Let’s Talk Foundation

7 Signs of a Foundation Problem

1. Cracks that run through several bricks as wide as a pencil - A good inspector is concerned with not only the size of the cracks but the number of cracks in the brick veneer. It does not matter whether cracks are in the mortar or whether the cracks go through bricks. Nature follows the course of least resistance. If the crack breaks the brick, it only means that the mortar was stronger than the brick.

2. Windows that will not open and doors that will not stay in place - A properly-hung door will

not swing open or closed. If the door is opened halfway, the door will stay open halfway. Homes with foundation problems have doors that either swing open or closed depending upon which side of the house they are located. The windows jam and will not open, and sometimes the glass bubbles out and breaks.

3. Cracks in the ceilings and corners where load-bearing walls come together

4. All the rafters in the attic have pulled away from the ridge board - Individual rafters that do not fit are the result of poor framing. For an individual rafter to pull loose from the ridge board, it would have to split the roof deck.

5. Gaps between the wood molding and the walls

6. Cracks in the concrete slab extending from the driveway or garage into the house that are verti- cally offset or widely separated.

7. Cracked or buckled floor tiles (e.g., kitchen and bathroom) - This may indicate fractures in the foundation.

To ensure you take the best care of your foundation - add soaker hoses around the perimeter of the foundation.