Issues with a home’s base may result in expensive repairs or property damage if not caught early. The base is the base or supporting structure the home is situated on over the ground or rock of the floor below the home. The base shifts the property’s weight to the floor or rock underneath to keep the house stable and settled in its existing location.
Interior Clues
One of the first base problem signs on the inside a homeowner sees is the windows or doors jamming. The walls in the home can show little cracks, particularly toward the top and at corners. Cracks in a brick fireplace wall or doors and windows that don’t meet the frames properly are found in a home with a base issue. Floors can be uneven, according to the Foundation Repair Network.
Exterior Red Flags
The bottoms of windows and doors outside revealing cracks that run diagonally or caulk that’s separating signals a problem with the base. Damage, excessive chipping, and cracks in the cement that forms the base of the home may be an early indication of this base needing repair, based on Dave Thrasher of Foundation Supportworks. A roof that’s in great physical shape but is leaking is just another telltale sign that the base has to be assessed.
Yard and Yard Areas
Cracks and intermittent elevations in connected lawn structures, such as a connected patio, may be a indication of foundation issues. Gaps between a garage door or in the sidewalk close to the doorway signal the base needs repair, as per the Foundation Repair Network.