How to Care for Your Home’s Foundation

If you fear the words of the Big Bad Wolf huffing and puffing and blowing your house down, you might want to check your foundation first. When evaluating your Louisville custom home’s solid base, here are some important things to check for:

1. Unlevel Floors – You might first notice a door that jams or a crack in a wall, especially over a doorway. If a window becomes uncharacteristically stuck in the open or closed position, it could mean that your foundation has shifted.
2. Outdoor Foundation Cracks – If you notice a bulge or divot in the foundation of a block or poured concrete foundation that could also signal a foundational shift which could mean huge problems if left untreated.
3. Poke Test – If your poured foundation appears to be shedding sand and you poke it with a screwdriver, you should not be able to poke a hole in it. It should remain firm. If you can puncture the foundation then it could be deteriorating. This is very common in homes built in the early 1900s and there is no remedy except for a new foundation. Price tag on that could run $35,000.
4. Check your Crawl Spaces – Underneath your house, make sure your supporting posts are straight and standing firm in the concrete posts. There should be no visible puddles or wet framing. If any of this is evident it may indicate poor drainage around your foundation which can lead to a destroyed foundation.
5. Crack Control – Most homes will have a few random cracks. As concrete cures, it shrinks and when it doesn’t shrink evenly it cracks. Small cracks less than 1/16th of an inch are acceptable if sealed with waterproofing paint. Pay particular attention to cracks around staircases, especially if the wall is bulging. Plugged gutters or moisture problems outside could be putting pressure on the wall causing cracks. Horizontal cracks are the worst type of cracks to combat. These type of cracks can indicate saturated soil that has frozen and expanded pushing in and breaking the foundation loose. This type of problem will probably require the assistance of a structural engineer.

Before it gets too cold to notice, take a look around and check for any problems that could cause your foundation to be in jeopardy. Spotting these early warning signs can keep small concerns from becoming big headaches. Call in a Louisville remodeling company if you think your foundation needs repair.