When you have a foundation problem, you want to make sure you know about it as early as possible. The sooner you notice foundation problems, the more likely it is that you can fix them without serious invasive and difficult measures. If you are dealing with foundation problems, you need to know this early on. This means you need to be on the lookout for warning signs.
Here are some common warning signs that JESWork Baltimore as a basement repair expert has noticed.
1. Sloping floors
Most of the time, a floor has to be very sloping before you can notice it as a homeowner. If you have a floor sloping enough that you find furniture moving and having problems maintaining balance, you are almost certainly having problems with the foundation. Sloping floors are most common because there is a problem with the floor joists that causes them to bend under the weight of the house. Eventually, this can lead to serious foundation problems and even cause the floors to collapse if not corrected.
2. Cracks in the drywall
If you have cracks in the drywall of the general house, especially if the cracks are bad enough to be evident in the wall as a whole, there is likely a structural problem. Most of the time, these cracks are due to a household weight distribution problem. If the house settles so that the house is slightly inclined, the drywall may rise slightly from the ground from one side, creating significant structural tension. This can cause cracks in the drywall, indicating that there is a fundamental problem.
3. Glue doors and windows
When you open and close doors and windows, do you notice that they don't fit properly in their frames? Does it seem like you really have to work hard to put the doors and windows back into their frames? This is known as "sticking" and is a problem that many people simply overlook. However, this usually happens when the house settles down and the door and window frames warp. If you settle down to the extent that your doors and windows begin to warp, it can indicate a serious underlying problem and is unlikely to stop there.
4. Problems with concrete around the house
Most concrete requires some maintenance to stay completely healthy. If you never maintain your concrete and you notice small cracks and discoloration, it doesn't necessarily mean there is a serious problem with your foundation as you may simply not have serviced the concrete. However, if you see significant cracks, bumps in your concrete, and concrete sinking to one side, there may be a problem with the floor beneath the concrete. This is the same floor as under your house, so it can indicate serious foundation problems.
5. Serious waterproofing problems in the basement
The basement is a place that many people never visit, which means that many people ignore it. However, there are many serious problems a basement can encounter. What if you notice high humidity, stale air, efflorescence, and even mold in your basement? The bad news is that there is usually a problem with your foundation, but the good news is that this is not a normal part of a basement and you can fix it. All they have to do is bring in a basement repair expert to help you with this.
Conclusion
These are all signs that you can notice for yourself. You don't need an expert to help you figure out that you have a basic problem, although you may need one to help you fix the problem. Keep an eye out for these warning signs in the basement so that you can call in the experts as soon as you become aware of the problem and reduce the issues you might otherwise have with basic concerns.