A home is one of the most significant investments. As such, you want to ensure that it’s secure from the basement to the roof over your head. If you notice any cracks on your floors or walls, it could be a sign of foundation disrepair, and it may be time to call in our professionals.
We have compiled a few signs you need to watch out for in Cedar Rapids that would signify a problem in your foundation. This way, you can address the issues early enough to avoid further damage at an extra cost. Some may be obvious, but some may be harder to notice till it’s too late.
Here are some signs every Cedar Rapids’ homeowner should look out for:
Drywall Cracks
If you spot any cracks on your walls, especially between the top of the wall and the ceiling, it’s a clear sign of foundation settlement. In some cases, you may assume the problem is due to drywall, but it’s mainly due to shifting within the foundation. The cracks can also be visible on your basement walls due to a shift in the underground soils, piling pressure on the walls.
Ensure you have qualified personnel like ours to assess your foundation and make the necessary repairs as soon as possible. If the issue is left untreated for a considerable time, it can collapse, which is a danger to you and your loved ones.
Damaged Doors and Windows
Your windows and doors could be jammed, sticking, or have some non-functioning locks. It means you will have to apply some extra force while closing or opening, which is most likely a foundation-related issue. Furthermore, it can cause problems with opening the cabinet doors to either not stay closed or sticking. Due to pressure building up from the settlement, it damages the doors and windows. When this happens, you could also see some cracks around the openings–a clear sign of foundation problems.
It can be distressing since you need ventilation and fresh air circulation, which can worsen if the doors fail to open. Therefore, when you notice the initial signs, contact our certified repair specialists to make permanent repairs to restore stability and value to your home.
Uneven Floors
If you notice something like your kid’s toy rolling on the floor without being pushed, you have uneven floors. While it may also be due to aging wood, foundation problems are a significant contributor.
If you have tile floors, you may see some cracks or bumpy areas. All these issues emanate from the foundation settling into the ground. A thorough inspection of your foundation and floors by our team can help determine the cause and how to deal with it.
Tilting Chimney
In most cases, homeowners don’t expect chimney issues to emanate from a problem in the foundation. However, shifts in the ground could lead to cracks on your chimney or make it lean slightly, affecting the roofing system. It can also lead to some gaps on the bracing used for satellite dishes or flashing around roof penetration as a result of your chimney separating from your home due to a foundation shift that pulls the chimney away.
Stair-Step Cracking
For homeowners with brick houses, you can quickly tell when there is a foundation settlement problem by being on the lookout for stair-step cracks between the bricks on exterior walls. The pressure from the settlement leads to cracks between the mortar and the separation of the bricks.
Water in the Basement
If you notice water or moisture in the basement, there are likely cracks on the walls. Note that as water continues to penetrate through the cracks, it increases the chances of your foundation crumbling and possibly collapsing. Therefore, no matter how small the cracks may seem, they can cause more significant problems in your home.
Also, don’t fall into the temptation to make the repairs independently. Masking the problem will only stop water seepage, but penetration to the concrete will continue, which will damage your walls from inside out.