Vertical Settlement - Signs & Symptoms
Have you noticed symptoms on the inside or outside of your home that appear concerning? Wondering if your house could be settling? Worried about expensive foundation repairs? Read on for more information regarding this potential foundation issue.
Drywall Cracking
Have you noticed drywall cracking or separating on the main level of your home? Sometimes this symptom is very obvious - such as a wide diagonal crack at the top of a doorframe. Othertimes, it can be a very subtle separation at the vertical corner of a room. In most houses, the drywall cracking will become more severe or occur in more places as the differential settlement becomes worse.
Doors & Windows Not Operating
Do you have doors or windows that are not closing, not opening or maybe too tight? Homeowners that are suffering from vertical movement often have trouble with doors or windows as the frame becomes out of square due to the movement. Gaps at one corner are common, and it's not unusual to have glass panes break occasionally.
Floor Slope & Flooring Problems
As one portion of your home settles relative to the rest of it, rigid flooring (tile, wood, etc) can potentially have gaps or buckling develop. The floor may also have a noticeable slope to it as you walk from one end of the house to the other.
Brickwork Cracking
The exterior of the house may also start to show symptoms of vertical movement. Brickwork cracking - either "stairstep cracking", vertical cracking or horizontal gaps at the mortar joints - can all be a very strong indication of differential settlement. Bricks are very rigid, so they are a very common sign of a potential foundation issue.
Countertops Separating
One symptom that seems to go unnoticed by many homeowners is countertop issues. As the floor slopes due to movement, the counters will drop with the floor. This can cause potential symptoms that seem very subtle until the settlement becomes severe. If you notice that your countertop caulking is broken or stretched open or that two sections of counters are uneven, you could be experiencing vertical foundation movement.
Foundation Cracking
Foundation cracks can also be an indicator of vertical foundation settlement. Most of the time, vertical settlement will cause vertical cracking in the concrete. However, every house is different and there could be no foundation cracks at all or the cracking could be in a horizontal direction in some cases.
Foundation Evaluations
While you may suspect that you have vertical movement of your foundation, the only way to know for certain is to have a professional foundation evaluation performed. During the evaluation, our estimator will note all visible symptoms, as well as perform measurements. They will also provide a consultative recommendation based on their findings and an estimate if repairs are recommended. Most foundation evaluations and estimates are performed at no cost. So call us today for your professional foundation evaluation to determine if structural stabilization is warranted.
Acculift Foundation Repair has been performing foundation repairs on homes in St Louis, St Charles, Warren, and Lincoln counties for over 40 years. We look forward to providing you with assistance in determining your options for your home's foundation repair needs.