Noticing early warning signs of foundation problems can prevent a lot of problems that definitely could cost tens of thousands of dollars to fix. The sooner you identify potential problems, the easier — and less expensive — it is to fix them.
Here are 4 simple Indoor Warning Signs:
Home’s foundations settle and shift over time, and a little un-levelness or unevenness isn’t necessarily a cause for panic or a need to freak out. At the same time, you’ll want to be alert when you notice these warning signs in case more dramatic changes are taking place:
1. A door begins to jam, get stuck or fails to latch.
2. Cracks appear in drywall, ceiling area, walls, especially over doorways, windows, or where walls meet ceilings.
3. Cracks open in vinyl or ceramic tile over a concrete floor.
4. Windows that used to open and close easily suddenly begin to stick or won’t close completely.
Check Outside the House or Building
Take a look around the outside/exterior portions of the house, check to see if your foundation is straight by sighting down the length of your foundation wall from each corner. The walls should be essentially straight, both vertically up and down and horizontally from side to side. Also check for leaning walls with a level.