It’s common for homeowners to see small cracks in their home from time to time. The cause of cracking can be something as benign as the house settling with age or something major like soil movement underneath the house or even the weather.
However, it’s difficult to tell if those cracks can lead to bigger problems or not just by looking at it. This is where a professional can help you determine the real cause of those cracks and if you need house foundation repairs.
Signs of foundation problems
Cracks are not the only sign that you may have issues with the foundation of your home. Some of the other signs include:
- The walls are leaning, and the floors are sloping at an angle
- Cracks in the walls over windows and doors
- Doors or windows that won’t completely close or open
- The walls and the ceiling have a gap between them
- Cracks in a window glass or tile floor
- Presence of water in your crawl space or basement
- Cracks or bulges in the foundation that are about a quarter of an inch or wider
Common causes of foundation problems
Extreme weather like drought can cause major foundation issues because moisture evaporates from the soil causing it to shrink away from the foundation of your home and creates a gap between them. This will ultimately cause foundation movement.
Plumbing leaks, heaving or consolidating soil, poor drainage system, and poor construction and soil preparation, as well as natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, are the usual culprits for foundation problems.
Additionally, if your house is next to large trees, it’s also possible that they are drinking up the moisture of the soil underneath your home.
Not all cracks are dangerous but some definitely are. The best way to make sure is to call a professional to assess those cracks. Don’t wait until they become a bigger problem before having them fixed.