Is Your Home's Foundation In Good Shape?

If you own a home, it is essential to learn what to look for when it comes to the structural integrity of its foundation

. Having building inspectors look things over every once in a while is always a smart move, but there are plenty of things that you can keep your eyes out for as well. Catching potential problems early on can help you avoid very costly repairs down the road.

Foundations and Footings: The Basics -

By having a basic understanding of how foundations and footings work can make it much easier to determine if they are in a in a decent shape or not. Basically, the walls of a foundation are connected to the tops of a home's footings. The foundation bears the weight of a house all the way down to its footings. In turn, the footings carry the weight down into the surrounding soil. In this way, the foundation and footings of a home really are its backbone.

Types of Cracks -

Cracks are the main thing to be on the lookout for when inspecting a home's foundation. Superficial, hairline cracks that don't go all the way through to the other side are generally nothing to worry about. Cracks that go through from one side to another are a different story. Cracks can occur for a number of different reasons, including settling, lateral force, uneven loads or heaving. Earthquakes and other natural phenomena can also cause cracks in a home's foundation.

Occasionally looking over your home's foundation is one of the best ways to catch a problem before it becomes dire. Although a pest inspection company will take a look at your home's foundation, it's important to realise that they will not include their observations on their completed report. That's because a home's footings and foundation do not fall under the property inspection guidelines. If spotted, you'll be alerted to any potential problems, but what you do about them will be entirely up to you.

Things to look for when it comes to a home's foundation include:

Wall Cracking - When accompanied by defects in the foundation, cracks in the walls of a home can be indicative of a problem. By themselves, though, they aren't generally causes for concern.

Misaligned Windows and Doors - The settling of a foundation can cause gaps and misalignment in doors and windows. Look at the point where they close for gaps and other misalignments.

Tilting or Sloping Floors - If a floor in your home seems to tilt or slope, use a level to double check it. Make a note of your findings for future inspections as well.

by: Eva Judge

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