8 Foundation Warning Signs Homeowners Should Never Ignore

A house can have countless luxurious and aesthetic finishes, but it’s only as stable as its base. If there’s a problem with the foundation, it can cause significant issues throughout the rest of the home. A small crack in the foundation might worsen over time, leading to leaks and water intrusion. A growing crack can also destabilize the base of the home, pulling on the walls, doors, windows, and floors.

Similarly, if the foundation shifts due to poor soil condition, excess moisture, or even tree roots, this also creates problems for the entire home. Foundations can even start to sink on one or more sides, forcing the structure off balance. Before foundation problems worsen, use this guide to identify eight signs your foundation might need repair.

1. Cracked Drywall

Minor vertical cracks in the drywall might appear over time without any real cause for concern. These cracks are usually fixable by the average DIYer. However, if the drywall develops large vertical, horizontal, or diagonal cracks, this is a sign that the foundation is unstable.

The best course of action is to have a foundation professional inspect the home to determine the root cause of the problem. The pros will suggest the best method to fix the issue, such as lifting or underpinning the foundation.

2. Poor Water Drainage

Water can cause serious problems with your home’s foundation, so if your property has poor water drainage, it is likely to develop foundation issues later on. DIYers can improve the drainage around their foundation by regrading the yard to slope away from the home, adding underground drainage systems, and replacing or repairing the existing gutter system.

If the foundation has already been affected by water drainage issues, you might need to hire a foundation repair expert to fix cracks and correct any imbalances.

3. Sticking Doors and Windows

A door or window might start to stick due to moisture and excess humidity, which can cause the wood to swell. If you haven’t noticed any drastic increases in humidity or exposure to moisture, the issue might be due to the foundation settling, shifting, or sinking.

When the foundation settles, shifts, or sinks, it creates an imbalance in the home’s structure. This imbalance causes the framing around the doors and windows to warp, which leads to the doors and windows sticking in the ill-fitting frame. These issues should be addressed by a foundation repair professional, as the likely solution is to lift, underpin, or level and stabilize the foundation.

4. Cracking or Bulging Floors

Windows and doors aren’t the only things affected by a shifting or sinking foundation. Serious cracks or bulges in the flooring indicate that the structure of the building is under stress. The sinking foundation puts pressure on the floors, forcing them to shift out of level, leading to cracks or bulges.

DIYers can’t do much about this problem beyond noting the affected areas and providing this information to a foundation specialist. The pros will then assess the damage to the home and determine if the foundation is at risk of collapse or if it can be repaired. If the problem is too severe, you might need to replace the entire foundation.

5. Cabinets or Countertops Separating from Walls

When the floors and walls shift due to an issue with the balance of the foundation, any structures sitting on the floors or mounted on the walls might also shift. Cabinets or countertops can start to separate from the walls, leaving gaps around the perimeter of the cabinets and behind the countertops.

While small amounts of separation can be a normal result of poor installation or moisture problems, you shouldn’t hesitate to call a foundation repair pro if the gaps continue to grow or if the issue is in multiple locations. Foundation experts will need to assess the current condition of the foundation and take action to rebalance the home by lifting, reinforcing, slab jacking, or underpinning the foundation.

6. Large Cracks on Foundation Walls

Small hairline cracks in the foundation walls are relatively common and can typically be fixed by the average DIYer using epoxy or polyurethane to seal the cracks. However, if you notice that the cracks are horizontal, larger than a 1/4-inch-wide, or zigzag, this could indicate a serious issue with the foundation.

Similarly, if the cracks continue to widen or lengthen over time, this often means that the foundation is shifting or sinking. Fixing this issue is typically beyond the skills of a DIYer. Call a foundation expert to identify what is causing the problem and take the necessary steps to correct the issue before it worsens.

7. Bowing Walls and Window Gaps

Windows and doors can get stuck due to a shifting foundation, but these circumstances can also cause gaps around them. This sign is often accompanied by bowing walls, which get pulled in various directions as the base of the structure shifts and sinks.

While minor gaps can be patched by DIYers, this won’t address the structural issues of the home. Instead, it’s recommended to hire a foundation specialist to assess the extent of the bowing walls, investigate the current condition of the foundation, and make changes to correct the structural imbalance.

8. Visible Exterior Siding Issues

Foundation cracks are not the only exterior indicators your foundation needs to be repaired. You might also notice that the home’s siding has warped, buckled, or bulged in spots. Noticeable gaps between the siding planks or bricks are also a sign there’s a problem.

If the issue is severe enough to cause the home’s exterior to warp and shift, contact a foundation specialist to assess and resolve the situation. In some cases, the damage to the foundation might be so extensive that you need to replace the entire foundation before you can correct the damage to the rest of the home.