Types of Foundation Damage

A foundation failure can exhibit itself in a number of ways. Some types of foundation damage are easy to see, such as cracks in the wall. Others, however, are not so obvious (loosened plumbing under the house which in turn causes slow leaks). Below, we'll look at several types of damage caused by a moving or broken foundation.

Cracks in one or more walls

If you find cracks in your walls, then that's a sign that there is a fundamental shift in at least part of the wall and one part is pulling away from another or one wall is pulling away from another. This can happen when part of your foundation shifts (by moving sideways, downward or upward, or both) yet the whole structure doesn't move in the same direction at the same speed. In other words, part of the house has moved horizontally or vertically and the rest hasn't.

Stuck Doors and Windows

Doors and windows get stuck in their frames when the frames are no longer square. In some cases, the frame is narrower at one end than the other. In other cases, the frame can be twisted. With the naked eye, you might not be able to see these deformations in the door frame or window frame, but the door or the window can certainly tell the difference. If the door gets lodged in the frame and won't open or it won't close all the way without hitting the frame, then the door frame is out of square. If the window is stuck shut or won't open all the way, then the window frame is not square. Much like the cracked walls discussed above, bent door and window frames can be caused by a foundation shifting. Indeed, bent frames are often found in cracked walls because a shift in the wall can cause a frame to go out of square.

Cracked or Loose Floor Tiles

Homeowners have a surprising capacity to overlook cracks in the walls because the cracks happen slowly. They may even paint over the cracks and ignore them as long as the crack stays covered (usually, not for too long). As for stuck doors and windows, homeowners will mentally note a stuck door or window and learn to work around it. Cracked floor tiles are something altogether different. It's always annoying to step over a loose tile and a cracked tile stares you in the face every time you walk into the room.

Cracked or popped tiles indicate the foundation is buckling, bulging, or sinking.

Creaking Sounds, Popping Sounds

Most of us had been in bed late at night and heard an occasional creak and said, "Well, the house is settling." If your house creaks fairly often and especially if you hear popping noises, then the house -- at least part of it -- is definitely settling! The popping you hear is most likely the joists, beams, and/or studs moving or cracking as pressure is put on certain parts of the structure. You might also hear a floor tile, stone work, and other items cracking or coming loose. This pressure on your home is not good. When parts of the house move one way while other parts move the other way, it means your home is pulling apart or one part is pushing against another. This movement and those strange sounds are often signs of foundation problems.

A spike in you water bill


If your water bill goes up yet you're not using any more water than usual, it's possible that there's a leak in your plumbing. If you've looked about your home and not found any water any where (don't forget to check in the yard, too!), then the leak may be underground. This can happen when the soil shifts and a water pipe cracks or it pulls apart at a fitting. This can also happen when the foundation ships and cracks the pipe or a fitting. Not only does this waste water and run up your utility bill, it can further damage your house by soaking the soil in or around the foundation, causing it to wash away or to push upwards. If your water goes up for no apparent reason, call a plumber and have them run a test.

Ask Us About Your Home


Do you see one or more of the symptoms mentioned above? Do you see anything else that concerns you? Don't forget that you can ask us anything about foundation repair. There's no obligation and there's no sales pitch. We'll answer your question via telephone (if you leave your phone number) or email. So, ask away!

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.