Homeowners in Louisville, Kentucky are wondering, “what are the signs that my house requires foundation repair?” While there’s not a clear-cut answer, our local foundation professionals have put together their list of the tell-tale signs your foundation might be failing you.
Homes in the midwest are known to shift and settle due to the terrain being dry clay soil. This then mixes with high levels of rainfall and improper drainage systems. Foundation problems are common in the Louisville, KY region but so is misinformation about whether or not a foundation inspection is warranted. If there are cracks in the drywall, this does not necessarily mean there are issues with the house’s foundation.
The first thing to do if you suspect foundation issues is to look around at your interior walls to take note of any cracks in the drywall. Small cracks are fine and tend to indicate signs of foundation settlement. However, if you see cracks that are diagonal or zig-zag in pattern running up the wall or if the crack is at a junction between the wall and ceiling, this can be cause for concern. Be sure to also check for any cracks on the foundation interior in the basement.
Foundation issues can eventually cause uneven floors due to constantly sinking and settling that occurs making your foundation no longer level. If you believe that your Louisville home has uneven floors caused by the foundation, a simple trick is to take a level and set it on the floor to determine if it is in fact not level. Try this in each room to determine if there is a problem. Homeowners also encounter bouncing floors, which means that there is rotten wood or another dire issue. Your floors should NOT feel like a trampoline.
If your windows seem “stuck” when you attempt to close them, your foundation could actually be the culprit. When the foundation settles or sinks, it can cause structural changes in the home causing windows and doors to not close or open quite like they used to. Take note of any windows or doors in your home that will no longer shut into their frame or are frequently requiring a forceful push in order to shut them.
Take a look around your home’s exterior and take note of any exterior cracks that are present. Some cracks may have been caused by the foundation settling naturally. However, if there is significant cracking or wide gaps in the cracks, this may mean foundation problems for your Louisville house.
Sometimes homeowners will see that their ceiling is appearing to sag or the walls are buckling. If this is the case, then it’s important that you call our foundation contractors in Louisville to assist you with this immediately. This means that the structure of your home is not secure and extensive foundation issues may be at play cause this to occur.
Most of the time, residents think of foundation issues in relation to sinking and settling. However, there is also foundation upheaval that occurs in our area of Kentucky. The onset of heavy rains causes moisture to be absorbed by the soil thereby expanding and contracting it to force the slab foundation in the upward direction. This can also be more apparent in the winter when water freezes, adding pressure and thereby foundation movement.
Check your basement to determine if there are any wet spots or pooling water. This can be telling if you have water damage and require foundation waterproofing services in Louisville. Then, check the exterior of the home to determine if there is water pooling around your home after a rainstorm. This can indicate improper drainage issues causing foundation problems.
If you’re seeing gaps in places that you shouldn’t, this may be a sign that a foundation inspection is necessary to determine if you require foundation repair in Louisville. Typically, when structures separate from the wall, this is not a good sign. However, in older homes, this does tend to happen. However, if you’re noticing that your window frames, exterior trim, or cabinets are separating from the wall, it’s time to call for an inspection.
Many of the homes in the Louisville area have pier and beam foundations meaning that there is no basement but there is a crawl space under the house. So, if you have a pier and beam foundation, it’s time to take a flashlight down there and check it out. If you notice that it’s excessively damp, there’s water pooling, or you see rotting wood, you most likely have improper drainage. This in turn could be causing foundation issues to arise. It’d be in your best interest to give our foundation waterproofing experts a call.
The first signs of foundation issues can be difficult to spot. Yet, your best bet as a homeowner is to do an interior and exterior check of your own foundation.
Interior Check: Look for any water damage to your walls or basement flooring. Are there any wet spots that you can see? Also, look at the drywall in your home for any diagonal cracks as these can be the most significant.
Exterior Check: Walk the perimeter of your foundation and look for any water pooling around the outside of the house (especially a few hours after a storm). Also, check your exterior foundation and chimney for cracks. Are there gaps between the foundation and the ground or the house and trim? This could mean that there was extensive settling.
Foundation repair problems in Louisville are not to be taken lightly. If you don’t fix the issues from the get-go, you’re in for an even more costly fix in the long run and more dangerous problems to deal with as well. Local homeowners have had their walls start to buckle or the floors completely sagging or unlevel when they call us. Don’t wait for the problems to get worse! Be sure to call the foundation repair professionals as soon as possible.
If you suspect foundation problems for your Kentucky home, it’s time to get in touch with Louisville Foundation Repair Pros for a foundation inspection. Our foundation experts will determine what repair services are required for the project.
