When you own your home, there are always things going on that you have to worry about. But while something small breaking or not working as well as it should be can be an easy fix, if you think there might be something wrong with the foundation of your home, you could be looking at a big fix that costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
If this is something that’s been weighing on your mind, here are three things to do if you’re worried about your home’s foundation.
Know What’s A Problem And What Isn’t
Before you start getting too concerned that the foundation of your home is collapsing, you should first do some research about what is actually considered to be a problem and what isn’t.
In general, small, hairline cracks aren’t something that you should really be worrying about too much. Homes settle and shift a little bit over time, and this is something that’s completely natural. However, if you see bigger cracks, bulges, tilting, or have issues with opening or closing doors and windows, you might have major foundation problems that are taking place. In these instances, you may want to bring in a professional to see what’s really going on and if you have cause for concern.
Test The Soil
Another thing you can do if you are worried that your home isn’t as stable and secure on its foundation as you’d like it to be is to have the soil underneath and around your home tested.
With these soil tests, you’ll be able to see if the ground needs improvement. Then, depending on what is found, you can then take the steps to improve the soil if need be. Generally, you should have the soil underneath a structure containing rock and loam. If the soil is clay, silt, or peat, this could be dangerous for the building to be built upon and you may need to make some amendments so that the foundation can be on solid ground.
Get A Report From An Engineer
As for the actual structure of your house, if things are looking and feeling a little shaky to you, having an engineer come out and check on things can be a good call.
For most visits from an engineer, you can expect to pay a few hundred dollars just for the inspection. Then, if something comes up on the report, you’ll also have to pay to address those issues. But there’s really no other way for you to know if there are legitimate structural problems that need to be repaired.
If you feel uneasy about the state and structure of your home, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you determine if you really do have problems that need fixing.
