It is helpful to also the know the causes of foundation problems along with its types and signs. This will help you understand the problem better and deal with it easier when wall and floor cracks showed up in your home.
Top Foundation Problems in Houses
Water
Water makes the soil under your foundation shrink or expand. This affects your foundation big time. There would be no problem if the shrinking or expansion happened uniformly and throughout the area, if it did not, bowing walls, uneven floors and house cracks are going to show. Foundation problems in houses usually happen when soil moisture varies as it causes the foundation to sink or elevate in certain areas.
Excess Water = Soil Expansion
Soil expansion due to extra moisture is more likely to happen than soil shrinkage due to dryness. It is caused by subsurface water such as high water table or rainy weather, leaking plumbing, or surface water brought by poor drainage. It makes the foundation elevate in some areas causing uneven floors and cracks in the house.
Avoid drainage and foundation problems by using gutters to lead roof runoff away from the house. Also, have the area around your house slope outwards and downwards by ¼ foot to keep water from accumulating.
Lost Water = Soil Shrinkage
Drought and passage of time cause soil to lose its moisture. When it dries, the foundation settles or sinks. It commonly happens in or near the foundation perimeter where soil dries faster. This causes walls to crack or separate from floors and ceilings.
Poor Construction
Foundation stability and structure support depend on the soil’s topmost layer. It should be dried and compressed completely before pouring the foundation, if not, it will shrink overtime causing the foundation to settle.
Foundation problems also happen when different kinds of soil support the structure. An example, half of the foundation rests above clay while the other half rests above fills. The clay is good in absorbing and losing moisture while the fills are not. This causes the soil condition throughout the area vary. If the system to adapt to it is poorly designed, foundation and structural damages will likely occur.
What To Do With Foundation Problems
Do not panic if you see signs of foundation problems in your home. Keep calm by being aware that help is just around the corner. Search online, check your local business directory or ask around for foundation repair references. Have at least three contractors inspect your house to have better options and make sure they are all experts by personally checking their previous work and clients’ feedback.
Pull your plants away from the foundation perimeter, if you have any. Their weight contributes to the settling. Check your plumbing. Fix it if it has problem for leaking water contributes to soil expansion. Also check the area around the house. Water is likely to accumulate under your foundation if the area is sloping downwards and towards your house. Call a professional to correct it.
Finally, do not let any of the foundation problems get worse each time you ignore it. Immediately call the professionals to address the problem.
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