The foundation of your home is exactly that – it supports your entire house. So, when the foundation develops issues, you must repair them immediately. If you have noticed signs of foundation issues in your home and you would like to get a quick, easy quote from your local professional, enter your zip code above and tell us a little about your project.
How To Identify Foundation Issues
When the foundation under your home begins to deteriorate, you’ll notice signs around your home. Indicators of foundation issues include cracks in the walls, floors, and columns. You also might see misalignment in the doors and window frames, where the door doesn’t seem to line up with the frame, making it difficult to open the door. In addition, you might notice bowing in your basement walls, where the walls seem tobend inward, or sagging crawl space floors. There might be water damage throughout lower portions of your home, especially in your basement, as water seeps through cracks in the foundation.
Outside your home, your chimney might lean to the side, and the front porch or stoop might seem as though it sits lower than normal.
If you’re not sure if your home has foundation issues or not, you can hire a structural engineer to assess it. They can determine if there are any problems and recommend the best solutions.
Common Causes Of Foundation Damage
Foundation problems can arise from various occurrences, but a few common causes are familiar to foundation repair companies.
In dry seasons, the soil contracts, but in wet seasons, the soil expands. This contraction and expansion throughout the seasons cause the foundation to rise and fall, leading to damage. Water that has drained toward your foundation may freeze year after year causing the wall to crack.
Alternatively, your home’s foundation might sit on poorly compacted fill soil. The fill soil underneath a new foundation is essential, as loose soil will eventually settle, causing issues with the foundation.
Sometimes, the problems might stem from a plumbing leak hiding beneath the slab. When this happens, water seeps into the soil underneath your home, eventually compromising the foundation’s structural integrity if it goes unchecked.
Another common problem associated with foundation damage is tree roots beneath the foundation. If you have large trees surrounding your home, it’s possible for them to sap the water from the soil under your home, leaving the earth dry and shriveled. This can cause the foundation to settle unevenly, causing cracks and damage throughout your home.
How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost?
The cost of repairing a damaged foundation fluctuates drastically based on the severity of the issue. On average, homeowners should expect to pay anywhere from $2500 and $8,717 to have professionals repair their foundations. However, this number may fluctuate based on how extensive the damage is.
For minor repairs, homeowners might pay as little as $1000. However, more extensive repairs can cost up to $20,000, especially if the repair requires hydraulic piers.
The longer it takes to complete the repair, the more expensive the total will be. Foundation issues often lead to settled floors, misaligned doors, cracked interior walls, and in severe cases, collapsed ceilings and burst pipes.
In some scenarios, the foundation damage may be irreversible, so repairs are unnecessary, as they cannot fix the damage. In those cases the walls may need to be replaced.
What Happens If You Don’t Fix Foundation Issues?
Structural Damage
If left unchecked, foundation issues can lead to extensive structural damage. Doors and windows may develop gaps and not close properly, floors might dip or round, and walls might crack. The longer the problem persists, the more issues you’ll notice throughout your home. Foundation issues do not get better by ignoring them.
Eventually, ceilings, upstairs walls, wooden beams, and attached garages may begin to display the effects of your home’s foundation issues. In severe cases, ceilings can collapse, and cracked walls will become the norm, making your home unsafe to stay in.
Plumbing Issues
Foundation issues pose a significant threat to plumbing throughout your home. This is especially true for pier and beam foundations, where pipes can become intertwined with the foundation.
With slab foundations, issues can lead to damaged plumbing as the slab shifts, potentially snapping pipes throughout your home. Pinpointing this issue can be tricky, especially when the problem lies beneath your home. Generally, you’ll need professional assistance to diagnose this issue. The problem can even plague the pipes running through your walls and beneath floors, as shifting foundations can place stress in these areas by causing structural displacement throughout your home.
Water Damage
If you have a basement, water can seep through the basement walls, causing damage to flooring, furniture, walls, and other structures throughout the space. The longer the moisture remains a problem, the higher the likelihood of mold and mildew growth in your basement. Certain types of mold and mildew can cause cold-like symptoms, including nasal stuffiness, coughing, asthma, eye and throat irritation, and similar respiratory complications.
After all is said and done a free inspection by out trained professionals at Kentuckiana Contracting services is a safe, and best way to be assured your home is stable.