House Leveling 101: Is Your Foundation Sinking in Nashville?

Sharing is caring!

Are you a homeowner asking, is my foundation sinking in Nashville? If so, it’s vital you find out the answer to that question, as a house needs a solid foundation under it! A sinking foundation can risk costly damage inside and outside the home, while also affecting its overall property values.

A foundation inspection by a trained contractor is the best way to determine if your home is sinking, or if it needs foundation crack and leak repair. However, there are some common signs of foundation damage you might note around your property, and which might indicate a sinking house. If you notice any of these issues on your property, schedule an inspection and needed foundation repairs as soon as possible!

How to Tell If a Nashville Foundation Is Sinking?

Homeowners might first note what usually happens to a home when the foundation cracks and weakens. The weight of a house usually then shifts to one side or the other; this shifting pulls on interior and exterior surfaces and building materials.

• This shifting typically results in interior and exterior wall cracks. You might notice these cracks near window frames inside the house; outside, check for stair step-shaped cracks along with the exterior brick.
• A homeowner might also notice cracks along with interior ceilings or sagging ceiling sections. These cracks also result from the home shifting to one side or the other, pulling on the drywall and other materials that make up interior ceilings.
• Roof decking and other materials might also crack or pop, pulling away from the materials under them. You might notice buckled shingles and tiles or sagging sections along the roof surface.
• Settling pulls window and door frames out of position so that they’re no longer level and even. When this happens, those doors and windows might get stuck and become difficult to open or close properly and to lock securely.
• As door and window frames sag out of position, this can also create gaps that let in wintertime drafts or heat during the summer months.
• A sinking home might also pull on a home’s subflooring or the boards underneath carpeting and tiles. In turn, the floor might feel soft underfoot or you might notice lots of creaking and groaning when you walk across that floor.
• Even if drywall sections don’t crack, they will typically pull away from each other as the foundation sinks. Gaps might then form in room corners, or you might see gaps between drywall panels that make up a wall.
• As those walls settle and sink, baseboards and crown molding might also crack or pull away from the wall behind them.

Homeowners should also note that foundation cracks let moisture into interior spaces. You might then notice mold growth behind walls and mildew underneath carpeting. Dampness in the basement or in certain interior rooms is also not uncommon as the foundation sinks!

Why Is My Foundation Sinking in Nashville?

Understanding why a foundation might sink can also help you determine if it’s time to schedule a foundation inspection. Moisture collecting around foundation concrete weakens the material, so it might then crack and sink. If your home’s gutters are always clogged or your property’s soil is overly moist, this can increase the risk of foundation damage.

Poor-quality foundation materials and installation can also increase the risk of premature breakdown. If you own a relatively new home, check on the reputation of the company that poured the foundation. If they don’t have a stellar history of customer satisfaction, this increases the chances that your structure’s foundation is cracked and sinking!

Adding weight to your home without strengthening the foundation can also risk premature damage and sinking. If you’ve had stone floors, a heavy kitchen island, a sunroom, or other such construction added to the home without foundation underpinning, it might be time to have the material inspected for potential sinking.

How Do You Repair a Sinking Foundation?

The two most common foundation repair methods for a sinking foundation are underpinning and house leveling. Underpinning uses specialty pins or piers inserted deep into the ground; the home is lifted with hydraulic equipment and then attached to the pins. This keeps the house level and provides added support.

House leveling uses specialty grout or a slurry mixture, injected through the foundation. This slurry then “floats” the home back into a level and even position, and provides added stability and strength. In some cases, both foundation repair methods might be needed, to ensure a strong foundation over the years.

Nashville Foundation Repair & Waterproofing is happy to bring this information to you and hopefully, it helped answer the question of if your home requires foundation leveling in Nashville? If you know it’s time for an inspection or repairs, trust our trained Nashville foundation repair contractors. We ensure expert repairs that last! For more information, just give us a call.