Is Your Home More Likely to Have Foundation Damage?
Any home, regardless of age, location or style is susceptible to foundation damage, but risks increase in certain situations. Homeowners should always be aware of what is going on with their homes, but there are some things to consider.
If you have an older home, say over ten years old, you need to be a little more vigilant for indications of foundation damage. After ten years, your home has had time to settle and there is a chance it occurred unevenly, causing cracks or other damage to happen. During that time, trees have matured and their roots have not only gotten bigger, but they have also probably reached farther, looking for water. The trees may take moisture out of the soil around your foundation, causing the ground to shrink, also. After a decade of use, plumbing may begin to leak or be impacted by roots or other landscaping. Leaking pipes can silently over-saturate the ground, putting pressure on your foundation walls, in addition to wasting your money as you pay for water that is going into the soil. Lastly, over the last ten years, your home has probably experienced a lot of weather cycles. When the soil goes through wet and dry cycles, the dirt shrinks and expands. This constant fluctuation will wreak havoc on your foundation, pushing and pulling it until it finally breaks. Most areas of the country have experienced odd weather in the last few years, so most people can relate to this. Normal weather patterns can impact a foundation, but when you have droughts and flooding taking turns, the process is accelerated.
Is A Single Slab Sturdier?
It may seem that a home built on a slab would be stronger and more secure, but that isn't always the case. A home with two or more stories usually has a sturdier foundation to compensate for the extra weight it will be supporting. A home with a basement is going to have a foundation with footings set deeper into the ground since the floor is already beneath the surface. Also, a home that is on a raised foundation, through piers and beams, will not be affected by soil movement as much as a slab. If your home is surrounded by trees or other landscaping, especially watered gardens or flowerbeds, the chances for foundation damage are greater. The fluctuation of soil moisture or pressure from tree roots can crack concrete slabs.
There are a couple of things you keep an eye out to make sure your foundation isn't compromised:
- Uneven floors
- Cracks in ceilings or walls
- Sticking windows or doors
- Gaps around trim or molding
If you think your home may be experiencing foundation damage, you should call our team of professionals at Pro Foundation Tech. We'll come out to your home and give you a free estimate. It is better to address a small problem now, rather than a big problem in the near future.
Filed under Common Structural Problems, Foundation Repair
Tags: foundation problems, foundation repair, Foundation settlement, older homes, single slab homes