Your home is one of your most valuable assets, and your home’s foundation is the literal bedrock that determines the integrity and longevity of the entire structure of the home. Problems with your home’s foundation can lead to snowballing damage, and may even pose a health and safety risk.
If your home’s foundation is sinking or “settling,” you are probably wondering what you should do. Some foundation settling is normal, particularly in older homes. But how can you know if the foundation movement you’re experiencing is cause for alarm?
Here at Zablocki Waterproofing, we provide home and commercial building owners in Milwaukee with expert foundation repair and basement repair services. Here is our handy guide to understanding the difference between normal foundation settling and troubling foundation issues.
What does “foundation settling” mean?
The foundation of most homes is constructed by pouring concrete over steel beams, which exerts tremendous pressure on the soil below and around it. When a house is built, a small amount of foundation settling is to be expected as the structure embeds itself into the ground.
Over time, soil movement and pressure can cause additional foundation movement. Wisconsin’s rain and snow infuse moisture into the soil, causing it to expand and contract, putting pressure onto a home’s foundation. Again, a small amount of foundation settling and movement is not cause for alarm, but too much movement can cause big problems. Cracks, buckling, upheaval, stuck windows and doors, cabinets that come away from the walls, mold and mildew growth – these are all potential outcomes from too much foundation movement.
By acting quickly when you notice common signs of foundation settling and movement, you can significantly reduce the severity of the damage.
Foundation settling: When to call in an expert
If you notice any of the following signs of foundation settling damage, call an expert (like Zablocki) for a consultation as soon as possible.
- Water seeping into your basement or crawlspace through cracks in the floor, walls, or around windows and doors. The presence of water in a basement indicates that the foundation is likely damaged and requires repair.
- Foundation upheaval – when a concrete foundation pushes upward in one or more places.
- Foundation walls that no longer align with the structure of the home they support.
- For concrete block foundations, cracks in the mortar joints, bowing, or bulging.
- Cracks larger than 1/16th of an inch in diameter in poured concrete basements.
- A cracked or leaning chimney.
- Uneven, sagging, or upheaved interior floors.
- Gaps between exterior doors and windows and the siding of the home.
- Interior doors and windows that do not open or close properly or that show significant gaps around their perimeter.
- Interior molding and trim that has separated from walls and doors.
- Cabinets and countertops that have pulled away from the wall.
All of these warning signs indicate that your foundation has likely settled too far and needs repair. Trust us when we say that none of these issues will improve over time without addressing the underlying foundation problem.
How to fix foundation settling
If your home is experiencing foundation settling that is causing any of the issues above, it’s time to call in an expert to diagnose the issue and perform a repair. Options for fixing these issues include excavating the ground around the foundation and shoring up basement walls with steel beams. If the issue is basement moisture, there are a variety of waterproofing options for both the interior and exterior of the basement or crawlspace. For foundations that are extensively damaged, it may be necessary to fully rebuild.
We’ve said it once but we will say it again: a damaged foundation will not fix itself. That’s why it’s crucial to address foundation issues as soon as you notice them. Doing so will prevent further damage and higher costs down the road.
Foundation settling happens more often in older homes, which are common in Milwaukee. Newer homes that were built on unstable soil or experience extreme weather (like we do here in Wisconsin) can also experience foundation settling.
While it’s certainly not the most fun home maintenance project, it pays to protect your foundation. Here at Zablocki Waterproofing, we proudly serve customers across Milwaukee and surrounding communities with foundation repair, basement repair, basement wall repair, and a whole menu of waterproofing services. Give us a call to schedule your FREE consultation today.
