Your foundation acts as the support and level base for your entire home, so signs of damage are usually evident, even if it isn’t severe. Below are some of the most common types of foundation damage in Columbus.
Foundation Cracks
Cracks in slabs and concrete block walls are often the best indications that your foundation has been compromised in some way. Fissures can form in various places throughout your foundation, each suggesting a different type of damage.
Vertical Wall Cracks
All foundations crack in some manner, usually during the natural settling of the concrete. The result is typically the formation of thin cracks running vertically up your crawlspace or basement walls.
Most vertical wall cracks don’t expand beyond ⅛” wide and often don’t need any type of attention. Having a foundation repair specialist or handyman seal the gap can help prevent water from coming into your under-home area.
Vertical cracks can be a particular issue for water intrusion if they continuously widen or get to more than ⅛” thick. Growth usually occurs if water seeps in and freezes, pushing the two sides of the crack further apart. Wide gaps should be addressed as quickly as possible, mainly because Columbus’s expansive soil can easily force water inside.
Horizontal Wall Cracks
Horizontally-oriented cracks on your concrete block wall present severe structural issues and should immediately be addressed by a foundation repair company.
These cracks are caused by hydrostatic pressure, which is common in Columbus due to the area’s expansive soil. The wet ground puts intense stress on the upper portion of the concrete wall until it fails and cracks along its length.
Basement Floor Cracks
Thin cracks can also form in your crawlspace or basement floor during natural foundation settlement. Having them sealed by a concrete repair specialist will help prevent moisture issues.
Larger cracks in the slab typically indicate differential settling of the surrounding soil, especially if the concrete on either side of the gap is unlevel. This can be caused by shrinking soil or karst, both of which are prevalent in Columbus. You may notice one portion sinking or tilting independently of the rest of your foundation, which is a good indication that your foundation needs restabilization.
Stair-Step Cracks
Stair-step cracks form on foundation walls in the shape of stair steps. They usually occur in Columbus because of differential settling, either from shrinking soil as it dries, karst, or land subsidence.

These types of cracks indicate that a portion of your foundation lost support from underneath, cracked, and sunk into the ground until it met the retreating earth. These often indicate severe loss of structural integrity and require immediate attention from a foundation contractor.
Bowing Foundation Walls
Bowing foundation walls occur when the hydrostatic pressure outside your home places additional stress on your concrete walls. Concrete is highly rigid, but your foundation’s wall can flex inward slightly in response to the pressure caused by expansive soils in Columbus.
Bowed walls usually precede horizontal cracks. When the pressure builds too much, the stability of the wall is lost, and a fissure forms along its length. Therefore, bowing concrete walls often require structural repair.
Moist or Wet Basement
The expansive soils in Columbus lend themselves to basement water problems because they hold moisture against your concrete, allowing it to seep in overtime.
If liquid water comes through cracks, you may notice puddles on the crawlspace or basement floor, water stains on your concrete walls, or other water damage on building materials. It can evaporate into the space, increasing the humidity, so you may find that the air under your home is heavy or humid.
Water vapor can enter your basement or crawlspace through solid concrete if the expansive clay soil outside holds moisture against your foundation long enough. Moisture coming through the concrete usually evaporates and leaves minerals behind. This accumulation on the concrete is called efflorescence. It’s white and powdery, it flakes when you touch it, and it often indicates that you have a problem with expansive soil.
Moisture from liquid water or water vapor creates a humid environment below your home, potentially making it a breeding ground for mold. The presence of mold spores or mildew on your basement walls or other construction material can indicate water problems. If the mold isn’t prevalent enough to be visible, you may simply notice a musty smell when you enter your crawlspace or basement.
Poor Indoor Air Quality
Lastly, poor air quality in your home can be a sign of foundation damage. The air under your home naturally mixes with that inside your living space. This process, called the stack effect, can allow moisture and mold spores into the upper levels of your house.
Many homeowners don’t notice increased humidity in their living areas, but moisture creates perceived temperature differences. An uncomfortably hot living area in the summer or a cold one in the winter could be a sign of basement moisture issues.
Additionally, unexplained allergy symptoms, like coughing, congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes, or respiratory discomfort, could be caused by mold spores making their way into your home from underneath. As such, these symptoms could suggest mold growth below your house, which is a sign of water intrusion.