While many of a home’s issues can likely be addressed by a homeowner with a little know-how or access to the Internet, there are some home improvement projects that really require the touch of a professional.
Generally, things like plumbing and electrical work should be left to those who’ve studied this type of work in the past. But in addition to this, work that needs to be done on the structure of the home, especially with the foundation, shouldn’t be done by amateurs. So to help you know when you need to call for assistance, here are three signs that your home’s foundation needs professional help.
Your Floors Have Too Much Give
Although it’s common for homes and all buildings to settle a little bit and have some give to them, if you find that the floors of your home are giving a little too much, this could be a sign that you’re having some major issues with your foundation.
What bouncing floors can often mean is that you’ve had issues with water or with pests that have eroded the integrity of your home’s flooring. And while it’s best to get these issues fixed even before your floors get so bad that they start bouncing, if you do notice floors really having a lot of bounce and give, you’ll want to get a professional under there to check things out as soon as possible.
Newly Visible Nails
Something else that you’ll want to be on the lookout for when trying to determine if your home is having issues with the foundation is if there are big changes that you hadn’t noticed previously.
One change that can be pretty easy to notice is if you’re starting to see nails in places that you hadn’t seen before. When a nail pops through a wall, or you see a part of a wall moving away from a nail so that more of the nail is exposed, this can mean that there are big shifts taking place around the house, especially regarding the foundation.
Disconcerting Cracks
A final thing that should be a concern to you regarding the foundation of your home is if you start seeing cracks opening up.
Keep in mind, however, that not all cracks should be disconcerting to you. For example, small cracks almost anywhere shouldn’t be cause for a big concern. But if there are cracks that look like stair-steps or cracks that come in horizontally, those are the types of cracks that should result in you calling in a professional to take a look at your foundation.
If you’re wondering whether issues you’re seeing at home justify calling in a professional to look at your home’s foundation, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make this determination.
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