Sunday 6 January 2019

When Does The House Settling Pleasanton Homeowners Notice Become A Foundation Problem

Posted by Unknown at 14:17
By Shirley Murray


Homes sink over time mostly due to the power of gravity and weather conditions. The amount of sinkage depends mainly on soil composition and climate conditions in the region. Builders who are experienced normally take these issues into account. Some of the house settling Pleasanton structures experience should be considered normal and not of concern. If the sinking or shifting continues, or gets worse, that can indicate a serious problem. Understanding the difference is important.

Concrete foundations shrink. That's part of the curation process. It also has to do with the cement mix and how much water is used, the temperature, exposure to the sun, and groundwater. Foundations made of brick will expand. That's because brick tends to grow over time. Exposed brick walls grow faster than the section of a wall that is not exposed. Brick underground will grow because of moisture in the soil.

If building crews do not prepare the soil properly before construction, or when homes are constructed in drought conditions, significant settling can occur. If there is an extended period of rain after a drought, the soil expands and makes the structure settle. The problem gets even worse if there is another drought causing the soil to contract again.

Contractors recognize three kinds of settlement. There is uniform settlement in which the four corners of a structure settle evenly. Tipping settlement is when one side of a house remains in place. The opposite side drops but doesn't compromise the foundation. Differential settlement occurs when a part of your foundation remains in place and another section shifts. This is the type of settlement that causes expensive problems.

Most of the time families do not even realize their houses are shifting slightly. Other times homeowners notice the little cracks that are telltale signs of shifting. Little cracks, that do not get worse, are generally not a problem. Jagged and slanted cracks in the walls indicate a settlement so significant it is tearing the sheetrock.

It is not unusual for doors or windows to stick occasionally, especially during rainy weather. If you notice a pattern of your doors and windows sticking, you may have cause for concern. It may mean that the house has shifted enough to twist the frames. This causes them to go out of balance.

It is easy to see cracks and notice sticking windows and doors, but the biggest headache, say the experts, is something you will not notice right away. Your roof will begin to show signs of the settling. As foundations shift they compromise the whole structure including the highest part of it. Roofs begin to gap and crack, and then leak.

If your home has a basement, you need to be on the lookout for water after a rainstorm. Water can leak into the basements of houses with solid foundations, but it will certainly leak into houses with foundation problems. Even without a basement, you should look for signs of water seeping into the home as an indication you have a serious foundation problem.




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