When is My Home Just Settling and When Do I Need a House Foundation Repair?
All homes are subjected to settling, regardless of where or how they were built. There are big differences between major foundation issues and just simple settling. Most homes will naturally settle at least a few inches over the course of their life, but more rapid settlement with new homes should ideally not occur. If you find your home is settling far more quickly than normal, you may need a house foundation repair.
House Foundation Repair: Home Settlement Issues
Most of the settlement issues with new homes have to do with the climate and soil movement. Homebuyers can run into problems with a new home that was built without taking soil into account or prevailing climatic issues. If the home was built during the wet years, then it was built on very saturated soils and clays. During the following dry year, that expanded, swollen soil and clay will retract as it dries out, which results in greater than normal settlement of the home. If the builder took these changes into account and adjusted the soil below the home accordingly then your foundation should be fine. If they didn’t, you may run into foundation problems within five years of your home being built.
The Difference Between Settling and Real Foundation Issues
Not every crack in your foundation is a major problem, some can be an issue and others are not. Some cracks are to be expected in foundations, and small cracks are likely not indicators of serious problems. Before you really start worrying about your foundation, look for these signs. It is important to remember that only one of these signs showing might not be a cause of panic, if more than one sign is present then are certainly signs there are negative settling issues occurring and you don’t want to wait to get them repaired.
Poorly Closing Doors and Windows
A sign of foundation issue is when you tend to have an issue closing your doors and windows even if you just got new doors or windows, it may be a sign that your foundation is shifting. Window and door openings should fit perfectly into their openings, so if they closed properly at one time but no longer do, that may mean shifts in your foundation have knocked things off-kilter enough that they no longer fit as they should.
Don’t Neglect Upper Stories
Oftentimes, homeowners believe that in order to find foundation issues they need to look at floors, but a lot of the time the most obvious changes are in the upper stories of your home. Inspect the interior and exterior of your upper floors for cracks, especially above window frames. Brick-constructed homes will often show stair-like cracks along the mortar.
Foundation Cracks
Lastly, soil is another area that can cause issues, if coil is the issue you will see horizontal cracks along your foundation. These may be a sign of hydrostatic pressure, or excess water pressure affecting the foundation.
If you are unsure as to whether your home is just settling or experiencing more serious foundation issues, our foundation experts know foundation problems and will thoroughly inspect your foundation and home to identify any issues before providing comprehensive solutions. Call the experts at The Fresh Air Companies for any foundation needs.
