Your home sits upon a foundation that supports the entire structure. It is important to keep an eye out for damage or cracks in your foundation. Some signs that your foundation is in need of being professionally repaired are more obvious than others. There times the damage to your foundation can be seen by the naked eye and other times there are small changes in your home. New unexplained uneven flooring, doors that no longer fit in their frames, strange smells, more water or plant life around your home’s foundation than usual. All of these are signs that something is wrong. This information is provided by our company for foundation repair Peoria IL. We hope we answer all your questions about foundation repair.
It is important to remember, if you believe there is something wrong with your home’s foundation then you need to call a professional to come and evaluate your foundation as soon as possible. A damaged foundation will continue to get worse, you want to put a stop to it and fix your foundation quickly. But in case you are not sure if something is wrong with the foundation under your feet, here are five warning signs that you should never ignore!
Signs Your Foundation is Cracking, Stay Alert
There are over a dozen signs that your home’s foundation may be in trouble. We could list here but we are going to start with these five major warning signs that your foundation is cracked or cracking. Some of these are easy to spot and others can be misleading as to their cause. If you are noticing any of these issues in your home, call a foundation repair expert right away.
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Visible Cracks in the Exterior
In most cases, the majority of your exterior foundation is underground with only a few inches visible to the naked eye. But these handfuls of inches can tell you a good deal about the condition of your home’s foundation. Take a walk around your home’s exterior, can you see cracks in the foundation? If yes, that is a red flag your foundation could be in trouble depending on the type of cracks you are seeing.
A few vertical cracks in your home’s foundation are normal and these are not a major concern. However, other types of cracks pose a larger concern. Horizontal cracks, for example, point to a serious issue that can be caused by water damage that needs to be addressed. Diagonal cracks can point to unstable settlement, stair shaped cracks can show settlement issues as well, or problems with the soil around your home. Call a professional if you notice these types of cracks around your home.
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What is That Smell?
Noticing a musty smell in your basement or lower floor of your home? This can be a sign that more water is getting into your foundation and/or basement through the cracks. A musty smell not only signals potential damage to your foundation but also allows for biological growth that can damage your home or be harmful to your health.
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Cracks in the Drywall
If your home’s foundation is strong and stable, you should not see cracks in your drywall. Cracks in the drywall are a sign that your foundation is weakening or slowly shifting under your feet. It is time to call in a professional foundation repair expert.
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Sticky Doors or Uneven Windows
Have you noticed that your doors and windows do not seem to be fitting in their frames like they used to? One sticky door is a problem with that door, if several or all of your doors and windows are having issues, that is a foundational problem. Something underneath is shifting or damaged, call for help.
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Uneven Floors
Did you move into a home with level flooring and now things seem a bit off? You guessed it, your foundation is damaged or cracked. This problem will continue to get worse and you cannot afford to wait to fix it. A foundation repair specialist can provide you with solutions, like slab jacking, to help you. Slab jacking will raise, level, and fix your home’s foundation.
How Do You Know if Your Foundation Crack is A Serious Issue?
Are you wondering if you should be worried about a foundational crack, how serious of a concern is it anyway? Here is a tip to know if your cracking foundation is something you should worry about. Ask yourself, is my foundation cracking?
If you are fairly certain that the answer to that question is yes, then you have a serious enough issue that you need professional help and advice. This is your home’s structural support after all and it is not going to improve on its own. The longer you wait to address the issues the more damage you will occur.
How Much Foundation Cracking is Acceptable?
As we mentioned above, some light vertical cracking along your home’s exterior foundation is usually normal. However, if there are any signs of additional or different types of cracking or damage to your foundation, it is time to call in an expert. A foundation repair expert will come to your home, evaluate the extent of the damage and they will be able to provide you with recommendations on how to proceed and if repairs are needed.
My Foundation is Cracking, How Do I Find an Expert to Fix It?
If you require someone to come to your home and repair that cracked foundation there are local contractors ready to help you. Finding a reputable foundation repair contractor is easier than you might expect. Just do a little research, check their reviews, their Better Business Bureau rating, make sure they are experienced and have been in business for a while. Once you find a foundation contractor you want to work with, they will help make the rest of the process as easy and pain-free for you as possible. And once they have completed their work, you will no longer have to worry about that damaged, cracked foundation.
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