3 Common Signs of Foundation Issues and Waterproofing Needs

As a long-time homeowner, you understand the importance of a foundation inspection. This is especially the case if you have lived in a house, or if the home is older, than 15 years. If you're a new homeowner, it’s important to be aware of the early signs of foundation issues in your house. 

In most cases, you’ll find signs of foundation issues in the basement, but they can be spotted elsewhere as well. Let’s dive in and take a look at the common signs of foundation issues and waterproofing needs. 

1. Cracks 

This point might be the most obvious, but it’s also among the most common. However, what might be less common is the fact that cracks can appear anywhere. New homeowners might limit their casual inspection to cracks in the basement floor, walls, or around doors and windows. Cracks around many areas of the home can be an early sign of foundation issues as well. 

Cracks in the basement walls indicate that your foundation is settling. This might not be an emergency currently, but it should be inspected and addressed in a timely fashion. This can also signal other issues. The longer these cracks go unrepaired, the more damage they could eventually cause, resulting in greater repair costs 

Further, foundational cracks can happen on the exterior of the house as well as the interior. It’s common for homeowners to check the basement, but also check your exterior walls. You will commonly see a zig-zag pattern appear. And while vertical cracks can occur, horizontal cracks are more worrisome. 

2. Warping 

When you notice parts of your home are warping, it is likely an early sign of foundation issues. Warping is a result of too much moisture and can appear in many forms. A common example is bowing floors, walls, or cabinets. 

Another example might be doors that stick because of tighter or obscured door frames. The same can be true of window frames. Now, it’s common that doors and windows stick in the warmer months when there is more humidity in the air. But if you are noticing above-average tightness, it might be a sign of a foundation issue. This should be an easy indicator to call a foundation repair specialist because the issue is visible and causing annoyances. 

3. Drainage 

It is no secret that poor drainage leads to water damage, which can result in foundational problems. But like the cracks, make sure to look outside of the home for the problem as well as inside the home. 

Water coming into your basement in any way could mean you need waterproofing solutions. But the same is true of water pooling near your house outside. This happens for a variety of reasons. Sometimes people don’t have a proper gutter system, while other times they have a yard slope causing problems. You should trust a foundation and waterproofing expert to come out and assess the situation and provide the most suitable interior or exterior drainage solutions. 

If you notice sitting water near your home, this is an early sign of a foundation issue. Make sure water is sloping away from your home at all times. And this is as true for rainwater as it is for watering the plants near your home. 

Contact the Professionals 

When it comes to early signs of foundation issues, it's important to get in front of the problem before it becomes a more expensive and intensive situation. Have the professional team at PierMagic take a look. An inspection can put your mind at ease and let you know the severity of your foundation settlement. 

And if there is a problem, then there’s no time like the present to have it handled. Protect your family and home with our expert residential foundation repair service.