During your life, purchasing a house is probably the most expensive investment you will make. To know that your investment isn’t being wasted, you need to be a hundred percent sure that everything is in perfect condition. This mainly includes the foundation and the structure of the house as it is comparatively difficult to bring improvements in it or fix it.
If the foundation issues are left unchecked, they can lead to significant damage to the property and life. For example, consider a situation in which you’re standing next to a wall that does not have a solid foundation and structure, and it collapses on you. You might undergo a lot of injuries due to this. In addition to that, the foundation and structural repairs of any building tend to be extremely costly if they are not resolved on time.
Keeping that in mind, it is a wise decision to educate yourself so that you can identify issues related to the foundation and structure of a building. Doing so will help you to save yourself from future problems.
1. Doors and Windows That Are Too Tight or Loose
At the time of the construction of a building, the doors and windows are fitted and positioned according to the walls. However, after a few years, if the foundation settles and the wall shifts or wraps, the doors and the windows will not fit perfectly.
Due to this very reason, the doors and window sills may become cracked and may develop openings that won’t stay closed. In some cases, the doors stick and don’t open or close properly due to humidity. The gap between the foundation and door can widen over time due to any reason, whether it’s harsh weather conditions, increased humidity, or even if there’s no external factor acting- the gap might continue to widen.
If the foundation is weak and continues to crack over time, the windows and doors will not close entirely due to the widening gap that will prevent them from fitting into their actual place.
2. Sagging Ceiling and Warping Flooring
The flooring of your house is precisely parallel to the foundation that was laid on your home. Not only this, but the ceiling is also parallel. Therefore, alarming changes in the ceiling or flooring represent problems in the structural foundation.
· When you see your floor getting cracked or sagged, there is a high chance the foundation is weak.
A sagging ceiling represents a weak foundation and hints that there might be some water leakage in the internal pipes. Usually, a sagging roof or floor is observed in the basement floor or any subfloor constructed using beam or pier foundation.
3. Any Visible External Damage to Walls
Cracks, mold, decay, or any stain on the wall isn’t always because of extreme climatic changes; it is a significant indicator of your compromised foundation. Small cracks are not that serious; however, significant gaps, especially those with a diagonal or zig-zag pattern that covers almost the entire height of the wall, must be checked.
· Moreover, if a wallpaper also pulls away from the wall or cracks at the junction of two adjoining walls, these are signs of severe internal foundation damage.
· These cracks can widen in both length and depth with time- threatening the overall strength of the foundation if not treated immediately.
The weak foundation causes the walls to lose their strength and support, resulting in them getting crumpled or warped. When the walls fissure due to compromised structural construction, it increases the risk of the wall getting collapsed, which can have fatal consequences.
4. Cracks or Gaps in Tiles
Even though the tiles are too brittle and heavy to expand or dislocate, at times, due to issues with the foundation, they can get cracked or develop wide gaps between the adjoining points. When too many cracked tiles appear in any area, whether it’s the kitchen, bathroom, or lounge area, it is clear that something is structurally wrong. Another cause of cracks in tile is poor drainage.
· If moisture or soil is getting to your tile, it drastically affects your foundation- resulting in uneven flooring and other structural problems.
Moreover, the warping flooring can also result in tiles getting cracked. One foundation issue leads to another; in short, any cracks in tiles or flooring signify that your foundation is not solid or tensile enough.
5. Expansion Joint Separation
Before a foundation is laid, the expansion joint is installed at various house points. There is greater exposure to extreme climatic changes, including humidity levels, temperature, wind, storms, and flooding.
· In severe cases, bricks or cement may protrude from the wall, further increasing the suspicion that the wall is getting collapsed.
The expansion joint allows frequent expansion and contraction without risking the integrity of the foundation. However, when a foundation is weak, the joint fails and results in severe cracking. With time, if not repaired, this can cause the entire foundation to fail as well.
Conclusion
Problems in the foundation can arise due to several reasons, and apart from these five main signs, you might come across many other alarming indicators. The key to preventing these critical structural problems is never to ignore any sign of damage and always make sure to get it repaired or replaced on time.
Timely repairs and maintenance must be done as not only is the integrity of the entire foundation at risk, but the tensile support is also under threat.