We spend most of our time doing stuff or going places, and seldom notice things about our houses. Sure, we spend time tidying and cleaning. But, how often do we pay attention to structural problems, for example?
One day we might notice a small crack appearing on the wall and not think anything of it. After all; most houses have some degree of movement, right? What we might fail to spot is how that tiny crack progresses into a larger one over time.
It might happen over a period of several months or even years. In fact, we might only pay attention if we spot more of those “small” cracks spreading around the house!
Source: Pixabay
Are you worried about foundation problems with your home? If so, let me share with you some tips on how to spot the signs early on. That way, you can get the issue investigated and sorted out before it’s too late!
There are fractures in the brickwork
Take a walk around your house. Do you notice anything unusual about the brickwork? It’s normal for bricks to look weathered and mortar to need reapplying. But what isn’t normal is when you see large fractures in the brickwork.
The fractures will usually appear in place of the mortar between some bricks. In extreme cases, you might even see bricks split in half! Such a problem is justification to carry out some foundation repair on your house.
Standing water outside of your home
When it rains, even for just ten minutes, does the water pool around your home? If so, it’s a clear indicator that you’ve got external drainage issues. What might not be so obvious is that you may also have structural damage to your foundations.
After a while, the water can damage concrete foundations and cause them to collapse. It’s one of the reasons why houses “subside.”
You can’t open or close interior doors with ease
Have you noticed that some of your interior doors are stuck when you try to open or close them? The reason that happens is because the shape of your home’s frame has changed. This is due to water ingress in the foundations.
Source: Flickr
There are plenty of mold issues indoors
You might expect to see some small patches of mold appearing in any home. But, what happens if you seem to have large mold colonies forming on your exterior walls?
It’s not always obvious, but it’s a sure sign that you’ve got serious structural issues!
Your interior walls have cracks
Classic examples of foundation problems can get found on interior walls and ceilings. You’ll often see cracks in areas such as on the corners of walls and between walls and ceilings.
You might even notice that corner moldings split and have large cracks in some cases.
What to do next
Do you suspect that your house is sinking? If so, the good news is that foundation problems can get fixed! From underpinning to extra structural support, many things can get done. It’s worth contacting a foundation expert to assess your house.
Good luck!
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