Cracks

Drywall and plaster cracks are relatively easy to patch, but what causes them in the
first place? It could be excess moisture or a poor mud and tape job, however it
could also mean that your home has foundation problems. If foundation settlement
is the cause, you will usually see the cracks re-open after they’ve been repaired.

Settlement cracks often occur in the foundation or the house slab or on the ceilings
and walls.

Drywall cracks that occur around the corners of windows and doors – on any floor
of your home – are often due to foundation movement and do require an expert
diagnosis. If you set a level on the window frame and it is un-level, this can be a
sign of foundation settlement as well. If a crack has been repaired once before and
has opened again, it is likely a sign that the foundation is shifting or settling.
Settlement cracks tend to widen and worsen over time. As they do, they will allow
outside influences into your home, such as cold air, humidity, rainwater, termites,
rodents, and more. The damage will have an enormous impact on the value and
resale value of your home.

Windows, Doors and Plumbing

Sticking doors and windows are more common in older homes than newer ones.
Sometimes it may be a moisture issue caused by high humidity or internal parts of
a window system being worn out. On the other hand, it could be a sinking or
settling foundation that is causing the door or window to fall out of square.

When the walls sink, heave, or twist due to foundation movement, they push
against window or door frames, causing the window to get stuck when it is opened
or closed. Sticking windows or doors that result from foundation problems are
usually accompanied by other issues, such as uneven floors, gaps around windows
or doors, molding pulling away or cracking, and cracks
in the drywall or foundation near windows or doors.

Foundation settlement may make it difficult to open or

close doors and windows because the door frame does
not fit the door and causes some sticking. Gaps
between the windows and doors with the frame may
also occur. A door or window may not close all the
way. Plumbing lines can also be affected by a poor
foundation as well as mechanical equipment.

Tilted Chimney
A tilted chimney is a sign that the foundation of a
building or home has settled; however, it can be
difficult to recognize unless it is severe. When the
ground beneath your foundation or your chimney is
not compacted correctly at the time of construction,
the weight placed on it by your home and chimney is
often too much. This causes the soil to sink and the foundation to sink with it,
often cracking as it goes. This causes your chimney to shift dangerously.

Loose Nails and Wallpaper

When nails begin to loosen or wallpaper starts to separate from the walls, it can be
a sign of a foundation problem. Nails and wallpaper shift if the walls move and
they do not bind or attach to the wall any more. Bending or bowing walls can be a
sign of the age of the home, settling of the foundation, deterioration of the home or
shrinkage.
 UNEVEN FLOORS

The floors in your home are made of wood on the upper levels and concrete in
the basement. If the basement concrete floors aren’t level, it is usually caused by
foundation settlement or heave. If the wood floors of the upper levels are out of

level, it could be caused by a couple of different issues. It could be the foundation

settling or interior columns in the basement or crawlspace shifting.