What Are the Causes of Foundation Problems | Billy.com

If your home's foundation develops cracks or begins sinking, you need to fix it as soon as possible. However, if you don't understand what the causes of foundation problems are, the issue will only keep arising, making your efforts worthless. By learning the root of the problems, you can put measures in place to better protect your house.

Expanding Soil From Moisture

If there is heavy rain or melted snow, the water will seep down into the soil. As the dirt absorbs this moisture, it will expand, creating an imbalance. This unstable soil can eventually cause the foundation to settle, or worse, erode. The side effects of this will be an unevenly sinking foundation or cracks in the concrete.

While you can't control the weather, you can make sure that all your drains and gutters are working correctly to protect your home. If your gutters become clogged, the water around your house won't properly disperse away from home; instead, it will cause damage by building up around the perimeter of the home.

Soil Contraction Because of Draught

Just as the soil can expand when it gets wet, it can contract as it dries out. This is why it looks like cracked glass in desert areas without sand. When the dirt regresses like that, the stability of the foundation loosens, almost as if the building could be wiggled out of place like a loose tooth. Eventually, this will also result in the cement sinking and settling.

So, for your foundation to have more stability, you'll want to install helical piers in your home. The benefit of helical piers is that they connect your foundation with the bedrock so that you have a more reliable and stable surface. This way, the expansions and contractions of the soil will have less of an effect on your home.

Built Improperly

If your building's foundation wasn't poured and laid correctly, there will be problems from day one. Since most people don't build their own homes, you should make sure that an inspector investigates your foundation in detail before you purchase a home. While you can fix a sinking foundation, a poorly made one is nearly impossible to remedy fully. And even if you can repair it, the price to do so is often too steep.

If a contractor builds the foundation when the soil is too moist or too dry, your home won't be in the proper position once the ground returns to its ideal level. Even if it was well constructed, it was built on bad dirt, which makes repairs very difficult.

After exploring what the causes of foundation problems are, you will hopefully be able to identify the root causes of your building's issues and fix them.