Blogging About Builders

If you live in an older home, you may worry that the foundation of the house may start to crack or crumble. However, since you do not see any obvious damage while looking at the structure and do not see any evidence of water leaks, you may believe that the foundation is sound.

Even if you do not see any overt signs of damage, this does not necessarily mean that the foundation is still solid. There are a couple of subtle signs to look for inside your home. These signs could indicate that the foundation is shifting and may be in need of repair.

1. Doors on the Bottom Floor of Your House Have Started to Stick

One subtle sign to look for foundation trouble is when you start to have trouble opening and closing the doors on your bottom floor. Because the doors stick, you may have to use some force to pull them open or get them to shut properly.

If the foundation has started to shift, the walls and door jams will start to become misaligned. When this happens, the doors will not easily open and close as they should.

2. Cracks Have Started to Form Diagonally Around the Corners of the Interior Windows and Doors

Besides sticking doors, another sign that your foundation needs professional attention is the presence of cracks around the interior corners of the windows and doors. Typically, these cracks will start from the corners and branch out diagonally from the frames.

As the walls that rest on the foundation shift along with the usually stabilizing structure, the weakest points such as those found around openings in the walls will start to pull away. As a result, the cracks will start to form. These cracks will only get bigger as the foundation shifts if nothing is done about the underlying problem.

If the foundation has started to shift to the point that it is causing damage to the windows, doors, and walls of your home's interior, there is most likely extreme damage even though you may not see it outside your home. Eventually, the damage will lead to water leaks and crumbling of the structure if these issues are not already present. If you believe that this may be the case, contact a foundation repair contractor in your area to have your foundation fully inspected. They can also help you develop a plan of action to remedy any problems they may find.