Foundation Damage: Tips for House Hunters This Spring

Caring about a house's foundation as a homeowner and buyer

From a structural point, the foundation is arguably the most important part of your home. Your entire home rests on the foundation, and any shifts in the foundation can literally move the entire house. Needless to say, a damaged foundation puts the structural integrity of your entire home under question.

What causes foundation damage

In climates where winter temperatures drop below the freezing point, basement leaks can be a worry for homeowners. The freezing and thawing cycle causes materials to expand and contract, and the shifts in pressure can cause insidious cracks. You may have seen this on public roads and sidewalks, where freezing temperatures often cause fissures and gaps in cement and asphalt.

Alongside temperature, water is a known culprit causing foundation damage. The soil that was dug out to lay down a building's foundation is generally more porous than the earth around it, and water tends to seep into this soil. The water in the soil around a foundation applies a significant amount of force, and with enough pressure water will eventually be forced into small cracks in the foundation, especially wall joints.

As moisture enters through the foundation, water damage occurs in basements, leading to mold issues and further structural deterioration.

Basic tips to look out for this spring

In West Virginia, May has historically produced the most rainfall, and the state in general is one of the most precipitous in the country. This fact alone might warrant West Virginians to be especially vigilant about signs of foundation problems. So with this in mind it will be useful for homeowners and home buyers alike to look out for the following tell-tale signs of foundation damage:

1.    Cracks in indoor drywall

2.    Cracks in outdoor bricks and cement

3.    Separation around the garage door

4.    Floors that are uneven or that creak

5.    Doors that swing open, or alternatively doors that won't close

6.    Displaced moldings

All of these may be caused by a shifting foundation due to different water content in the surrounding soil.

What to do when looking for a house this spring

As a house hunter this spring it will be felicitous to keep the symptoms of foundation damage in mind. All of the above signs can be purely cosmetic, so before making a decision it's important that you determine whether foundation damage is indeed the source of the problem (after all, a drywall crack can just be a drywall crack).

If you find that you have foundation damage don't hesitate to consult with a local professional such as Apex Waterproofing. 

Good luck house hunters!