A foundation accounts for eight to fifteen percent of the total cost of building a home, and it’s little wonder. The foundation is, without a doubt, one of the most important elements of a home, since the bulk of the structure rests upon it. There are three primary forms of home foundation: crawl spaces, slabs, and full basements. If anything happens to damage or weaken the foundation, the structural integrity of the home could be seriously compromised. This is why it’s so important to know the warning signs that can indicate your foundation needs repairs. This article will be taking a look at a few of the signs that can indicate your foundation needs to be repaired.
- Cracks Forming in the Foundation Slab: One way to tell your foundation needs repairs is if cracks are seen forming in the foundation slab. As the foundation slab is meant to be an extremely thick and strong slab of concrete, if cracks are seen forming on it, it can mean serious issues are happening deep underground. Foundation repair contractors will need to be brought in to examine the cracks and see what is causing the problem.
- Excessive Water Damage in the Basement: Another way to tell your foundation needs repairs is if there is excessive water damage in the basement. While 98% of all homes with basements will experience some type of water damage, excessive water damage can indicate major problems are developing. Basement waterproofing services will need to be called in to examine the issue and fix it by thoroughly waterproofing the basement. One advantage of this fix is that basement waterproofing services, if done well, can give you a 30% ROI.
- The Foundation is Settling: And finally, a third way to tell your foundation needs repairs is if the foundation is observed to be settling. Settling in the foundation comes when parts of the foundation begin to sink down into the ground, causing the foundation to become severely uneven and cracked. If not corrected by house leveling services, the home could eventually collapse. Foundation contractors can raise the damaged portion of the foundation back up to where it needs to be, and can also strengthen the ground underneath to make sure the problem doesn’t recur in the future.
In conclusion, there are several ways to tell your foundation is in need of repairs. Some of the more common signs include cracks forming in the foundation slab, excessive water damage in the basement, and settling in the foundation. These problems can be resolved via foundation contractors, basement waterproofing services, and house leveling services.