How Do You Know If You Have an Unstable Foundation?

• Basement Moisture and Leaks
• Wall Crumbling
• Above-Ground Symptoms
• Solutions to Basement Wall Instability

Many homeowners are unsure how to identify signs of an unstable foundation until visible damage appears. Learning to recognize early warning signs helps prevent serious structural issues and costly repairs.

If you live in an old home, your foundation and basement walls might have become unstable. An unstable foundation sounds concerning, right? So, how do you know if yours is doing alright or not? We’ve compiled a list of symptoms as well as our favorite solution.

Basement Moisture and Leaks

Your foundation and basement walls are two parts of the same thing. If the structure of your house sits on your basement walls, those walls are part of your foundation. Therefore, keeping those walls in shape is vital.

If your basement walls are leaking water or there’s noticeable moisture in parts of your basement, that’s a bad sign. Stone basement walls can only leak if there are cracks leading from the outside to the inside. These cracks may be small enough that you can’t see them, but it doesn’t mean water can’t go through them. If there’s noticeable moisture, there are probably tons of these small cracks.

These conditions are often among the earliest signs of foundation problems and should never be ignored, even if the damage appears minor at first.

Letting your basement walls continue to erode as moisture travels through them will lead to more damage.

Signs of foundation problems like basement leaks are often an early indicator of a compromised structure. Over time, an unstable foundation can lead to even more severe issues, including larger cracks in walls and further structural damage. It’s important to identify signs of an unstable foundation early to prevent further deterioration.

Wall Crumbling

The next sign is basement wall crumbling. If you notice little pebbles at the base of your basement walls, they’re damaged enough that they’re beginning to crumble. This is bad.

Erosion worsening as water travels through the cracks in your walls is to be expected. However, the walls beginning to crumble means the problem is worse than it looks on the outside. If your walls continue on this path, it could spell bad things for the safety of your entire house. 

Cracks in walls and what they mean for your foundation are crucial to understand. When walls begin to crumble, it often means your foundation is experiencing excessive moisture and stress, making it vulnerable. Understanding how to tell if your foundation is shifting is critical, as crumbling walls and expanding cracks often indicate ongoing structural movement that can worsen over time.

Above-Ground Symptoms

There are above-ground signs that your foundation isn’t doing so hot as well. For example, if you see cracks in your drywall, it means the foundation has shifted. Even if it has been a slow shift, caused over time, the continued shift could lead to worse damage. 

For example, if left long enough, important parts of the internal structure could split or crack. If the frame of the house splits, the floor could fall through or a wall could buckle. Therefore, if there are cracks appearing in your walls, it’s important to start the process of preventing further damage.

Other symptoms are:

• Doors sticking
• Door frames separating from the wall
• Bowed floors or ceilings
• Drafty windows

In many cases, foundation instability develops due to poor drainage, prolonged soil saturation, freeze-thaw cycles, or shifting soil beneath the home. These factors place constant pressure on basement walls and can gradually weaken the foundation if not addressed.

These are all signs of foundation problems that require immediate attention. Foundation problems: causes and solutions include issues like poor drainage, soil shifting, and weather conditions. How to prevent further damage from an unstable foundation involves addressing these causes and seeking a professional foundation inspection for home safety. Early intervention is crucial to maintaining the structural integrity of your home.

Solutions to Basement Wall Instability

If you notice ongoing moisture issues but structural damage is still limited, taking preventive action can help stabilize basement walls and reduce further erosion. Exterior basement waterproofing doesn’t just prevent unwanted moisture, it also prevents continued erosion of your basement walls. That makes exterior basement waterproofing vital in the prevention of an unstable foundation.

Call us at Leaquida Waterproofing if you want to know more about how to get exterior basement waterproofing.

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