Construction & Contractors Blog
If a building with a foundation stands long enough, there is a good chance the foundation will require repairs at some point. You'll want to get on top of foundation repair problems as early as possible when they appear, but how can you tell if there is trouble? These five indications mean it might be time for you to speak with a foundation repair services provider.
Cracks in the Walls
Many people first notice foundation problems some distance from the base of a house. Cracks can form in the walls of the living spaces of a house if the foundation is shifting. That's especially the case if part of the foundation is failing or moving in a different direction from the rest of it.
The cracks can appear in any room of a structure. This includes both upper and lower floors. Understandably, you may also see cracks directly in the walls of the foundation.
Loose Materials
Depending on how and why the foundation is compromised, you may see loose materials around it. The loose materials usually come from water causing erosion in cracks. You'll see a fine powder form near the compromised areas, and it may collect on the floor.
As the level of compromise grows, you might see larger chunks of materials. This occurs because whole pieces start falling out when the cracks remove everything that had supported them.
Musty Odors
Particularly if the cracks aren't creating visible fissures, the signs of trouble may be more subtle. One of the first signs something might be up is a musty odor. This occurs because the cracks let moisture from the soil into the basement. It collects and encourages mold growth, and then you pick up the smells of the mold.
Uneven Floors
As a foundation fails, it can leave one side of a house at a different level than the other. You might notice that if you drop a ball on one part of the floor that it rolls in a different direction than if you put it down elsewhere.
Heaves in the Basement Floor
The pressure of these shifts will eventually cause the larger foundation to form cracks. As this happens, the floor of the basement may crack. The shifts can cause the floor to heave in sections, too.
Generally, this sort of damage is very visible. It's also a strong sign that the issue is advanced and that your building needs foundation repair services right away.
Share6 May 2021
Construction contractors have a very important job. They literally build the structures we live in, work in, and entertain ourselves in. They have control over how these spaces look, and also over how safe these spaces are. Some contractors lay flooring. Others install flooring. Some are generalists and do a bit of everything, from roofing to painting. When you start to understand the nature of a contractor's job, you start to really appreciate all of the buildings around you. It's that appreciation that we really hope shines through as we write this blog to share with you all, our loyal readers.
