The foundation is assuredly one of the most important parts of any home. In fact, a foundation accounts for eight to fifteen percent of the total cost of building a home. There are three primary forms of home foundation: crawl spaces, slabs, and full basements. If the foundation becomes compromised in any way, it can threaten the structural integrity of the entire building. This is why it is so important to know the signs that can indicate your home’s foundation is in need of repair and home foundation repair services are required. This article will take a look at a few of those signs.
- Excessive Water Damage: One sign that home foundation repair services are needed is if excessive water damage is found in your home’s foundation. Of all homes with basements, over 98% will experience some type of water damage. So while a little water damage might be expected over time, a suddenly excessive amount can be considered a good indicator that something is wrong with your foundation. Interior waterproofing services should be sought out in this case, as they can go over your foundation and seal it against any further water damage.
- Cracks Forming in the Foundation Slab: Another sign that home foundation repair services are needed is if visible cracks are seen forming in the foundation slab. Even small cracks can be a sign that something is wrong, since the slab is meant to be unmovable and if cracks are forming it means something is wrong with the overall structure. If cracks large or small are seen, then home foundation repair services should be called to examine the foundation and determine the best way to fix the problem.
- Settling in the Foundation: And finally, a third sign that your home’s foundation needs to be repaired is if the foundation is observed to be settling. That is to say, if one part of the foundation is seen to be sinking lower than the rest. This can happen when the ground underneath the foundation becomes unstable. If this problem is discovered, house leveling services will be required to raise the lowered part of the foundation back into place and make it whole again.
In conclusion, there are several signs that can indicate your home’s foundation needs to be repaired. These signs can include excessive water damage, cracks forming in the foundation slab, and settling in the foundation. All of these signs can indicate serious problems are forming in the foundation and should be checked out immediately to prevent the problem from getting worse.