What Is Foundation Failure?

The term “foundation failure” describes a broad category of structural failures you might find yourself contending with after a long year of excessive moisture. Your foundation, after all, is especially sensitive to the presence of moisture in your home, and it can show its discontent in a variety of ways. At first glance, many of these failures may seem superficial in nature. However, if you don’t attend to these problems quickly, they can evolve into conditions that require extensive repairs.  

Some of the most common foundation failures include:  

• Sticking windows and doors. As moisture makes its way into your home, you can find your doors and windows sticking as you try to open or close them. That difficulty stems from the presence of moisture in the wood or materials making up your door and window frames. Long-term exposure to excess moisture can cause these frames to warp, making it nearly impossible to return your windows or doors to their proper positions.  
• Wall Cracks. The walls in your foundation can fall victim to water damage just as easily as walls elsewhere in your home. Hydrostatic pressure can cause your drywall or concrete to change size on a molecular level. The stress that these changes generate can cause your walls to develop horizontal, diagonal, and vertical cracks. Even brick walls can crack along their mortar, allowing moisture into your foundation and increasing the amount of hydrostatic pressure that your home has to contend with. 
• Framing damage. The framework of your home needs to remain strong if you want to prevent your foundation from slipping or sinking. If you notice cracks in your framework or walls, there may be moisture in your walls for you to worry about.  
• Buckling floors and other structural damage. Foundation failures can also include abruptly uneven floors or severe structural damage to your home’s accessories, from your front porch to your chimney. You’ll want to keep a wary eye out for these types of damage, as they can appear subtle at first. You can work with a professional contractor in your area to conduct an annual home inspection, allowing you to keep an eye on these accessories and to act on any damage you might find.