Evidence of a Foundation Problem
Any foundation that is shifting, sinking, or moving can cause significant damage and subsequent significant expenses. When the ground underneath a home changes, whether due to excess moisture or other factors, it becomes increasingly less stable for supporting a foundation. The soil can either expand and lift the foundation or sink away, and both cases will cause strain on the home’s structure. This strain becomes evident through the tell-tale of resulting cracks, sloping floors, stuck doors and windows, and other types of problems.
Cracks in the floor
A sinking or expanding foundation will put pressure on floor materials, causing visible breakage and cracks in tile, wood, and concrete substrates. Unnoticed plumbing and water issues are the most common causes of foundation problems. Water seeping into the foundation can quietly cause extreme damage before it’s even noticed.
Cracks in Sheetrock
Any cracks or fissures in drywall or sheetrock are a clear sign of foundation movement. They are typically found around windows and doors and in the corners of the home. Previous owners often cover these blemishes, but these temporary topical fixes are easy to spot from an angle. Be sure to check both the interior and exterior walls for cracks if you suspect your house has this foundation symptom.
Brick and Siding
You can find the most blatant evidence of foundation damage on the exterior of the home. Cracks in the fascia boards around the roof, on the siding, around doors, windows, and garages, and the cracks in the mortar of brick siding are the most telling signs. This is the physical effect of the home as a result of the house being pulled apart by an unlevel foundation.
Foundation
Cracks, like on the walls, can be found on the foundation itself, most notably on slab foundations.
Splitting Cracks
Cracks are a result of a point of tension. If a whole house sank evenly, there would be no foundation problems, but that is nearly never the case. Foundations typically sink or rise in one corner or side of the house. Therefore, the cracks will be somewhere in between the area of the altered foundation and the rest of the house. This shows where that splitting line of tension is, where the house is pulling away from itself.
Corners
It is wise to check all corners of your home for cracks, both inside and outside.