It is hard to overstate the importance of your home’s foundation. As the lowest load-bearing part of your home, it supports the weight of the entire structure and then uses force to transfer that weight to the ground below. If the foundation fails – through cracks, sinking or excessive settling – foundation repairs become necessary. Leaving foundation problems untreated could ultimately lead to loss of structural integrity and make the home unsafe.

After building a house, it will slowly “settle” into its foundation over time. It is nothing more than the structure adapting to its environment. This is normal and should not cause any noticeable issues or concerns if the house was correctly built. However, over time, seasonal changes, adjustments in soil structure and good old Mother Nature doing her thing can sometimes produce conditions that cause foundations to crack, sink or settle beyond normal tolerances. When this happens, foundation repair becomes critical and time literally is money.

Nobody likes to spend money on home repairs, but taking care of foundation repairs early on will save you a bundle. We’ve seen customers wait until their home needs extreme repair before calling for help. It makes the job much more complex, time-consuming, and expensive. Unfortunately, foundation repairs are not typically covered under homeowner’s insurance but check with your insurance company to make sure.

One customer we know of waited far too long to get a foundation wall repaired that was pushing inwards towards their basement. They were ultimately left with no choice after the wall suddenly imploded into their basement, causing the home to settle drastically. The damage resulted in a severed water line that flooded the basement. It was all preventable if they had just called earlier.

Taking care of foundation repairs early on will keep your home from settling or deflecting to the point of becoming unsound structurally. When done correctly and keeping up with the necessary regular maintenance, a foundation repair should last throughout the life of your home.

So how do you know if your foundation has problems and needs an inspection? Here are some of the more common signs you can look for:

Cracks in floors or walls
The house appears to be sinking. One side may seem lower than the other
Doors begin to stick or won’t close properly
Floors become uneven or begin to sag
Noticeable gaps around exterior doors or window frames
Heavy moisture in the crawl space

If you notice any of these issues, call for a foundation inspection right away. Depending on the severity of the problem, foundation repairs can take anywhere from one day to two weeks. And sorry weekend warriors – foundation repairs are just not a project appropriate for DIYers. Filling in concrete cracks on your own will only provide a cosmetic fix and not address the real problem below.

Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home. Well, unless you’ve got foundation problems. If you do, we’re here to help.

A Solid Foundation Is The Key To A Happy Home