Owning a house is a significant investment, and a reliable foundation is crucial to protecting it. However, it can face damage over time, threatening the integrity of the structure. Below are a few warnings you have issues that require foundation repair so that you can fix them promptly.

How to Know Your Home Has Foundation Problems

1. Cracked Walls

Once your foundation begins sinking or suffers damage, it imbalances the weight distribution for your house. This uneven pressure on the walls can break them. The most severe cracks are horizontal and stair-step cracks appearing on your exterior walls, as well as interior vertical cracks over an inch wide. If you experience these issues, do not delay in getting foundation repair, as these cracks can worsen and provide entry to water and pests.

2. Sinking Corners

Your foundation doesn’t need to have a crack to be in danger. Once the soil around the corners erodes, that section can drop. After this happens, you are likely to experience other foundation issues, such as cracks and uneven floors, because the foundation is no longer on level ground. 

3. Uneven Floors

This issue can appear in both your basement and ground or upper-level floors. In your basement, uneven concrete floors could be due to heaving in the foundation, which occurs when the soil absorbs considerable water, leading to upward pressure on your floor. For wood floors on the ground level, the issue typically appears when the foundation settles, allowing interior columns to shift, throwing off the floor’s balance.

4. Sticking Doors & Windows

Doors and windows can stick because their frames and locking mechanisms are old. However, this problem is also common in homes that need foundation repair. Even a slight movement by the foundation can shift doors and windows out of their frame. To determine if this has happened, use a hardware level to check the frame.

5. Separating Countertops 

If your countertops attach to the wall, you may see them loosen as the foundation shifts. This problem also appears in cabinets, which can seem to slope away from the wall. This is a clear sign that you need foundation repair because the walls are no longer even or steady, and are unable to support the weight of fixtures fully.

When you need foundation repair, call J & R Basement Waterproofing in Akron, OH. By sealing foundation leaks, providing basement waterproofing, and adding foundation reinforcement, they can safeguard your home. Not only do they have over 30 years of experience, but they also have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau®. For more information about their services, visit them online or call (330) 418-3373.