6 Signs It’s Time for a Foundation Evaluation

Oct 3, 2024

The foundation is a crucial element of any building, providing support and stability to the structure. When a foundation gets damaged or experiences other issues, it can be hard for the average homeowner to know when to call in the experts for help.

Having your foundation evaluated by a professional is the best way to understand the state of your home. If you’re unsure whether it’s the right time to take this step, we’ve compiled a list of some telltale signs to keep an eye out for.

What is a Foundation Evaluation?

A foundation evaluation is a full assessment of your home’s foundation, including interior and exterior inspection. When an inspector comes to check out your foundation, you can expect it to take a couple of hours while they visually look around your for any key indicators of potential damage or deterioration. They’ll mainly be looking for cracks, water damage and instability around the house’s walls, floors and doorways.

If you’re noticing cracked walls, jamming doors, uneven floors or a strong mildew odor around your home, it’s probably time to get it checked out.

How Often Should a Foundation Be Inspected?

While you should seek out a professional assessment as soon as you start seeing potential issues, regular inspections can also help nip some of these potential problems in the bud and avoid larger repairs in the future.

Realistically, most homeowners shouldn’t need a professional inspection more than every year or every few years unless they notice signs of a damaged foundation.

Alora Bopray and Roxanne Downer, Today’s Homeowner

6 Signs You Need an Evaluation

Your home has several ways of telling you when it’s time for a closer look at the foundation. Below are six signs that you might need an inspection.

#1: Cracked, Warped or Separating Walls

One of the most visible signs of foundation issues are interior or exterior cracks in your walls, including warped and damaged siding on the home’s exterior.

Small hairline cracks are common and not typically anything to worry about, but cracks wider than a quarter of an inch or those forming a zig-zag pattern can point to foundation problems. Significant warping can also lead to greater problems, causing cabinets and counters to separate and excessive moisture to build up between crevices.

The direction and location of cracks can also tell you a lot about why they’re forming. Diagonal or horizontal cracks, rifts along the floor or ceiling and peeling wallpaper are all worth a closer look.

#2: Uneven Floors and Sticking Doors

Another early warning sign of foundation trouble is flooring that slopes, sags or bounces in certain areas. Visible cracks may also form in your floor as it shifts. While no floor will remain perfectly smooth and even forever, major warping means it’s time to make a phone call.

An uneven foundation can also cause doors to get stuck and prevent them from opening and closing properly. Humidity can also temporarily warp door frames and lead to sticking, but long-term jamming and significant swelling in the wood may mean that your foundation is the culprit.

#3: Strong Mold Or Mildew Odor

Mold and mildew can grow inside homes for a variety of reasons. Common factors include damaged water pipes, roof leaks, high humidity and poor ventilation. If you notice a consistent smell coming from your crawl space or basement, this is likely due to moisture that has built up within the cracks of the home’s foundation.

Further rotting and pest problems can be caused by mold and mildew, along with respiratory issues from airborne spores.

#4: Dry Soil Around the Foundation

Oklahoma’s clay soil can present a challenge to your home’s foundation as it hardens and cracks in the scorching summer months, leading to settling and sinking.

If temperatures have hit over 100 degrees several days in a row, it’s recommended that you use a garden hose to keep the soil damp. However, avoiding overwatering is important, as that can cause erosion.

#5: Recent Severe Weather or Natural Disaster

Mother Nature doesn’t always like to play nice with man-made structures. Tornados, large storms, flooding, harsh frost and earthquakes can all harm a home’s foundation.

Precipitation

Heavy precipitation tends to saturate the soil around a home and lead to sinking. Water can also seep into any gaps in the foundation and collect over time, further weakening its stability.

Earthquakes

When an earthquake occurs, a building’s foundation can get shaken up and potentially damaged. After any seismic activity, even if it’s small, it’s a good idea to take a look at your home’s bricks, chimney and concrete base to see if any fissures have formed.

Tornadoes

While tornados can wreak havoc on structures in obvious and direct ways, there are also some lesser-known ways that they can impact your home. When trees around your property are uprooted by a twister’s intense winds, their roots are ripped from deep within the ground. Because tree roots often reach beneath a home’s surface, they can push through the foundation and destabilize the surrounding soil upon removal.

#6: It’s Been a While

Regular foundation inspections are an important part of ongoing home maintenance. Even if you haven’t noticed any issues or experienced any recent weather events, assessments should be made periodically to make sure everything is still in shape.

A bit of wear and tear is natural, and foundations should be examined every few years for upkeep if your home is newer and built on stable ground. However, more regular checkups are necessary If your house is over 50 years old. It’s recommended that historic homes are inspected yearly.

What Happens After an Evaluation?

So you’ve had your foundation checked by a professional, but now what? If problems were identified, now is the time to start planning for the repairs. If fixes are delayed, existing damage can get even worse over time.

Depending on the nature of the issues, costs and timeframes for completion can vary. It’s important to check with your insurance provider to see what types of damage are covered before proceeding with a plan of action.

As of June 2024, Oklahoma homeowners have the lowest average annual home maintenance cost at $4,844.

Are You Worried About Your Foundation?

Home maintenance and repair can be a headache, which is why it helps to have the support of an experienced professional team. If you’ve noticed any of the warning signs mentioned above or haven’t had your foundation checked in a while, we’re ready to take a detailed look.

Schedule your free foundation evaluation with Triton today to keep your home healthy for years to come.