If you are like most homeowners, you may have wondered about the state of the home’s foundation. You need to know how age affects foundations, in addition to changes in the soil and landscape surrounding your home, as well as knowing how the state of the foundation affects the rest of the house, so you need to know when it is necessary to repair the foundation. Some foundation problems do not require attention immediately, but often the damage will only become worse with time, and will not improve on its own. It is essential to recognize early signs of a deteriorating foundation so you can call in a company that specializes in foundation repair so they can tell you whether or not the foundation of your home requires repair and whether the replacement must be extensive.

What Is The Right Time For Foundation Repair?

Many people wrongly believe that a newer house will not require repairs to the foundation. Although it is true that foundation problems become worse with the passage of time, more modern homes are not free from having a problem with the foundation. Even if you have a house that was built recently, it could already have a failing foundation. There can be many causes for foundations failing on newer homes, including soil that is unstable, changes to the landscape around the home, improper pouring and drying of the concrete, and soil that was improperly compacted below the foundation before the concrete was laid. In addition, if your home is older and has had no foundation problems to date, you can still encounter these problems with your foundation in the future. It is a mistake to think that an older house has totally settled into the dirt and will therefore never have foundation problems. An older home can still be affected by changes in the weather, such as increasing drought, invasive roots of plants, and other factors that can affect the foundation of an older home that seemed to be “settled.” No matter how old your home maybe, if you notice foundation problems, you should have it inspected by a professional expert as quickly as possible.

Signs That Foundation Repair Is Required

Your home may exhibit one or more signs that Edmonton foundation repairs need to be done. Obvious signs of foundation problems include interior floors that slope, doors, and windows that are sticking, and cracks forming near the corners of window and door frames. You may notice cracks along with the exterior bricks or siding or a space between the ground around your house and the exterior of the home. Here are a few other signs that your home may require foundation repairs. Experiencing flooding in the basement, or seeing leaks from the roof or attic, or having water pooling around the house after heavy rains can all be a sign that your foundation is damaged. When nail heads protrude from walls on one side of the house, it can mean your foundation is sinking or shifting. Other signs that may indicate your foundation is not stable has a chimney that is cracked or noticing cracks on the interior walls in the house.

Never ignore signs of possible foundation problems no matter whether your house is old or recently built. Call a foundation repair expert to evaluate the situation thoroughly and help you decide whether your foundation needs to be repaired or if another factor is at fault.

Foundation repairs are a daunting thought for a homeowner. Nothing is more dreaded than the sight of cracks in the walls or ceiling of your home. It is crucial to understand when those cracks, even little ones, are a sign of something more sinister going on.

Recognizing A True Problem

A crack does not always equate to your foundation’s demise. Unfortunately, this fact contributes to the difficulty in recognizing a real problem. Sometimes a crack can be superficial and merely cosmetic. The worst-case scenario is that the cracks are signs of your home, settling unevenly.

Keep Record of the Development

Keeping a record of the fissures in and outside of your home is a good practice. Note how long they are, where they are, they are and the date that you first saw them. Check them every couple of weeks for signs that they are traveling or growing wider.

If you do have a crack or fissure in your home that is wider than one-sixteenth of an inch, it is a good idea to call in a professional to have it inspected. If your home has a crawl space you are willing to check yourself, it can be a good indicator of a more significant problem even for a layman.

A professional will be able to verify whether the crack compromises the integrity of the wall in cases of a severe crack. They should also be able to let you know the cause of the crack and if there are severe issues with the foundation in addition to the wall. It is not uncommon for a cracked wall to be replaced with no problems. However, if the crack appears in a weight-bearing wall, it could make the structure of your entire home unsafe.

Other signs of looming foundation repairs include uneven floors or doors that do not fit the door jam properly. Some might attribute this to weather, but this itself is another sign of damage to the foundation. Soils that change with moisture or the lack of it are notorious for settling in a way that is damaging to the foundation.

Not All Cracks Are the Same

As mentioned before, there are some cracks that are signs of superficial problems, while others are sure indicators of larger and more costly repairs. Knowing the difference between them will help you know if it is a simple repair, you can take care of yourself, or if it is crucial, you call a professional right away.

Static cracks are the superficial sort. If you see one you they typically do not get larger. In addition, these types of cracks are usually found running vertically.

A dynamic crack is one that is getting larger in either length or width or both. This kind of crack should be inspected and not just repaired. Even more ominous is a dynamic crack that runs horizontally. The implications of this kind of crack are serious and potentially dangerous and should be inspected by a professional immediately.

With pier and beam foundations, vertical movement occurs when the soil under your property shifts either by shrinkage (dry soil) or expansion (wet soil). Typically, this movement causes one part of your home or building to sink, settle or sag resulting in visible cracks. These cracks will show up at high stress points like the foundation itself, in floors, chimneys, around windows and doors as well as interior sheetrock and/or exterior brick walls.

With basement foundations, horizontal movement can happen when the soil outside of your foundation walls becomes saturated and expands, pushing inward on the foundation walls. The walls then leak, crack, bow, lean in or worst case scenario, slide in.

Depending on the severity, on-site soil conditions, and specific cause of the problem, several solution options are available through our company. These include:

heavy-duty smart jacks for crawl space stabilization
high-tech braces and wall anchors
mudjacking and soil injection
replace damaged piers and rotten beams

We also offer drainage management solutions, including french drains if appropriate. However, our first priority is always water leak detection and correction of these problems to make sure you have a permanent fix to your specific foundation issue.

Foundation Repair Pros Tulsa

Invite the professionals at Foundation Repair Pros out for a visit. We know you’re in a difficult situation and we have your best interest at heart. Let’s work together to find the best solution to protect your property value, once and for all. Be sure to check out our Contractor Reviews section for guidance on evaluating area contractor proposals.

Give us a call today – we’ll earn your trust and confidence with an honest, FREE onsite evaluation and a fair cost estimate on the best foundation repair that Tulsa has to offer.

Let’s work together to finally get your foundation fixed and preserve the value of your home.