Danger Signs of Foundation Settlement

If you are a homeowner, you naturally assume that your home's foundation will remain stable over time: offering solid protection to your family and your property investment. Although a certain amount of settlement is natural for any home over the first few years, too much settling or even damage due to a traumatic event could render the structure unsafe. Here are some typical causes of foundation settlement or damage and danger signs to look for.

A foundation is completely dependent on the soil under and around it to provide it with the strong support it needs. An analogy might be to compare your home to a laptop computer. If you put the laptop on a firm, level table it will remain secure; but if you place the same laptop on a bed pillow, there's a good chance it will eventually start to tilt one way or the other. The dirt under and around your foundation is either like the table or the pillow: if conditions shift, the house on top of unstable dirt will shift and settle in a different position. If excessive settling is allowed to remain unchecked, it can result in constant costly repairs to the home or, in a worst case scenario, result in a sudden and precipitous collapse of all or part of the structure.

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Settlement Causes

Each home is different, and too much settling could result from just one or a combination of the following reasons:

- Unstable soil
- Poor compaction at the time of building
- Poorly designed drainage system
- Large tree roots
- Plumbing leakage

Danger Signs

You'll want to watch out for:

- Visible signs of cracking or deterioration in the foundation itself
- Garage door leaning
- Large cracks along brick facing
- Exterior window and wall separation
- Cracks in your interior's drywall or sheetrock
- Doors out of square that no longer shut tightly

If you see any of the above signs, it is wise to contact a foundation repair expert in your area to mitigate any existing damage and set your home straight again.

Danger Signs of Foundation Settlement

Dalrock Foundation Repair (http://www.levelwithus.com/) offers the best Plano Texas foundation repair.

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