A solid foundation is needed to keep a home on steady ground. You may have overlooked this concrete structure at the base of your house and failed to notice problems that your foundation might have. A cracked or otherwise damaged foundation can cause serious issues for your home even if the damage seems minor at first. By scheduling professional foundation repair services, you may avoid the following problems with your home.
Improper House Settling
Settling, which refers to how a home's structural materials move slightly over time, is a natural process, but foundation damage or an improperly constructed base could negatively affect how your house settles. If your house isn't settling correctly because of a problematic foundation, additional foundation damage as well as damage to other parts of your home can occur. The bottom of your home could even sink into the ground if foundation problems aren't fixed. By getting your foundation repaired, you won't have to worry as much about damage when your home settles.
Interior and Exterior Cracks
The instability of a damaged foundation may be putting greater stress on certain parts of your home and cause these areas to crack. Exterior cracks in the foundation and outside walls is often the first sign of a foundation problem. You may also notice cracks in your home's interior drywall. If you have tile flooring, cracks could form in the tiles if your foundation is damaged. Even small cracks can grow bigger and cause widespread damage to a foundation, and foundation repair experts can seal any cracks in your foundation to keep these fissures from spreading.
Warped Floors and Walls
Parts of homes that sink or shift out of place can put extra stress on floors and walls and bend these structures out of shape. Your floors or walls may bow inward or outward because of foundation issues, and these problems could also warp your home's siding. A leaning wall is another sign that you possibly need foundation repair service. If too much stress is placed on these warped materials, they could break and create a dangerous situation in your home.
Water Damage
Water can damage your foundation, but water damage to other parts of the home can result from an inadequate foundation. Basements and crawlspaces are especially susceptible to water damage if moisture leaks through foundation cracks. Water leaks can also come from pipes that get damaged from a foundation that's unstable and causes materials around the pipes to shift out of place.
A secure foundation can help you maintain the rest of your home better for the long term. If you need any type of foundation repair service, residential foundation repair contractors with the right tools can do all the work and save you from breaking a sweat.
Contact a foundation repair contractor for more information.