What Causes Foundation Damage?

Your foundation is the backbone and chief support of your home. When your foundation is healthy, your home is happy. Just as we protect our bodies to prevent premature damage, we must also do the same for the substructure of our dwelling.

Along with preventative maintenance of the base of our home, we also need to know how to recognize potential trouble before the damage is permanent or becomes more expensive to repair.

What Causes Foundation Damage?

Various soil issues

The soil, the foundation support for every home, is the primary contributor to foundation damage. Excessive moisture can cause soil expansion, leading to foundation walls bowing, pushing inward, or foundation settling, thus causing structural damage. 

Conversely, overly dry soil results in ground shrinkage, which can cause the foundation to settle, cracking the foundation, and also causing structural damage. 

One solution is to water the ground around your home during dry months to prevent foundation damage caused by shrinkage or contraction of the earth. 

Unsuitable construction

Constructing a home necessitates adherence to proper procedures for laying the foundation. If a contractor takes shortcuts or overlooks potential warning signs, it may damage the foundation in the future. Some typical construction mistakes may include inadequate soil preparation and compaction, leading to foundation shifting after pouring. Furthermore, failure to assess the soil type properly to determine its susceptibility to expansion and contraction may result in issues. 

• Grade your home – Proper grading ensures water flows away from your home’s foundation rather than pooling around it. Grading helps prevent water infiltration into the basement or crawlspace, reducing the risk of water damage, mold growth, and structural issues.

• Heavy construction near your home – Excavation and soil compaction can cause the ground to shift or settle unevenly. This uneven movement can stress your foundation, leading to cracks, tilting, or other forms of damage. The foundation can become undermined by construction activities that involve digging trenches or installing underground utilities near your home. If not correctly reinforced or protected, this can weaken the foundation and increase the risk of structural failure.

• Natural disasters – Earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, storm surges, and other weather phenomena can cause much damage to your foundation.

Water settling near home – One of the main reasons foundation damage occurs is water pooling near your home. It takes preventative measures to keep your home happy and healthy, such as:

• Installing gutters and downspout extensions – Gutters collect rainwater from the roof and direct it away from your home’s foundation. Without gutters, rainwater may run down the sides of your house, leading to soil erosion around the foundation and potential water damage to the basement or crawlspace.

• Don’t plant trees too close to home – Beware of letting trees grow too large near your home’s foundation. The bigger the tree, the more water it needs to survive, and the more potential damage to your slab can happen.

• Place your sprinkler system strategically – Your sprinkler system should maintain sufficient moisture in the ground to prevent harm to your foundation. However, it’s essential to strike a balance and avoid oversaturating the foundation and the surrounding soil. Keep your lawn and foundation adequately moist without causing flooding.

• Be aware of leaks – Unexplained increases in water usage could indicate a leak in your plumbing system. By monitoring your water bill, you can identify and address such discrepancies promptly to prevent water waste and potential damage to your property. Leaking plumbing can accumulate excess water around your foundation, resulting in soil erosion. This moisture can cause both the foundation and surrounding soil to shift, potentially leading to foundation settlement. The extent of movement depends on factors such as soil type, density, moisture content before the leak occurred, and the duration of the leak.

What Are Some Potential Signs of Foundation Damage?

Foundation problems manifest themselves in various ways:

• Sticking doors and windows – There are different reasons why you may have trouble opening and closing your doors and windows. If you have some of the following problems on this list, it may be related to foundation damage.

• Drywall cracks – If you’ve observed cracks spanning your drywall, particularly those emanating from the corners of doors and windows, they likely stem from particular foundation issues. When the foundation undergoes shifts that disrupt even weight distribution, one side of the wall may bear too much weight, resulting in drywall cracks along stress lines.

• Drywall nail popping – Nail pops happen when a nail head pushes too close to the drywall’s edge, causing a crack where the nail head protrudes. Foundation settlement is frequently attributed to nail pops, as the movement of the foundation shifts the nail head nearer to the drywall.

• Gaps between the wall and the floor – If one side of the foundation begins to sink, it can distribute uneven weight throughout the home. This imbalance may lead to a gap forming between the wall and the floor. In particular, one side of the floor may become elevated compared to the other, causing the walls to lift and creating a space between them.

• Uneven floors – Uneven floors can stem from various underlying issues, none favorable. Significant foundation problems, such as differential settlement, where one side of a home sinks more than the other, can result in an unsightly problem. Additionally, unsteady floor joists within specific rooms can also contribute to uneven floors. 

• Masonry stair-step cracks – It’s common for cracked bricks to occur when one side of the foundation settles faster. The weight disparity can pull apart the brick walls, causing them to separate.

• Bowed basement walls – When inspecting your basement, the walls should appear straight. If they seem to be bowing inward, it indicates a significant issue. Since basement walls form the structural foundation of your home, inward bowing can compromise the overall structural integrity of your residence.

Don’t Hesitate to Call Us!

Now that you can readily recognize the warning signs of potential damage to your home’s skeletal structure, whether the threat comes from the soil, water, or both, please don’t hesitate to let us help you keep your home happy and healthy.