Signs of Foundation Settlement in St. Louis

When your foundation begins to settle, there are several signs that appear both inside and outside the home.  It is always best to get these problems taken care of before more damages can occur because a home is never “done” settling.  If the problems are not permanently solved, they will continue to come back and be a burden.

Inside of the Home

Cracks are the most common interior signs of foundation settlement..  The cracks may be in stair-step form in the concrete block walls or on the concrete floor slab in the basement.  Cracks in the drywall throughout the house are also good indicators of settlement and are more common in the upper levels of homes.  These cracks may follow drywall seams or come off the corners of doors and windows.  Buckling or ripping drywall tape in corners is another common sign that can be found inside the home.

Outside of the Home

Similarly to concrete interior walls, stair-step cracks can be found on the outside of brick homes as well.  As the home continues to settle, the vertical cracks may widen, which indicates that the wall is rotating outward.  A chimney separating away from the rest of the home is a more drastic indicator.  Perhaps the most common observation from outside of the home is doors and windows separating from the framing and cracks extending from the corners.

Some people find small cracks in their home, but do nothing about it since the crack is so small.  However, small cracks will eventually turn into big cracks and make the problem even worse.  Don’t put off fixing your foundation problem—get it taken care of now!