Foundation Settlement is easy to spot once you know what to look for. Here are some of the more typical tell-tale Signs that you might notice in and around your home:
Outside of your Home:
- Stair Step Cracking- this type of cracking is usually a typical sign of foundation settlement and is very common in brick and concrete blocks. As your home continues to settle further, vertical cracks may widen; this indicates that the wall is rotating outward.
- Chimneys- chimneys will separate away from the rest of the home. Although some chimneys are built on foundation that is not connected to the rest of the home, there is still a high risk for settlement issues.
- Doors and Windows- these are the weakest points of your walls. Usually doors and windows display the first signs of settlement. Things to be on the lookout for:
- Doors and windows out of square
- Cracks extending from the corners of doors or windows
- Separation of a door or window from its framing or exterior finish
Inside of your Home:
- Drywall Cracks- these are a very good indicator of settlement. Most are obvious in the uppermost levels of your house. Look for the following signs that indicate drywall cracks:
- Drywall cracks off of the corners of doors and windows
- Cracks that follow drywall seams
- Drywall tape buckling, pulling, or ripping
- Doors and Windows- ask yourself the following questions. If you reply ‘yes,’ you may have a settlement problem.
- Do your doors or windows ‘stick’ when you try to open or close them?
- Have you tried to adjust your doors or windows to make them open or close more easily?
- Have you replaced or relocated locking or latching mechanisms on doors?
If you see signs such as these In and Around your home, it might be a sign that your home is experiencing some serious foundation settlement . Aquaguard has the foundation repair experts ready to come visit your home and inspect for these types of problems. Our trained specialists will customize a foundation repair solution that is right for your home’s situation. We offer tested and proven methods to restore a home back to level to help alleviate some of these cracking and alignment issues.
