Signs of Foundation Issues

Damage to your home’s foundation is a big problem—but it’s not always an easy one to spot. Even if part of your foundation is exposed, it’s next to impossible to assess it firsthand and find damages without a professional. Thankfully, there are several signs you can look for that may indicate foundation issues on your property. In this guide, our experts at Align Foundation Repair cover a few of the big ones.

Read on to learn more about the common signs of foundation problems, and book your free estimate with our team today!

Windows and Doors That Are Suddenly Difficult to Open and Shut

In its ideal, undamaged state, your home’s foundation is level: totally flat. With foundation damage, that changes—and over time, that change will be reflected in a wide range of things throughout your home. Some of those things you even use every day—like your windows and doors.

Has a door that once swung open with ease started to drag? What about an easy-to-lift window that now sticks? These issues may be related to something smaller—like wood or paint expansion—but they may very well indicate a foundation problem. If your foundation has begun to move, your home’s walls and floors will soon follow suit, impeding the movement of doors and windows and making them difficult to open.

Cracks in Brick or Masonry Walls

Speaking of your home’s walls: they’re another great place to spot foundation issues. If you have a crack in your home’s brick or masonry walls, you may have damage to your foundation. Brick and masonry are much sturdier than drywall or paint—so if they crack, it’s likely a big deal. If they crack over windows and doorways—areas much more susceptible to vertical movement—it’s yet another indicator of foundation issues, such as:

• Foundation settlement. Over time, soil movement or improper soil compaction can lead to the foundation settling unevenly. As the foundation shifts, it exerts pressure on the surrounding masonry walls, causing them to crack.
• Foundation movement. If the foundation expands or contracts due to changes in moisture content, temperature fluctuations, or soil conditions, it can create stress on the walls. As a result, cracks may form as the masonry tries to accommodate these movements.
• Foundation water damage. Poor drainage can cause water to accumulate around the foundation, leading to soil erosion or excessive hydrostatic pressure. This can weaken the foundation and exert pressure on the walls, causing them to crack.

Something to keep in mind: these three primary foundation issues cause more than just cracks in your walls. They’re to blame for the difficult-to-open doors and windows mentioned above, as well as virtually every item on the rest of the list below.

Warped or Bowed Ceilings

In most homes, the ceilings are parallel with the floors—which are, in turn, parallel to the home’s foundation. In other words, they’re totally flat. When they’re not (and they’re supposed to be) the culprit may be your foundation.

Warped or bowed ceilings are a sign that part of your foundation has started to settle, crack, or move in some other manner. When it moves, it’s only a matter of time before everything on top (i.e., your ceiling) moves, too.

Sloped or Separating Floors

Between the ceiling and the foundation is yet another part of your home that can reveal foundation damage: your floor. Think about a sidewalk that bends, pops up, or cracks altogether due to wet terrain, tree roots, or erosion. The same principle applies to your floor and your foundation. When the foundation moves, the floor is sure to follow.

Take a close look at your floor and inspect it for signs of abnormalities. Is it starting to slope? This is a sign that your foundation is no longer level. (If you’re unsure as to whether you floor is sloping, use the same level you’d use to hang a picture frame—or simply place a ball near the middle of the floor and see where it rolls.)

If you have wood floors, take a close look at the joints. Are they starting to separate? If you have tile floors, feel around with your hands and feet. Are certain tiles starting to pop? Both are signs of foundation movement, slowly moving your floor like the earth cracks a sidewalk.

Gaps or Cracks in the Seam Between Walls and Ceiling

Have you ever tried to build a table, chair, or other piece of furniture where one part meets another at a 90-degree angle? If they’re not totally aligned, a gap shows. This is exactly what happens to walls and ceilings when a foundation settles or moves improperly.

An uneven foundation will cause walls to move to very slightly different heights—or worse, move laterally—creating a gap or crack between them and the ceiling under which they once sat flush.

Standing Water Inside the House or Near the House

Standing water in the house is never a good sign—and it sometimes, it can be a sign of foundation damage. Other times, it can be a sign of foundation problems to come. Here’s why.

The land around your home’s foundation should have a grade that slopes down and away from your foundation at a 3 to 5-degree angle. This allows any water that’s accumulated near your home to flow away from it, where it won’t damage the foundation. If you notice standing water near your house—or worse, inside it in ground-level areas like basements and crawl spaces—it may be a sign that your land is improperly graded.

Unfortunately, it can also be sign that your foundation has cracked due to hydrostatic pressure or some other form of erosion—and together with improper grading, it’s now leaking that water into your home or the area around it.

A Chimney That Leans in One Direction

Chimney looking a little crooked? It may be falling apart on its own. Or, it may be leaning because the rest of your house is leaning—all due to a foundation that’s cracked, moved, or improperly settled. If you’re unsure of the cause, head inside to see in you can spot some of the other signs on this list.

Buckling, Ruptures or Hairline Cracks in the Foundation

If your foundation is partially exposed—and it should be, to reduce moisture and improve visibility—give it a quick inspection to see if you notice any buckling, ruptures, or hairline cracks. (These may be horizontal, zig-zagging, or vertical.) All of these signs can be indicators of foundation damage. In some cases, the damage can be superficial and fixed relatively easily—but in other cases, the buckling, rupturing, and cracking you see is an indicator of a bigger underlying problem with your foundation.

Stoops or Front Porches That Appear Sunken

When a foundation settles unevenly or too deeply, the whole on top of it house does the same. To the untrained eye, this widespread settling can be difficult to spot—but there’s one place where it’s easier to see: the front porch, or the stoop.

Take a short walk to the curb and inspect your porch or stoop. Does it appear sunken or bowed? If so, your foundation may be to blame.

Exterior Walls that are Crumbling or Show Signs of Moisture Intrusion

Often a precursor to standing water, crumbling walls are a sign that water is moving its way from the earth under and around your home to the inside. This process takes some time—but if it’s happening on your exterior walls, it may have already happened to your foundation. And as you know from the sections above, a foundation with a water problem is most likely a foundation with a structural problem, too.

When In Doubt, Get Inspected

Note that it is completely normal for properties to settle over time, and construction materials are designed to accommodate moderate soil shifts. Hairline cracks in your masonry walls or concrete foundation are not always signs of imminent damage, whereas larger horizontal cracks are generally more serious concerns. Improper water drainage is another telltale indicator that a foundation crack has occurred, as this can redirect water to lower areas.

If you are unsure about whether an abnormality in your home is a sign of foundation damage, it’s best to get an expert involved. Here at Align Foundation Repair, our experienced team proudly provides foundation assessments and repairs to property owners across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Foundation repair in Garland, Texas

If you notice signs of foundation problems, you’ll want professional foundation evaluation as soon as possible. For residents of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, foundation repair is cost-efficient and backed by an industry-leading warranty. Discover why homeowners throughout Texas have come to trust Align Foundation Repair when it comes to superior workmanship, proven foundation repair techniques and the highest quality products. Contact us today for a visit and we’ll be happy to provide a free foundation repair estimate.

Additional Resources on Foundation Repair Signs:

1. HouseLogic, Identifying House Foundation Problems https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/home-maintenance-tips/understanding-foundation-problems/
2. Realtor.com, Signs of Foundation Problems: Should You Fix Them, or Run? https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/signs-of-foundation-problems/
3. Today’s Homeowner, Foundation Problems, https://todayshomeowner.com/foundation-problems/

The signs of foundation problems are subtle at first. They begin with small cracks in drywall, which many homeowners try to patch before calling a Dallas, TX foundation repair specialist. Waiting too long leads to limited options for repair and much higher costs.

If you notice a crack in the wall that wasn’t there before, take a good look at how it’s positioned, how big it is, and whether it seems to be expanding. Even if it looks minor, calling an expert for a free estimate lets you know for sure, without costing you anything.

When drywall cracks, foundation problems could be the cause

Houses naturally shift and settle, causing cracks to appear. When the soil fails to support the weight of your home, the foundation may settle unevenly. It is more common for houses to shift in dramatic ways when they’re built upon loose clay soil, as in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Homes that are experiencing significant settling have gaps affecting window function, walls that are not of equal height, and large, widespread cracking. Foundation damage cracks in drywall will only worsen with time if not addressed, putting the structural integrity of your home in jeopardy.

Do cracks in drywall mean foundation problems every time?

Before you panic, realize that narrow drywall cracks don’t necessarily indicate foundation problems. Without calling a professional, you won’t know for sure, but your own observations can be helpful. Here’s what to look for:

• Is the drywall crack big? If the crack is wider than 1/8th of an inch, that’s cause for concern.
• Is the drywall crack horizontal or angled? Minor house shifting causes vertical cracks. A shifting foundation can be powerful enough to cause horizontal or diagonal cracks that are harder to fill and putty over.
• Is the drywall crack widening? Call us right away if a crack is wide enough to fit a dime inside or if one end of the crack is noticeably wider than the other.
• Are the cracks near windows and doors? When the cracks you notice in your drywall and sheetrock are near the windows and doors, that’s another cause for concern. Shifting foundations cause window frames and door frames to change shape, cracking the walls nearby. Try opening and closing the windows and doors. When the windows stick in their frames, or when the doors don’t close all the way, that’s another indicator of foundation damage.
• Do you see stair-stepping? Brick veneers with cracks that appear in a stair-step formation are cause for concern. Vertical cracks along a straight mortar joint could indicate seasonal movement, which is less concerning. A professional opinion would be helpful in either case.

Any one of these problems could indicate that you have foundation damage and need to call a professional to have your foundation examined.

What causes cracks in dry wall besides damaged foundation?

One of the first questions people ask foundation experts is: “What causes cracks in drywall?” Obviously, homeowners want to know how the situation occurred and what they can do to prevent further damage. There are many causes of foundation wall cracks – each with their own unique solution. We are equipped to assist with drywall cracks caused by:

• • Seasonal changes: As the seasons change, the wood in your walls and foundation (pier and beam) expands and contracts, which also causes minor drywall cracks. Expansive soils contract when dry, and expand when moist, potentially putting thousands of pounds of pressure on your walls. Some walls will buckle, fall, or end up beyond repair if not corrected.
  • Post-construction shrinkage: Wood frames may dry and shrink within the first year, producing vertical and horizontal cracking on walls. Occasionally we see this when the builder has used a poor or rushed finishing technique. One repair is usually enough to fix the problem permanently.
  • Curing Concrete: Concrete walls often develop small cracks during the curing process. These fissures are perfectly normal and no cause for alarm unless they begin to elongate, widen, or are greater than 1/16th of an inch.

How to address drywall cracks that keep coming back

Foundation repair is the best solution for drywall cracks that keep coming back. We offer many different solutions for drywall cracks and damaged foundations, depending on your unique situation. Pier and beam solutions are designed to prop your home up further away from shifting soils. A drainage solution moves excess moisture away from your home and foundation.

Call Align Foundation Repair, a family-run Dallas-Fort Worth company

Though vertical cracks in your drywall are less concerning, don’t assume that any cracks in your walls are safe. Not all cracks in your drywall or sheetrock indicate foundation damage, but calling a Fort Worth, TX foundation repair expert for a free assessment is the best way to ensure your foundation is healthy. We offer many affordable solutions, as well as zero-interest loan programs to help you protect your home sooner rather than later.

It’s disconcerting when you realize that the chimney is pulling away from your house. It’s usually an indication that something is seriously wrong, and the issue will need to be dealt with sooner rather than later. A leaning chimney can happen to even the most well-constructed home. If you see that the chimney is pulling away, contact us at Align Foundation Repair in Richardson, TX.

Foundation Issues Can Lead to Chimney Issues

There are several possible reasons why your chimney could be leaning, but one of the most common reasons is an issue related to your home’s foundation.

The part of a foundation that supports the chimney is usually built on an area that extends out from the house. With some builds, this area may or may not even be attached to the main part of the home’s foundation. The spot where these two areas of the foundation meet are weaker–making it more likely to become prone to issues. In addition, chimneys are also extremely heavy, exerting immense weight. Thanks to the weight of the chimney and the vulnerable area of the foundation, the chimney can eventually start to lean.

Foundation Problems That Cause Leaning

The foundation issues mentioned are due to several different scenarios.

• Erosion can cause water and moisture to get into and below your home’s foundation. Once water gets down there, the support system gets worn away. This causes cracks in it, or it begins to pull away from the house, putting the chimney and other parts of your home in jeopardy.
• The weather in Texas causes the soil to contract, making it easy for home foundations to shift.
• The age of your house can also affect the foundation. Even well-constructed older homes can develop weaker foundations over time, raising the likelihood of your chimney becoming displaced.

As a result of the above, the foundation can slowly separate from the rest of the home, causing the chimney to lean. If you don’t take care of the issue in a timely manner, it will only worsen, creating structural issues that become increasingly dangerous and expensive.

Get Help Soon with Align Foundation

We understand how important it is to take care of foundation issues. In addition to being a likely cause of a leaning chimney, foundation issues can also cause other problems, such as cracks in walls and ceilings, doors that won’t properly close, sloping floors, mildew, and insects. At Align Foundation Repair, we’ll help you determine the reason behind your leaning chimney so that we can get it fixed–keeping your home safe and beautiful. Call us today or fill out our contact form if you’re looking for foundation repair in Richardson.