If there’s one area of your home you shouldn’t joke with (not as if there’s any area you should joke with), it is the foundation. This is what supports the entire weight of the structure, making it a very important section of the house.
Problems that have to do with the foundation and basement of your home should be addressed quickly. If they are left, they may eventually cost you a whole lot more than you bargained for. See some possible cost implications here.
Signs that Your Foundation Needs Repair
There are a few signs that can indicate the need for urgent repair work on your home’s foundation. Let’s look at some of these:
Wall Cracks
When you find cracks on your interior or external walls, or on the drywall, then the foundation of your house may be settling. While settling is expected over time, some are not normal and will require the attention of an expert.
Difficulty Shutting and Opening Doors and Windows
If you notice that you are now finding it difficult to shut or open your doors and windows as they appear to be stuck, you may have a foundation issue on your hands.
Floor that is Sunken
If you notice that the floor in any part of your home is sunken, then you may need to quickly consult a professional as you may have a foundation problem which requires fixing.
Patio Separating from the House
Have you noticed your house’s patio appearing to separate from the house? This is an indication of some kind of movement on the base on which they both stand. If the base is no longer level, it may begin to cause a separation between the two. This also requires the attention of a professional.
Gaps between the Ceiling and Crown Molding
This is indicative of a shift in structural balance and this may be caused by a foundational problem.
Nails Pulling Out
If you notice that there are points where nails are beginning to pull away from the sheet rock or drywall, then you may also have a problem of structural imbalance that may be traceable to the foundation. This also applies to counters and cabinets separating from the wall.
Wrinkling Wallpaper
If your previous well-laid wallpaper begins to crease and detach from the wall, it may be an indication that there is a foundational shift that is causing some structural imbalance.
Bowing of the Basement Wall
Here in Edmonton and Alberta in general, we have a soil type and a freeze and thaw situation which could easily cause the soil to expand and contract. With each expansion, the soil pushes against the basement walls, pushing it back. When it contracts (freezes), it pulls away from the wall. This back and forth can eventually results in a weakening of the wall, causing some sections of it to bow. Once this happens, you need to call in the cavalry.
Slopping Floor
Is the floor of your home slopping badly? This is clearly a problem from below the building. You should immediately have it checked out.
Signs that Your Basement Needs Waterproofing
We’ve looked at the foundation, now let’s take a look at the basement to see how you can tell if it needs waterproofing. Some signs include:
Mold
We start with this because it can also constitute a health hazard as you can see here: https://www.cdc.gov/mold/dampness_facts.htm. If you notice you have a mold situation in your basement, then maybe you need to have it waterproofed. Mold you know thrives in very humid locations.
Water Stains
Do you notice water stains around your basement? Even if these stains appear to be dry, they are indicators of a leak somewhere which needs to be fixed.
Difficult to Close Doors
Water makes wooden doors expand so if there is a water problem in your basement, the doors are likely going to expand, making them more difficult to close.
White Deposits
This is also called efflorescence and it is what is left behind after water which came in contact with concrete, stone or brick dries. If you see these on your basement walls or floors, then you may have a water problem.
Cracked Walls
If you find that some walls in your basement are cracked, you need to have these fixed immediately as these are the easiest entry points for water.
Water Puddles
Without being told, if you find water puddles on the floor of your basement, then you know you need to have it waterproofed unless of course the water was spilled there by one of your family members.
Choosing the Right Edmonton Contractor
Once you have identified that your wall or basement does indeed need some work done on it, the next logical step is to find the right company to handle it. Let’s quickly look at a few tips for finding the right contractor.
Location
Since we are focusing on the Edmonton area, it only makes sense that you focus on locally based companies like Ramco, that understand the challenges of the soil type and weather issues. A local company will also be easy to keep in touch with.
Reputation
What projects has the company done before? Choosing a local company also serves to make it easier for you to know how good they are. You can easily get reviews from other residents who have had cause to use their services.
Free Assessment and Quote
It’s always good to know what you are getting into before taking the plunge. Choosing a company that will offer a free assessment and quote of the work to be done will give you an idea of their professionalism and of course what it will cost you.
Conclusion
Getting any repair job done on your home’s foundation and basement very quickly is important. This will forestall an increase in your repair cost not to mention averting any dangers that may arise from a faulty foundation.
Take some time to go over your home to ensure that there are no issues. If you find some issues, contact a repair company immediately. You can find additional information to help you with this in this article.