Owning a home isn’t easy. It seems like every time you turn around, there’s a new problem to fix or some kind of emergency happening. If you have tenants, you may not even know about serious issues until it’s too late.
While it’s easy to get overwhelmed with responsibilities and postpone certain repairs, anything related to the structure or foundation of your home should be prioritized and handled immediately – here’s why.
The longer you wait, the more damage can be done
At first, the early stages of a foundation issue may seem more like an inconvenience than a sign of a crisis to come. Many homeowners mistakenly form this conclusion and pay for it in the long run.
Just like any other deferred maintenance task, putting off structural repairs will only allow the problems to get worse. For example, damage to your home’s foundation can cause cracks in the walls, uneven flooring, broken pipes, windows and doors that stick, water leaks, mold, and in a worst-case-scenario, there’s a potential for the building to collapse. This means structural repairs to your home are urgent even when they don’t seem like an emergency.
If you notice any of these common signs of structural issues, and you don’t address them quickly, it will only get worse. Wall cracks will get bigger, floors will start to bounce, and in the end, it will cost you far more to repair. For example, repairing it before it gets worse could cost a few thousand dollars, but that can double or even triple if you wait too long. At that point, you won’t just be repairing the foundation – you’ll be making continuous repairs in a variety of areas.
Foundations that become weak have a domino effect that puts stress on the entire structure of the property. Everything connected gets affected, from the walls and floors to cross beams, window frames, and attached garages.
It could create a dangerous situation
In the case of serious structural problems, there’s a chance postponing repairs for an extended period of time can create a dangerous situation where the property may actually collapse. There is a potential for injury in this situation, and if it happens to one of your tenants then you will probably be facing a lawsuit. Although this potential is rare, it can happen if you ignore the signs for too long.
You could experience a plumbing nightmare
If the subsoil starts to expand or contract, it can end up breaking water pipes below your foundation. As a foundation shifts, above-ground water pipes in the walls and floors can also break. This is not a scenario you want to face.
Your utility bills could get expensive
Homes are usually built to be airtight for the most part, and insulation and weather stripping bridges the gaps. However, if your foundation is damaged by hydrostatic pressure or expansive clay soil, all of the excess moisture will be carried upward into your home. This process can create cracks and warps, along with structural separations. At this point, you’ll struggle to keep your house warm in winter or cool in summer, creating higher utility bills.
The value of your home will decrease
While some homebuyers don’t mind acquiring a property that needs some work, they won’t pay as much for it. If your home has major structural damage, that will drop the value of your home, especially if the damage is beyond what someone can fix themselves.
For example, if you’re only starting to notice a drainage problem, that’s not hard to fix on your own. However, if you allow the problem to get worse, it won’t be a DIY project anymore, and it will turn away potential buyers. Even if you drop the price, many buyers won’t want to deal with the problems.
You might have to wait for repairs
When you catch problems early, you can get them taken care of before the damage gets out of hand. However, there are certain times of the year when foundation repair companies are particularly busy and booked out for weeks at a time. If you ignore structural repairs long enough, by the time you make an appointment, your problem could get noticeably worse while you’re waiting for your repair.
Preventive maintenance will save you money
The bottom line is that preventive maintenance is the only solution to avoid the high cost of structural damage. Foundations will naturally shift over time, but preventive maintenance will help you spot the beginning of serious issues before they grow into a nightmare.
