What To Do When Your Foundation Is Degrading

Your home’s foundation literally holds everything together, so keeping its condition intact is extremely important. There are many different ways your foundation can end up degrading, so it’s important to seek out the assistance of an experienced home foundation repair expert. 

At NV Waterproofing & Foundation Repair, we have helped numerous homeowners protect and repair their homes from foundation damages and indoor flooding. We have done this by dedicating ourselves to providing affordable home foundation repair and quality waterproofing services. For over 30 years, we have proven the value of our services through our dedication to customer satisfaction and efficient craftsmanship. 

Below, we discuss the signs of a degrading foundation and what you should do upon learning that you have one: 

Signs of a Degrading Foundation

Before we discuss what to do once you find that your home’s foundation is degrading, it’s important to know what signs to look out for. Certain signs can be seen from the inside and outside of your home and will help you determine if your foundation is degrading. Here are the common signs: 

Settling Foundation

Indicators Outside of Your Home: 

• Stair-step cracking - this will occur in brick or block walls and is a common sign of a settling foundation. If your home continues to settle, these vertical cracks may grow larger, which could also indicate that the wall is rotating. 

• Separating chimneys - seeing your chimney settle is quite terrifying and also a sign your foundation is settling. Since brick chimneys are often heavy and built on a separate foundation apart from the home foundation, it increases the chances of it settling.

• Problem doors and windows - jamming doors and windows, cracks along the corners or the frames, doors and windows pulling away from their frames, and new caulking around doors and windows are all signs of your home settling.

Indicators Inside of Your Home: 

• Foundation wall cracks - while these cracks will look similar to the ones you see outside of your home, you will find these cracks in places such as your basement or crawl space. 

• Drywall cracks - specific drywall cracks that extend outward from the corners or doors and windows as well as along the drywall seams are common signs for settling. Buckling, pulling or ripping drywall tape is also a common sign. 

• Issues with doors and windows - sticking doors and windows are a clear sign of your home settling. Has any of the doors or windows been planed, or shaved down, so they can move more easily? Has the locks and latches been replaced? These are also signs that homeowners often come across. 

Bowing (Buckling) Foundation

Sagging floors - an uneven or unusually leveled basement floor may also seem bouncy or soft. This means that one or multiple sides of your foundation have begun to give way to the weight of your home. You may also notice gaps around door frames, existing columns, and girders in your crawl space.

Wall failure - foundation walls may begin to lean in at the top due to the soil outside of your walls creating excessive inward pressure, allowing the top to break free. Diagonal cracking at the corners may also occur because they are supported by adjacent walls, which may cause it to give way to the weight of your home. 

What to Do When Your Foundation is Degrading

1) Inspect Your Basement & Foundation

The first thing you should do is look for the signs described above, as well as others found in the exterior and interiors of your home. Investigate every possible section of the foundation where you suspect it may be degrading. Take pictures and record every detail. 

2) Discuss the Issue(s) with a Professional 

Next, make sure you call in a professional from a company that performs custom home foundation repair. Talk with them about what you’ve examined, as well as point out what areas you suspect have been affected by foundation damage. 

Allow them to perform a more thorough inspection so that you can learn the exact reasons for the degradation. After that, they will be able to suggest potential solutions that will help restore your foundation. 

NV Waterproofing & Foundation Repair: Restorative Home Foundation Repair

There are many household repairs you can do yourself, but when it comes to your foundation, it is best to get assistance from a team of highly-experienced professionals. At NV Waterproofing & Foundation Repair, we have a qualified home foundation repair team who have successfully restored thousands of home foundations. The ease and efficiency of their work has brought numerous customer testimonials and recommendations. 

Contact us at 1-703-690-3889  to learn more about our foundation repair and home waterproofing services, and get a free estimate for your home today.