why it is important to pay close attention to all signs of damage or/and change that might be related to a foundation problem. However, how do you know where to look? 

 

Arizona Foundation Solutions definitely knows where to look and how to guide you to solve foundation problems. Thanks to our amazing staff, engineering department, and more than 30 years of experience, Knowing the signs of a problem is always easy and good to prevent more severe consequences in the long run. In the following sections, different and not-so-obvious symptoms of a foundation problem will get explained in detail to help you learn how to spot a severe issue before it even happens.

 

These are the symptoms to look for when there is a foundation issue…

 

• Wall cracks

• Ceiling cracks

• Floor cracks

• Uneven floor

• Door or/ad windows not functioning properly

• Cracked or leaning chimney

• Kitchen Cabinets separations

• Sinking Floor

• Water entering my crawl space or basement

• Baseboard gaps

 

Wall Cracks

Wall cracks are very common signs or symptoms people can find around their house that represent a foundation issue. The main problem with cracks on drywall is that if the foundation problem does not get fixed on time, the cracks will only get worse. Cracks on the wall can appear right by the door or even the window. It is impossible not to notice these types of cracks, but the major problem might be under their feet.

 

 

Ceiling Cracks

Depending on the severity of the foundation issue, some cracks even appear on the ceiling because the major problem does not get addressed on time. Therefore, the cracks in the walls might extend to other areas of the house, such as the ceiling. Ceiling cracks might not be as visible as wall cracks, but they are still visible and expensive to repair.

 

 

Floor Cracks

Floor cracks might not be as visible compared to wall and ceiling cracks because most floors might have tiles and wooden flooring as decoration, but the same tiles might cover the cracks. Noticing cracks in the house structure is very important; otherwise, a foundation issue can get worse, and the homeowners would know until it is too late.

 

Uneven Floor

Uneven floors occur when the house gets built over expansive soil such as clay. Unfortunately, when there is moisture overexposure in the soil, the soil tends to expand. On the other hand, when there is not enough moisture exposure, the soil will lose volume and shrink. Some houses might be facing foundation heave problems because of the soil expansion, and some others might be facing foundation settlement problems because of the opposite. 

 

Foundation solutions are very complex, depending on the degree of the problem. However, some houses might need some extra work and a little more thinking since they might be struggling with a combination of a foundation heave and a settlement problem.

 

 

Doors or Windows Not Functioning Properly

 

Have you ever gotten so mad because a simple task in the house might be harder than it should be? Well, opening doors and windows should be an easy task but not in all cases. Even though there might be different reasons why your door/window is not closing properly, this is an important factor to consider. Sometimes the door is not closing because there is a foundation problem caused by soil expansion. 

 

As mentioned before, the perimeter, along with the concrete slabs, might sink or raise, causing the slab to eventually crack. The doors and windows will not perform as expected as long as the major foundation issue does not get fixed and the foundation is shifting.

 

 

Cracked or Leaning Chimney

 

Leaning chimneys are very easy to notice, especially if there is a foundation problem underneath. Several chimneys are cracked or even broken due to the changes in the soil and the uneven slabs. Some chimneys might not be leaning but might be cracked, so it would not hurt to take a look for a few cracks or changes.

 

 

Kitchen Cabinets Are Separating

 

People have cabinets in the kitchen or even in their living room and bedroom, and they might be separating. So you might be asking yourself, why are my cabinets separating, and if just installed them? Well, sometimes it is because of soil movement since it affects the whole house, including the perimeter. The indoor walls, the concrete slabs, and even the ceiling. If you notice some spaces between your cabinets and the wall, you might want to take a look at your house foundation.

 

 

Sinking Floor

 

In some cases, the floor might seem unlevel or sunken. You could be walking from one room to another, and you might feel you're going downhill. In addition to the weird sunken slab feeling, some people might notice cracks. The main problem with cracks is that if the major foundation problem does not get repaired soon enough, those cracks will expand, get deeper, and be expensive to repair.

 

 

Water entering my crawl space or basement

 

Not all houses have crawl spaces or basements, but if you pay attention, you might find something important. If there is water in your basement or crawl space, it can cause the wooden elements from the crawl space to deteriorate in a fast manner. With an excess of moisture in the basements or the crawl spaces, mold can start to get visible and damage the wooden pillars supporting the entire house leading to an uneven floor, pests, and bad smells.

 

 

Baseboard Gaps

Every room of the house is different, and because of the same reason, when there is a foundation problem, each room might get affected differently. A house with a foundation issue might have all the baseboards with different space gaps between the floor and the walls. 

 

 If You're Experiencing Any Symptoms, Time Is Not On Your Side

 

Noticing imperfections and not knowing what is going on is a terrible feeling. The sinking floor cracks all around, and musty crawl spaces are very clear signs the house is a victim of a foundation problem. Now that you know all the most common symptoms of a foundation problem, you will be more cautious of your surroundings.

 

Preventing and being proactive is very important to avoid more severe problems in the future, especially when it comes to foundation problems in Arizona. Foundation issues are complex to solve, but Arizona Foundation Solutions (AZFS) make them look easy and affordable so why not give us a call at 1-602-470-1311 and start your journey?