Understanding Foundation Problems

 January 15, 2010 by: kgolubski
 

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has a great new resource site for homeowners, buyers and sellers called HouseLogic.  Visitors can find great tips for improving and maintaining their home, as well as information on tax incentives and financing.  A recent article regarding foundations caught my eye.

It states that while most home buyers are careful to have an inspection done prior to closing, many people ignore their foundations ongoing and miss the early signs that a problem may exist - signs that may save thousands of dollars if corrected versus allowing to progress.  The tell-tale signs of a foundation problem include:

  • Sagging floors.
  • Doors that start failing to close and latch.
  • Cracks in walls.
  • Cracks in vinyl or tile floors.
  • Windows that fail to budge or close completely.
  • Bulges or divots in either a block foundation or a poured concrete wall.
  • Rotted wood posts in crawl spaces.
  • Horizontal cracking.

To read the full article including maintenance tips, visit the HomeLogic site.