Are you wondering if your foundation is showing signs of major issues?
If so, you’ve come to the right place!
This Regional Foundation Repair guide explains many foundation issues and will answer common questions like:
- What Is Foundation Settling?
- What Are The Common Signs Of Foundation Problems?
- How Can You Tell That Cracks Are From Normal Settling?
- What Causes Cracks In Walls?
- When Should You Contact A Foundation Repair Expert?
And much more!
You’ve probably heard someone dismiss structural defects in their homes as “just the foundation settling.”
Although this is usually the case sometimes it is the fear of confronting the alternative that drives many homeowners to hide behind the hope that their foundation is just “settling”.
Table of Contents
- What Is Foundation Settling?
- What Are The Signs Of A Foundation Problem?
- What Do Cracks From Normal House Settling Look Like?
- What Causes Cracks In Walls?
- When Should You Contact A Foundation Repair Expert?
What Is Foundation Settling?
Foundation issues can be complicated and hard to explain sometimes.
So let’s take a step back and use an example that most people have experience with: snow!
When you step on snow, it undergoes compaction and shrinks under your weight. This is also what happens to the soil under your foundation, only on a bigger (and much slower) scale.
During the first three years after a home is built, the soil undergoes changes and shifts to accommodate the weight of the new house. In the process, the home’s foundation will also shift slightly in a process known as foundation settling.
Foundation settling is “normal” and even expected. Different homes will have different rates of settling determined by factors such as the type of soil, the concrete used, and the temperature, humidity, and moisture levels. The process should be gradual and cause very little movement. It should also not cause any significant structural changes to the new home.
If, however, you notice your foundation settling rapidly or by a large margin, there is likely a problem.
But, here’s the kicker!
The ability to tell between a settling foundation and a problematic one is something most homeowners won’t be able to do.
Yet, catching these issues early (if it’s not, in fact, just “settling”) can save you thousands in repairs, as it will allow you to get any issues corrected before they escalate.
