Signs of Residential Foundation Damage

Most homes are supported by a foundation made from either concrete or masonry. And for many homes, the foundation is surrounded by expansive, clay-rich soil, which expands when it absorbs water and contracts when its water content decreases. That expand-contract cycle creates movement, which causes the foundation of your home to also move and shift. Over time, the foundation settles, and usually unevenly. Not all sides of your home settle at the same rate, or drop at the same elevation. Essentially, the unevenness creates torsion, which exerts excessive pressure on the foundation of your home. Concrete has exceptional compression strength but is low in tensile strength and, over time, the lateral pressure will cause your concrete foundation and basement walls to fail.

Expansive soil that retains its water content for long periods also exerts massive hydrostatic pressure against the concrete support of your home. Cracks eventually compromise the walls and allow water to intrude into the basement of your home. Water damage, if left unmitigated, will provide an opportunity for mold and mildew growth and wood rot.

Signs the foundation of your home needs repair:

• Stair-stepped cracks in the concrete blocks
• Unsightly cracks and spalling in the concrete
• Sticking doors and windows
• Sagging, uneven floors
• Separation of the floor or ceiling from the walls
• Cracks in the corners of interior drywall
• A chimney separating from the house