Settling refers to a home’s gradual lowering into the ground over time, when the soil under the foundation starts to shift. While settling is typically not a cause for concern, it may sometimes result in severe foundation damage. Consequently, it’s important to be aware of settling signs so you can call for assistance in foundation repair in the Ottawa Valley. Here are some signs that your house is settling down:
5 common signs
Opening windows and doors is hard.
If you have been noticing that you have to struggle a little to open your windows and doors, this might be a sign of a settling problem. When the house starts to settle, the windows and doors don’t fit right in their frames because they become slightly angled, thus, hard to close and open.
Gaps between the walls and windows.
This is often the first indication of settling since it is a simple problem to notice. When the house settles, the walls move away from the window frames, leaving a gap between the wall and the window frame. The best advice we can give you is to contact a professional to perform a foundation inspection. If you already have repaired a gap and it keeps opening again, or if you are not the house’s original owner, it is better to have an inspection before the issue becomes bigger.
Foundation cracks.
When the soil begins to shift, parts of the foundation start to sink deeper into the ground. This leads to cracks in the foundation because it will not be levelled on the ground. Note that cracks do not always mean your house is settling, as they can appear for many different reasons. If you notice cracks that ate deeper at the top than the bottom, do not fill them yourself. It can be a sign that your foundation is falling away from the rest of the structure, and if you fill those cracks, the constructor might not be able to place the foundation in the right position.
Burst water pipes.
Water pipes can become bent when the house is shifting. This can lead to a massive problem like pipe bursts if it takes you too long to notice.
Slanted Floors.
As part of the house settles into the ground, the floors will begin to slant. The slant may not be obvious at first, but it will become increasingly evident as it worsens over time. Note that it can also indicate other problems. Floors can slant because of rotting in supports or joists, for example.
Calling for help
Settling is a common problem for several reasons, from natural environmental changes to construction mistakes. Foundation problems need to be addressed as soon as possible because they might worsen and create even more damage over time. More damage means more problems to fix, which means you will have to pay a high price for your foundation repair in the Ottawa Valley. The possible repair will depend on the issue you have, and for that, Foundations Ottawa is the perfect ally. Talk to one of your foundation experts if you notice any of these signs. We will be happy to help.
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