Residential Foundation Inspection
We all are so busy with life that we think about our foundations about as often as we think about having a root canal, that is until we observe or feel the big hurt. Like a root canal, foundations don’t get our attention until they cause problems, such as cracked and buckled walls, floors that aren’t level, badly sticking doors, sticking windows, nails coming loose from drywall, cracking drywall, cracks around fireplace, noticeable cracks in bricks and mortar, and so on.
When you observe the slightest one of these signs, don’t hesitate to do the same thing you would do if your tooth is aching, do something about it. If a door or window is sticking, don’t jump to the conclusion that you have a foundation problem. There could be many reasons for this such as the wood may not be completely sealed and is swelling due to a change of seasons. Look for other signs of damage before you assume you have foundation problems.
Settling occurs when the soil under the concrete contracts, expands, or shifts, usually due to a change in water content. If your contractor didn’t assure that the sub-straight was all the same type of soil, there could be a differential in expansion. Some soil is expansive and some collapses, therefore when you have multiply types of soil, you are sure to have problems. Eliminate the water and you usually stop the settling. However, as a rule it is best to keep the moisture content the same around the perimeter of your foundation.
Different parts of the country present different soil conditions. Local builders and architects should make it their business to perform soil tests prior to making foundation sub-straight recommendations. The very best sub-straight is what we call select fill or sandy loam; it is a stable soil that can be 98% compacted making it an excellent pad for your foundation to set on.
Don’t over-react
Sometimes these cracks are a big deal and need to dealt with, but most of the time they are normal behavior. In most cases, these cracks shouldn’t alarm you because they don’t suggest any kind of foundation failure and are normal settling conditions.
Category: Home maintenance, Uncategorized
