How Long Before Water Will Damage My Foundation?

Water is a powerful force that wreaks havoc on your home in many ways—from an all-out flood and ruined belongings to structural instability.

In a previous article, we answered the question, “How Can Flooding Cause Foundation Damage?” We highlighted exactly what a flood can do to your home’s foundation and common signs to look for.

In this article, we’re going to address the timeline of the impact of foundation water damage. Anything involving your foundation can be a complex topic, but our goal is to simplify it for you. Let’s jump right in.

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General Time Frame for Water Damage

The timeline for water-induced foundation damage varies based on several factors. While the process can be gradual, spanning months or years, severe cases may cause significant harm in just 72 hours.

The deterioration typically begins with minor concrete cracks that gradually expand, allowing increasing water infiltration. Alarmingly, even minimal moisture can initiate damage. For example, a small but persistent leak may lead to flooding, eroding foundation materials, and weakening structural integrity.

Key elements affecting the rate of foundation damage include:

The type of soil on your property
Weather patterns (including drought, heavy rain, snowmelt, and floods)
The size of the foundation cracks

What Does Foundation Water Damage Look Like?

Every home is different, and foundation water damage can take many forms. However, these are the most common signs to keep an eye out for:

cracking basement walls and water intrusion

Cracks exceeding ¼ inch in floors or walls
Gaps between outer walls and foundation
Bowing walls
Sticking windows and doors

Recognizing early indicators of foundation water damage is crucial. Prompt detection allows for timely intervention, helping prevent the issue from escalating into a major hazard.

What To Know Next

In this post, we answered your question about how quickly water can damage your foundation. Foundation water damage is a critical issue that shouldn’t be underestimated. It poses a significant threat to your home’s structural stability, potentially rendering your living space unsafe.

Your local Groundworks company can inspect your home for signs of damage and repair them with lasting customized solutions.

There’s a lot more to know about foundation issues, so check our Ultimate Guide to Foundation Repair for more informative articles!

If you need foundation repair you can trust, get a quick, easy, and completely free inspection from Groundworks. Just click the button below to get started.

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Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for almost 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.