Structural Damage

Signs you may have structural damage include:

• Foundation cracks
• Drywall cracks
• Leaning house
• Bowing walls
• Doors and windows close unevenly
• Uneven floor

Structural foundation damage is one of the most serious problems a homeowner can face. It can result in inconveniences like sticking doors and unsightly cracks in drywall but, left undiagnosed and unrepaired, it can also cause the entire structure of your home to become unstable. If the house is settling, there’s a problem.

Generally its a soil condition that wasn’t evident at the time the footing was done (but not always- sometimes it could be from a final grade issue, reverse slope- no drainage away from the house). Jarring windows and doors, and/or cracks in the walls around these framed-in features are basic indications of poor construction, a leaning building or more settling than should occur naturally. Use a level on the outside corners of the home to see if the walls stand upright. When a home’s doors and windows are sticking or won’t open or close, the framework could be under too much stress from uneven settling or slanted walls. Cracks in a foundation are not caused by age; something caused the cracking to occur.

Since your house was built in the ’70’s- I’m assuming that the foundation is a block wall. If its on a crawl space- it had minimal footing and probably no damp proofing or perimeter drainage. If it’s a basement- then there probably is damp proofing (waterproofing was practically non-existent then) and a perimeter drain. But after 30yrs, the drainage system is probably clogged and/or non-effective. This leads to a static water pressure buildup on the wall, which could cause cracking. Upper walls attach to a crawlspace foundation by bolted plates or joints.

Use a flashlight to inspect the foundation where it meets the crawlspace walls. Check for loose bolts or poorly aligned joints. You probably won’t be able to see the supports or footings below a slab foundation. You can expect, however, to see harmless, hairline cracks in the visible exterior or interior concrete of any foundation. Check for large cracks that are wider at the top and narrow as they move downward, which may indicate extreme settling. Horizontal cracks in a foundation that’s backed into a hillside may indicate a home is sliding or being pushed off its footings.

There can be other issues as well- the other most likely cause is tree roots. Structural damage is usually something that has happened over the course of history. Like a tree hitting the house, or a fire in the house.