SIGNS OF FOUNDATION DAMAGE

Foundation problems are usually due to bad drainage, ground movement, or poor construction.

Any of these things can cause your foundation to shift or settle. Soils with heavy concentrations of water can double in weight causing stress against your foundation.

The recent minor earthquakes that have occurred right here in East Texas are a highly known menace to home foundations and can cause structural damage of all kinds, major and minor. You may notice doors or windows that no longer open and close properly, you may have a visible crack in your home's foundation that you see, cracks in your drywall, buckling or sagging floors, gaps around interior or exterior doorways such as your garage door.

Keep on the lookout for things like windows and doors becoming stuck or misaligned. Watch for cracks in concrete slabs, any exterior brick, and on the interior walls of your house. Water puddles that form around the base of your home may also indicate foundation problems too. If you are notice your home leaning to one side then you probably have some foundation problems.

Most foundation damages stem from soil-related problems such as poor soil compaction, excessive organic materials, erosion or expansive soils which may expand or shrink with changes in the moisture content of the soil. These conditions can produce stress that damages a home's foundation.

Here are a few pictures to provide you with examples of what signs of foundation damage can actually look like.

Soil May Suddenly Change. Upper level soils, typically 6 to 8 feet below ground level, go through wet and dry cycles due to seasonal moisture and temperature changes.Here are a few pictures to provide you with examples of what signs of foundation damage can actually look like.

When there are drastic changes like a heavy rain right after a drought, water moves through the soil at greater rates than normal. This water looks for the path of least resistance, if this path is through or under your foundation, settlement and cracks will start to appear. This can cause your foundation to sink due to the lack of support.