As a tenant or homeowner, you may worry about how you’ll identify different signs of foundation problems. It’s a great concern. Considering the way Kenyan contractors disregard its importance.
Your home’s structural integrity depends on the strength of your foundation. It supports everything else (walls, windows, floors, doorways, roof) so when it’s damaged, it can cause serious problems to your house.
Detecting Warning Signs Early is Key
Your foundation is subject to environmental stress. Over time, environmental stress causes it to shift, crack or settle unevenly. And we often miss the early signs of damage. Nonetheless, the signs are obvious:
Uneven and sagging floors
Sagging flooring can be related directly to foundation problems. In addition, shifting soil, humidity from water spillage and inadequate waterproofing can contribute to floor issues.
Cracked walls
You can fix cracks in walls. However, there is often another issue with the soil movement under the foundation, hydrostatic pressure and poor water drainage.
Crooked doors
When your foundation settles, cracks or shifts, problems such as crooked doors develop in the house. Like flooring and wall issues, crooked doors may occur because of moisture issues.
Standing water under house
You should divert rainwater away from the house via gutters, properly directed downspouts and drainage systems. Therefore, Improper drainage often causes water to collect under the house, resulting in foundation problems.
Tile Cracks
Tiles happen to be brittle. Although, many things can cause tile cracks. If there are too many tile cracks in the kitchen, bathroom or wherever they are, this might be a sign of foundation trouble.
Expansion Joint Separation
The expansion joint is installed in a structure to compensate for movement caused by the shifting of the earth, changes in the temperature, humidity, wind and other events. A failing foundation can cause such expansion joint separation that the joint fails, which can cause widespread cracking.
Door Frame/Window Frame Separation from Brick
A window or door frame that’s pulling away from the brick wall is a big sign that the foundation is in trouble.
Do remember the longer you wait to treat visible signs of damage, the more severe it becomes. Left untreated, minor cracks and leaks turn into serious structural issues that compromise the value and overall health of your home.
Foundation problems create several issues throughout the home regardless of the type. Fortunately, most of these problems are rarely invisible, but signs need to be recognized as early as possible to fix them quickly.
