Before you design the perfect living room, lay out your perfect kitchen, and plant the world’s most beautiful garden, you need to make sure your house is on a solid foundation.
Not having a solid foundation means not having the perfect living room, kitchen, or garden. Ignoring it likely means you’re going to be facing plenty of house problems down the line. Home repairs can already be pretty costly and you don’t want to add to that burden.
Even if you’re not a handyman, you should still be checking on your foundation with regularity to catch small problems before they become big ones. Once you know you have a great foundation, you can go about decorating your home to your heart’s content.
The Ground is Sinking
If one side is starting to sink and fall in the ground then the other side probably isn’t too far behind. This type of settling will eventually lead to more and more foundation problems and it’s best to catch it as early as possible.
The worst case is that your house was built on a sinkhole and something that needs more immediate attention.
Problems With Doors and Windows
Perhaps you’ve repeatedly tried to close a door but see it’s just not shutting right. It could be just a poor job on the contractor’s part, but it’s likely a sign of foundation issues.
The cause for this is the frames around doors and windows are settling and what was a perfect fit is now off by just a bit, causing them not to close or open properly. The fit should always be smooth, not too tight or too loose, and you shouldn’t ever struggle to have to open a door or window.
You can also look and see if you notice larger gaps than normal around doors or windows. Before looking at new entry doors Las Vegas, you want to make sure that the extra gaps are not from the foundation shifting and settling too much.
While you’re at it, make sure you check your garage door and attic windows too as they could have also been affected by shifting.
Foundation Cracks
One of the easiest signs to spot, cracks in the foundation is not only a cliche but also a big warning sign that something is going on with your foundation.
When making a sweep of your foundation, be sure to check in your basement as well as the outside of the house. Look for any cracks, ruptures, or broken pieces in your search. If you find multiple around the house’s foundation, then it’s time to call in a professional to come take a look.
Uneven Floors and Ceilings
Tiny, small slopes in your floor usually aren’t a problem but if you’re noticing these slopes around more parts of your house, then that could be pointing to a larger issue. While you may not have noticed any issue while outside, support beams could be cracking or buckling.
One thing to look out for is any squeaking when walking around. While a bit of squeaking is nothing to be concerned about, squeaking in all parts is a sure sign of bad things to come.
If you notice that your ceilings are uneven or crooked, then that’s another red flag when it comes to your home’s foundation. Make sure and be on the lookout for all such problems.
Poor Drainage
Water, despite being the world’s most important liquid, can be quite damaging to the foundation of a house. Poor drainage can lead to foundational issues, weakening beams and other supports.
Damp crawl spaces and basement areas can attract termites, which will in turn bring more and more issues to your house. If your house is in a flood area, you should be checking with more frequency. Even if there hasn’t been a flood in quite some time, your house still runs the risk of being a safe haven for all the excess water.
Having an effective draining system is key to avoiding these damp areas and making sure your foundation’s integrity is not compromised.
