Do You Have a Foundation Problem

Does your home have any of these problems?

• Doors not opening or closing properly
• Windows needing extra force to open and close
• Diagonal cracks coming from the top corners of windows and door openings
• Uneven, dipping, or sagging floors
• Door and window openings are out of square
• Cracks forming in windows

Problems with windows and doors can often be signs of foundation problems. Don’t panic, though, because foundation problems are very fixable.

How does a foundation issue affect a home's windows and doors? Many times, the cause is a settling foundation or sinking crawl space supports:

Foundation Settlement

Foundation settlement is usually the result of the shifting or compaction of the underlying soil. This is due to changes in soil conditions and moisture content and causes parts of the foundation to crack or shift. With a settling foundation, the wood framing of the house is more likely to twist, resulting in skewed openings for doors and windows, floors that dip, and cracked drywall.

Sinking Crawl Space Supports

Many crawl spaces are poorly designed. They are often built on weak and unstable soils, with too few support columns, and have rotting floor joists and girders. As is the case with settling foundations, a sinking crawl space can wreak havoc on a house’s floor, door and window frames, and structure as a whole.

Fixing The Problem

Foundation settlement issues are addressed with foundation piers installed at key locations. These piers prevent further settlement and can allow the foundation to be jacked up to its original position. Crawl space sinkage is repaired with crawl space support jacks, which prevent further sinking and can allow the crawl space to return to its original position. Once a foundation or crawl space is stabilized, cracks in the wall will close. Doors and windows may return to functionality and further settlement damage will halt.