5 Reasons Why You Should Not Put Off Repairing Your Foundation
1. Plumbing Problems
With expanding the cracks and sloping floors, the risk of plumbing leaks increase. Plumbing below a slab can become damaged from foundation movement. Not only will there be issues below the damaged area, but other parts of your home may become stressed and develop other leaks due to the home’s structure being flexed by foundation movement.
2. Increased Energy Bills
Buildings are most efficient when there are no cracks in your home’s walls and ceiling to increase heat loss or gain in your home. Heat can readily flow in during the summer and escape during the winter. Distorted windows and cracked sticking door frames compromise the seals because of the uneven gaps. This allows outside heat or cold into your home meaning your air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter use more energy to contain the desired room temperature. Continue reading
How to Survive Drought Conditions for Homeowners
As a Texas home owner, most typically worry about drought conditions when maintaining crops, cattle and landscapes, but during extended periods, these conditions are also known to cause shifting and cracking in the foundation of homes. Many are unaware how drought conditions can also be created beneath the ground. When expansive clay soil becomes extremely dry, the soil contracts and the foundation sinks.
Unfortunately, when soil begins to sink in multiple directions, one might start to see cracks forming on their walls. When soil is wet again, clay soil expands and lifts the foundation, sometimes closing the cracks. Most homeowners do not notice this shifting until their doors become difficult to open and close or cracks appear, particularly on the corners of walls. More extreme damages occur when a foundation crack causes pipes to break, chimneys to shift and bricks on or inside a home to crack and separate. The best solution is to protect your foundation before this happens by watering the foundation to maintain consistent soil moisture around the home.
Slab Foundation Repair Methods
In the past, foundation repair usually meant pouring concrete. But today there are a variety of ways to repair foundations. Some repair methods are better suited for specific conditions, but each has their strength. We’ll look at some of the most popular methods of slab foundation repair in the Dallas and Fort Worth area today. But first, here are some ways to know when you may have a foundation issue.
Detecting Foundation Issues
Houses and buildings will settle over time so you can expect a little unevenness without too much worry. However, you will want to watch for these signs, which could spell more significant problems.
- Doors that won’t shut properly, or fail to stay closed.
- Windows that suddenly start sticking or refuse to completely close.
- Cracks in tile work, especially those over a concrete floor.
- Cracks that suddenly appear in walls, especially in vulnerable areas such as over doors or windows.
If you see these signs, you may be having foundation issues. Follow up on these signs by checking the outside of the building. If you see bulging or leaning walls (use a level), it might be a good idea to get a professional evaluation of your situation. Continue reading
How To Inspect A Foundation
Whether you are buying a new home or you are looking to ensure your current home is in good condition, it’s important to assure the foundation is performing as designed. There is a specific process that should always be followed by the inspection process.
When you learn more about the condition of your foundation, you can make better decisions regarding your home.
What To Do If You Find Concrete Foundation Problems
One of the last things that you want to find wrong with your home’s structure is your foundation. It is the foundation of your structure that essentially holds everything up and makes sure that the building stays structurally sound and safe. If you do suspect concrete foundation problems with your home, it is important that you deal with them right away.
Identify the Different Symptoms of Structural Damage
One of the first things that you will want to do is to identify the different symptoms that can come along with structural damage. This can help you to identify if the problem is in fact your concrete foundation. One sign of damage to your structure is the presence of cracks in walls. These walls often crack due to stress from the foundation. Foundation movement (or a shifting foundation), in turn can cause the walls to crack.
Some other signs to look for are cracks in your floor, cracks in your main level walls, as well as your basement walls, and uneven floors. These often occur from seasonal foundation movement or when your foundation begins to settle or shift. Also, if you notice that your windows and doors are beginning to stick, this may be a sign of a sinking foundation or settling foundation. This may be caused by changes in soil moisture. In some cases differences in the types of soil under a home contribute to greater foundation movement. Continue reading
