Foundation check
Let’s hope this is one task that’s not all it’s cracked up to be! While some foundation problems are more obvious — like a split in the concrete — many times you can notice subtle hints before it comes to that. Let’s take a look around your home to see if your biggest asset is on solid footing.
If your floors are so uneven that your chair slides away from the dinner table, you likely know that you have a foundation problem. Huge cracks in your exterior basement walls are also a blinking red light. Most homes, though, aren’t screaming that there’s a problem but are whispering softly. We’ll walk you through some of the subtle ways your home is telling you that it could use some help.
We’re going to show you a few things to check for inside your home, but we also recommend that you do a separate walkthrough of the exterior of your home to look for cracks and other signs that your foundation may be in trouble.
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Your windows are a view into the health of your home’s foundation. Let’s take a walk around to look at your windows. Do you see gaps around your windows? Are your windows getting consistently harder to close? Are any of them impossible to latch? Do you have mildew in the corners of your windows?
Next, let’s check out your exterior doors. Similarly, let’s see if there are gaps around the frame. Do your doors stick even when it’s not particularly humid where you live? Are any of them difficult to latch? Are the door frames uneven?
Any of these signs could indicate that you might have a foundation problem and you should investigate further.
COUNTEROFFER
Now let’s take a look around your kitchen before swinging through the rest of the house. Are your cabinets or countertops leaning or pulling away from the walls? This can be a sign that your walls are uneven, which may indicate that your foundation is having issues too.
Take a look around at the floors in your home. Are your floors level and solid, or are they sagging or slanted? If you’re not sure, you can always pull out a level to check and see. If the floors are growing less even or you notice stair-step crack in your floor, it’s time to get your foundation checked out.
COME ON DOWN
If your home has a basement, take a peek down there. Does it smell musty or mildewy? This can be a sign that you have water getting inside which could be due to foundation issues. If you’re not noticing other signs of foundation problems, however, it might be a sign that you have a gutter back up and that’s an easier and cheaper place to start. Are your gutters clear and free-flowing? If not, it’s time to clean them. If that doesn’t fix your mildew issue, take the time to investigate further.
One other important sign of a foundation issue is an unstable chimney. This can be dangerous year-round even when the fireplace is not in use because it can collapse and hurt your family. If your chimney is looking a little off or has shifted noticeably, it’s important for you to get it repaired and stabilized while investigating the source of the problem.
Nice job completing this task! By investing just a few minutes of your time each week into maintaining your home, you are protecting your investment. Likely, you found that your home is in good shape, but if not we’re here to help.