Signs of Foundation Settlement

Signs Outside of Your Home:

Stair-Step Cracking

Stair-step cracking is often a tell-tale sign of foundation settlement and is very common in brick and concrete block walls. As your home continues to settle further, vertical cracks may widen, indicating that the wall is rotating outward. 

Chimneys

One of the more scary and dramatic signs of settlement is a chimney separating away from the rest of the home. Sometimes chimneys are built on a foundation that is not connected to the rest of the home, making it even more at risk of settlement. 

Clues from doors and windows

Whenever an opening is cut or created in a wall, such as a door or window, it becomes the weakest point of the wall. Because of this, doors and windows often display the first signs of settlement. Three comon observations include:

1 - Doors and windows out of square

2- Cracks extending from the corners of doors and windows

3- The separation of a door or window from the framing or exterior finish

Have you noticed newer caulking around exterior doors or windows? This is a common homeowner fix to the damage caused by foundation settlement.

SIDE NOTE- You and your neighbor share soil. If you neighbor is experiencing problems, chances are, you will too. 

Excerpt from our book, Foundation Repair Science (Larry Janesky, David Thrasher, Amanda Harrington). We send a copy of this bok to all clients who book an appointment with us to come look at their foundation issue. And we come out for free!