Blogs on Cracked Foundation by MitchCo Foundation Repair

Why You Can’t Ignore Foundation Cracks

If you notice a crack in your foundation, you might be wondering how concerned you should be about it. After all, a crack doesn’t necessarily mean that you have serious structural issues, right? This may be true, but you shouldn’t completely ignore foundation cracks because they could indicate that you need to have foundation repair done. You should call a company that specializes in foundation repair serving San Antonio to come and take a look. Here are the dangers of ignoring foundation cracks.

Cracks may indicate a problem with the foundation of your home.

There are many reasons for foundation cracks with the most serious one being that your foundation has shifted and needs foundation repair. When your foundation moves, it will often cause cracks both in the foundation as well as within the interior and exterior walls of your home. By catching a foundation problem early, you can eliminate the chances of it becoming a very costly problem for you. The sooner you have a foundation repair company fix the problem, the sooner you will be able to sleep well at night knowing your foundation is strong again.

Cracks may cause additional problems with your foundation.

Outside of the fact that a crack in your foundation can indicate a foundation problem, the crack itself can also cause more problems for you in the future. Water will often find its way into a foundation crack and, when this happens, it can seep down into your foundation and make it even weaker than it already is. If this happens, you may go from having a minor foundation repair on your hands to having a much more serious problem that will need to be dealt with immediately.

Cracks may get worse over time and create more cracks in your foundation.

Foundation cracks are not going to go away. In fact, one crack will usually lead to two cracks and, over time, your foundation will develop more and more cracks in it. You should address cracks as quickly as possible and have a contractor come to your home to fix them.

- September 15, 2015
Indicators of Foundation Problems in San Antonio, TX

The foundation of your home is important because it is responsible for holding your house up and keeping it level. In order to avoid the need for serious foundation repair , you should keep an eye out for warning signs that might indicate that you have foundation problems. Should you spot any of the following signs, you should call a company that specializes in foundation repair serving San Antonio to come and inspect your foundation for you.

Sloping Floors

Does it feel like the floors of your home are sloping? If so, this could indicate a very serious problem. When your foundation shifts, it will create uneven floors in your home, so if you feel like you are walking uphill or downhill when you walk on your floors or, worse, if your floors have separated from your walls, it’s time to call a foundation repair company to come out and help you.

Cracks in Interior Walls

Over time, your home is going to settle, and it will likely cause some cracking to take place in your interior walls. If you have brick on the outside of your home, you may notice cracks in those walls as well. If the cracking continues and gets worse as the years go on, you probably have a foundation issue. You will need to have general contractors come to take a look at your walls to determine whether or not your foundation is causing problems for you.

Doors or Windows That Won’t Open or Close

If you have doors in your home that don’t shut all the way or your windows always feel like they are stuck, it could be a sign of a foundation problem. There can be other issues, like the weather, that can cause issues with your doors and windows. However, doors and windows can also become problematic for those who are suffering with foundation issues. You will want to have a foundation inspection done as soon as possible so that the problem doesn’t get even worse than it already is.

- August 26, 2015
Curbing Your Chances of Foundation Damage

In order to avoid structural damage to your home, you need to do everything you can to keep your foundation strong. In some cases, this may mean having foundation repair done to give your foundation the strength it needs. However, you can also reduce the chances of suffering foundation damage by taking steps to prevent it. By following these relatively simple steps, you can eliminate the need for foundation repair in San Antonio.

Make Sure Your Downspouts are Installed Properly

If your downspouts allow a lot of water to pool around the base of your home or, worse, your downspouts are disconnected and don’t redirect water away from your house, you are eventually going to face foundation issues. When water is able to come into contact with your home’s foundation, it will slowly cause problems with it and, over time, it will force you to seek foundation repair. You can eliminate this risk by simply making sure the downspouts on your home are working and moving rainwater away from your home.

Plant Trees and Shrubs Away from Your Home

Planting trees and shrubs too close to your home can end up being problematic once those trees and shrubs start growing roots. Tree roots can be a huge problem for your home’s foundation and can cause it to settle unevenly. This will affect your entire home and, before long, you will likely notice interior walls cracking. This is a surefire sign that you have a foundation issue.

Have a Foundation Specialist Inspect Your Home Regularly

Unlike other parts of your home, you won’t realize that you have a foundation issue right away. It’s very unlikely that your home’s foundation will give out on you in a matter of just days. Rather, it’s a slow gradual process. By having a contractor come to your home to check out your foundation every so often and to inspect the interior and exterior of your home for potential signs of danger, you will be able to catch any problems with your foundation early. This will give you time to plan for necessary foundation repairs.

- August 5, 2015
The Common Causes of Foundation Problems

Signs of foundation problems can mean serious issues for your home, which is why it is important to identify the source of the problem and seek foundation repair serving San Antonio immediately. A failing foundation can impair the structural integrity of your home and lead to water damage and mold growth. Common culprits of foundation problems include unstable soil below and around your concrete, faulty water drainage systems, and warning signs that go unnoticed. Continue on for a closer look at the common causes of foundation problems.

Unstable Soil
In order for your foundation to stay completely stable, the soil that lies below it and around it must be stable as well. Unstable soil has a tendency to shift around, which is dangerous for your foundation. Your concrete foundation must stay level in order to avoid cracking, crumbling, and deteriorating, and unstable soil typically does not shift in a level manner. In the event that all of the soil around your foundation moves uniformly, your foundation should be fine. If your soil settles unevenly, on the other hand, you will likely notice a negative impact on your foundation. Shifting soil can even contribute to other foundation problems such as water drainage issues.

Poor Water Drainage
Water should never be allowed to pool around your home. Instead, it should be transported to the road using a drainage system. Water that pools or collects around the base of a house may seep into the soil that surrounds the foundation; this is especially likely if the soil around your foundation is unstable in the first place. From there it can make its way into your home, where it can cause a number of problems ranging from poor indoor air quality to loss of structural integrity.

Unheeded Warning Signs
Many homeowners allow their foundation problems to develop because they are unaware of the signs to look out for. Foundation problems might show up as cracks in your floor or separations in your windows and doors. Understanding these warnings is the first step in diagnosing and treating your foundation problems before they develop.

- July 8, 2015
Identifying Foundation Issues

If you own a home, it helps to understand what kinds of issues are truly problematic and what kinds of issues are not causes for concern. This will allow you to make an informed decision about whether to call a contractor and seek foundation repair serving San Antonio . Watch this video clip if you could use some assistance in identifying foundation issues.

While it is important to realize that foundations frequently have some sort of cracks, it is still important to know when you have a problem on your hands. Cracks that are more than an eighth of an inch wide and appear both inside and outside of your home may be problematic. These cracks could indicate the bending of your foundation. Cracks that have sides of different levels may suggest that your foundation lacks reinforcing steel, which can also be a problem. Always have a professional diagnose your foundation issues.

- June 24, 2015
Tips for Hiring a General Contractor

Completing a home renovation project is no easy task, so when you start one, you should hire one of the many general contractors in San Antonio to oversee it. Watch this video to see how a general contractor can help you with everything from building patios and doing foundation repair to installing flooring and painting your home.

A good general contractor will be excellent at communicating with you and will see to it that you feel comfortable throughout the home renovation process. Building a patio or doing a foundation repair can be very stressful on homeowners, so your general contractor should be willing to walk you through things and tell you exactly how jobs will be completed. Work with a reliable, patient general contractor on your next home renovation project to make sure that things go as smoothly as they can possibly go.

- May 15, 2015