Look for foundation problems during spring cleaning
Looking for Signs of a Sinking Foundation: One More Thing to add to the Spring-Cleaning List
It may not feel like it, but spring is right around the corner—we promise. So grab the shorts, Open the windows and get ready for sun. Probably add a trip to the local greenhouse to pick out bulbs and seeds. Plus good old-fashioned spring cleaning.
So, add one thing to the list of vacuuming, scrubbing, and cleaning. The thing to add to your list: keep an eye open for signs of foundation problems.
Signs of Foundation Failure
During spring cleaning, you’ll likely be giving your home a going over from basement to attic. This is a great time to see if anything seems out of order. Like a warning sign, something more serious may be going on down below. Many of these signs, especially when they occur in older homes, are mistakenly attributed to a home “settling.” These signs can include:
· Sticking doors
· Sticking windows
· Uneven or bouncy floors
· Floor gaps
· Ceiling gaps
· Cracks in drywall
· Cracks in plaster
· Cracks near windows, door frames and vents
· Stairstep cracking in exterior brick
· Stairstep cracking in block basement walls
· Hairline cracking in poured basement walls
· Chimney separation
Don’t Panic!
These signs could mean foundation problems. The home's foundation might be unstable and sinking into the soil beneath it. This can happen for several reasons. The soil around and beneath your home may have washed away due to rains, or snowmelt. The soil may have shrunk due to drought. Or the soil may have simply been poorly compacted, during the construction of your home. Whatever the reason, your foundation—and the home above it—will likely continue to sink, causing problems throughout the structure.
While this may sound serious—and it is—the good news is, we can fix foundation problems, permanently.
What to Do if you Find a Problem
Many people live with the problem for years. They think they’re a normal part of a home aging. Sometimes they ignore them completely because they don’t seem like a serious problem. After all, a basement crack may only grow a few millimeters a year. But there’s an old adage in the foundation repair community that still rings true today. "Foundation problems don’t get better or less expensive to fix with time."
So, if you do find a foundation problem during spring cleaning, make a note of them and schedule an in-depth inspection. Most legitimate foundation repair companies will do this for free. And good foundation companies like us do this without any obligation, so there’s really no risk to you.
If a foundation issue is there, the expert should be able to tell you exactly what is causing the problem. Plus exactly how to fix it and exactly how much it will cost to do so. If they can’t or won’t do that, politely thank them and call another company.
Of course, we hope you don’t find any signs of foundation failure while you’re cleaning your home this spring. But if you do, you know exactly what to do! Call us!
