A house’s foundation is the literal base of the home and should be strong enough to last through your time in the home. However, issues with foundations can appear over time and, if they aren’t identified quickly, they could cause even greater problems in the future. The key is to know exactly where to look for damage in your foundation and to call in an expert as soon as possible in order for it to be fixed.

There are four easy ways to check if there’s something wrong with your foundation and they are visible to the naked eye. If you notice any of these instances in your basement or foundation, notify your closest foundation repair company. If you live in the Western area of Colorado, click there for more information.

The first way to check for foundation damage is to check for any bowing walls in your basement area. Because of how most houses were constructed, the foundation will be under the earth, for the most part. Over time, the expansion of soil and moisture will cause the walls of the foundation to bend in on themselves in response to the outside pressure. This is a change that occurs steadily over time, but even just noting that you see a bowing in your walls will help a repair company find the source of the issue.

The second way to check is by looking for uneven parts of your flooring. If you begin to notice that there are dips in your floor or your doors jam from having the floor suddenly being too high up, it’s most likely due to trapped moisture in your flooring. An expert would be able to determine if there’s an issue with the foundation or if your floor is retaining moisture. Trapped moisture can lead to mold issues, if not handled right away, so regardless of whether or not the issue stems from foundation problems, it’s always a good idea to have someone come in.

The third way to check if your home has foundation issues is if the walls in your basement are cracked. Just like with bowing walls, the pressure from outside dirt or water can cause the inside of your home to be affected. If you have a finished basement, you might notice a visible bulging in your wall in a vertical or horizontal line. For brick walls, there will be cracks within the mortar between the brickwork.

The fourth and final way is to see if your house’s chimney is uneven or caving in at points. Not all houses have chimneys, but if your house does have one and you see noticeable damage to it, then it’s worth it to call in a repair company. A tilting chimney can indicate soil erosion beneath the foundation of your home and can allow a company to see if it’s affecting any other areas of the foundation.