What to Watch For: Signs Your Foundation is Settling and the Problems It Can Cause

Noticing Sticking Doors and Windows? Your Foundation Might Be Settling.

If you’ve noticed doors and windows sticking in your home, it could be because the soil underneath your foundation is settling. Keep reading to learn more about what’s causing these issues and what you can do about them.

We use a term called the "active zone" to explain why your foundation might be settling. The "active zone" refers to the soil under your house that’s most affected by changes in moisture as the weather shifts.

Why Is Your Foundation Settling?
There are a few reasons why your soil might be shifting and causing your foundation to settle:

• Too Much Rain
  When your area gets a lot of rain, the soil can get wet and weak. Think of it like stepping into mud – your foot sinks right in. The same thing can happen to the soil around your foundation.

• Too Little Rain (Drought)
  Right now, we’re in a drought, which is causing the soil to dry out and shrink. As the soil pulls away from your foundation, it leaves gaps, allowing your home to settle into those spaces.

• Poor Soil Compaction
  Sometimes, when the foundation was first built, the soil around it wasn’t packed down properly. This loose soil can shift over time, causing foundation issues.

Signs of Foundation Settlement
Here are some signs you might notice if your house is settling:

• Sticking Windows and Doors (A)
  The most common sign is doors and windows sticking. If things get worse, you might also see cracks near the window frames or in your drywall.

• Cracking in Brick (B)
  Outside, you might see cracks in your brick in a stair-step pattern. This happens because the mortar between bricks is the weakest part of the wall. You may notice similar cracks inside the basement if you have a block wall foundation.

• Leaning Chimney (C)
  Chimneys can start to lean away from the house because they’re heavy and often sit on a separate foundation, making the problem worse.

• Cracks in Slab Floors (D)
  If you have a slab foundation, you might see cracks in the floor. While this doesn’t always mean your foundation is settling, it’s something to keep an eye on. Slab floors can move separately from the foundation walls.

Get a Free Inspection
It’s important to have an experienced inspector check out any foundation issues you might be seeing. Not all cracks are a bad sign, but it takes someone who knows what they’re doing to tell the difference. Our certified inspectors are trustworthy, highly trained, and will come out to diagnose your problem for free.

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