- Doors that will not
open or close properly
- Gaps at the corner
of fascia trim
- Diagonal cracks in
the wall at corners of doors and windows
- Gaps between the
garage door and the pavement at either side
of the garage door
- Windows that are
hard to open and close
- Cracks in the
exposed grade beam of the house
- Cracks in bricks and
mortar
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|
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| Cracks
in brick and mortar |
Interior indications of
foundation problems
- Unlevel Floors
- Large cracks in the
concrete slab
- Gaps above kitchen
cabinets
- Cabinet doors that
will not stay shut
- Diagonal cracks in
the wall at corners of doors and windows
- Curling and tearing
of existing sheetrock repairs
- Leaks and cracks in
and around the fireplace
Exterior or interior indications of foundation
problems could be caused by either settlement or
upheaval. Settlement means a portion of the
house foundation has dropped below the original
foundation elevation. This occurs due to a loss
of soil bearing capacity caused by compaction of
fill, loss of moisture in the supporting soil,
or due to the erosion of the supporting soil. In
many cases, settlement originates and is more
pronounced at the perimeter of the slab since
the slab perimeter is the most susceptible to
loss of moisture and differential moisture
conditions.
Upheaval means the slab has risen above the
original foundation elevation. This happens most
often due to the introduction of moisture under
the foundation. The most frequent cause of this
moisture is a plumbing leak under the slab. The
most common leak is on the drain side of the
plumbing system.
Note that some damage is strictly
"cosmetic" damage that does not
interfere with the foundations load bearing
capacity. These "cosmetic" items could
be cracks in floor tiles, cracks in sheetrock,
etc. A qualified foundation repair contractor or
a structural engineer can help you determine if
the problems you are faced with are cosmetic or
will require foundation repair.
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