AI-Powered Top 5 Common Foundation Problems In Old Homes
Homes often hold sentimental value for their owners and families, especially when a home has been around for many decades. At Groundworks, we know the importance of an older home can’t be overstated. However, older homes often come with unique challenges. One of the most pressing is foundation issues in old homes.
While older properties are particularly prone to these problems, it’s important to note that old house foundation problems can also appear in newer homes.
In this article, we will highlight common foundation issues in old homes and offer our solutions to each problem. With modern techniques, you can preserve the historical beauty of your home!
What Constitutes an “Old Home?”
In real estate terms, any home that is more than 50 years old can be considered an old home. Homes built before 1920 are sometimes referred to as antiques. Many factors can affect the status of an older home’s foundation including building materials, weather patterns, and foundation type.
5 Old House Foundation Problems
All homes, no matter their age, can be affected by foundation issues. However, older homes are always at greater risk of experiencing foundation damage. Here’s what to look out for if you or a loved one is living in a home over 50 years old.
1. Cracks in Basement Walls
Basement wall cracks are often the first visible sign of foundation trouble.
These can result from water pressure, water damage, or shifting ground.
While hairline cracks may seem harmless, larger or growing cracks indicate a deeper issue requiring immediate attention.
2. Bowing Walls
Bowing walls occur when external pressure, usually from soil expansion or poor drainage, pushes against the foundation walls, causing them to curve inward.
Left unaddressed, this can compromise the structural integrity of your home.
3. Exterior Wall Cracks
Cracks on the exterior walls can be alarming, especially if they appear in stair-step patterns on brickwork or large vertical cracks in siding. These often signal uneven foundation settling or shifting due to changes in the soil beneath your home.
4. Drywall Cracks
Inside the home, cracks in drywall near windows, doors, or ceilings may point to foundation movement.
These cracks often occur as the house shifts unevenly, creating stress on interior walls.
5. Sticking Doors and Windows
Cracks on the exterior walls can be alarming, especially if they appear in stair-step patterns on brickwork or large vertical cracks in siding. These often signal uneven foundation settling or shifting due to changes in the soil beneath your home.
Expert Solutions for Foundation Issues in Old Homes
While all of these issues may sound unavoidable, there are plenty of solutions available for old house foundation repair that protect your home from damage. Groundworks uses modern repair techniques that provide permanent solutions to virtually any foundation problem. We may recommend one of these customizable solutions:
- Foundation Piers: Our helical piers, push piers, or slab piers permanently stabilize and can potentially lift a settling foundation.
- Wall Repair Methods: We reinforce walls with carbon fiber straps and can potentially repair them with wall anchors or wall braces.
- Crawl Space Supports: Our teams reinforce and can lift your sagging floors with durable crawl space support jacks.
- Crawl Space Encapsulation: Control crawl space moisture and humidity with drainage, insulation, dehumidification, and full encapsulation with a vapor barrier.
- Basement Waterproofing Systems: Keep basement water issues at bay with interior drains, sump pumps, wall vapor barriers, and dehumidifiers.
- Polyurethane Injections: Say goodbye to cracking and uneven concrete slabs with our innovative concrete lifting polyurethane injections.
These are just some of the tools our team of experts uses to keep your foundation functioning like new. Plus, our team always has a representative ready to take your call and answer any concerns or questions you may have about our products or processes.
For more tips on maintaining older homes, check out this article from Redfin: 7 Simple Ways to Prevent Water Damage in Older Homes | Redfin
Why Choose Groundworks for Old House Foundation Problems?
No matter the age of your home, our team of foundation specialists is equipped with any of the tools necessary for foundation repair. Groundworks has provided quality service for millions of homeowners across North America for many years; our business only continues to grow, as well as our capacity to help people preserve their homes.
When our team is on-site, we treat your home like it’s our own, taking care to clean up completely after the job is finished and making sure your landscaping stays undisturbed. To learn more about Groundworks or to schedule a FREE inspection, contact us today!
Foundation Repair FAQs
Yes, foundation issues can significantly decrease your home’s value and make it difficult to sell. Proper repair can restore value and ensure structural integrity.
In most cases, you can stay in your home during repairs. However, there might be some noise and temporary disruption depending on the extent of the work.
Temporary solutions like shoring walls just treat the symptoms. Groundworks uses deep foundation piers and anchors that permanently stabilize your home by transferring its weight to load-bearing soil strata, providing a long-lasting fix.
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