Things You Shouldn’t Ignore During a Home Renovation in Kansas City

Remodeling a home is no small feat, but the results are all the reward you need for your hard work.

When renovating a home, you may be tempted to address the cosmetic issues because they are more budget friendly than the structural ones. But major issues, like foundation cracks and other related problems, won’t go away.

While you remodel, watch out for these signs that you need to contact a home foundation repair specialist from PierMagic to keep your house standing strong.

Your Home May Need Foundation Repair If You Find These Problems Around Doors and Windows

If you’re replacing your doors and windows as part of your home renovation, then you’ll likely be up close and personal to them when you’re removing them. While you’re so close, take a look at the drywall around them. Drywall is a pretty sensitive material. Even the slightest shift in the foundation can cause cracks to form.

You can tell your drywall is cracking due to foundation settling or problems when the cracks are situated diagonally from the corners of your windows and doors, or if they’re vertical or horizontal, but not necessarily along the seam where two pieces of drywall join together. Your ceiling may also form cracks.

In Kansas City, you can expect your home to settle a bit over time, but if the drywall cracks lengthen or become wide, then you may need a foundation repair solution from PierMagic.

Shifts in your foundation also can cause the openings for your windows and doors to come out of alignment; they may not have 90 degree angles in each corner, for example. You may notice that your doors no longer latch closed, or that your windows don’t slide open and closed as easily. You may even struggle with replacing your windows and doors because even the new ones don’t fit perfectly.

It’s free and easy to adjust your door’s hinges repeatedly, but the cause of the problem must be addressed if you want it to end: a heaving or settling foundation.

When You Need Concrete Foundation Repair, Your Basement Could Become Wet or Have Bowed Walls

If you’re doing a whole-home remodel, then you’ve probably considered finishing the basement to add useful square footage. But some telltale signs of foundation problems are easily spotted down there. Wet basement walls, standing water on the floor, a musty smell, or mold growth in the basement are signs that your house likely has foundation issues.

When water enters your foundation, you need to address the problem from the outside. Not only should you get concrete foundation repair from PierMagic, but you also need a basement waterproofing solution to prevent future problems.

Bowing basement walls occur when pressure from the outside soil becomes too great. A wall can lean either inside or outward and occurs when soil expands or contracts. If you’re noticing bowing or leaning, then it’s likely you already have a fairly severe foundation issue that needs to be addressed.

At this point, a foundation repair is not optional, so you should contact PierMagic to have an expert take a look and suggest solutions - like post-and-pier foundation repair - to keep your home strong and sturdy.

If Your Floors are Uneven, You Likely Need Kansas City Foundation Repair

Certain types of flooring, like luxury vinyl plank, laminate, engineered wood, or hardwood, require flooring that is relatively flat and smooth. If your floor is sagging or uneven, you may not be able to install anything but carpet.

Your foundation provides the structure to your home. When your foundation is damaged, you may notice that your floor sags or is uneven. It can be hard to detect sagging until it’s an obvious problem. A four-foot-long level or even a ping-pong ball can help you determine whether your floor is sagging. Use the level to check for gaps or angles, or put the ball to work for you by setting it in various places around the room and seeing where it rolls.

Add Home Foundation Repair to Your Renovation Budget in Kansas City

Experienced home remodelers know that there’s a very big chance of finding an unexpected problem during the process. Watch any reality home remodeling TV show, and you’ll see what we mean.

Learn from others’ experiences and plan for funds to put toward these surprises, like concrete foundation repair, so that the house you’re working on will stand strong for decades after you’re done with it.

PierMagic, based in Grandview, Missouri, and serving the greater Kansas City metro, offers smart solutions to foundation issues - and our consultations are always free. Call us at (816) 765-4800, or send us an email, and we’ll send a technician to your home to assess your foundation and help you take control of the situation.