10 Signs of Foundation Problems

Darren Driscoll • April 2, 2013

signs of foundation problemsWe’ve spent a lot of time talking about how gutters help you protect your foundations, but we’ve never taken the time to talk about the different signs of foundation problems in your home. Foundation problems are very serious, and it’s a good idea to understand how to notice them so that you can have them addressed right away.

It’s especially good to acquaint yourself with this list if you’re buying a home for the first time. Some homeowners opt to sell their homes when they notice foundation problems rather than handling the expensive repairs themselves.

Sure, you’ll have a home inspector come look at the home of your dreams eventually, but if you know the signs of foundation problems you’ll never get that far. You’ll simply move on to the next home before putting down your earnest money and paying the inspector.

Some of the signs of foundation problems are similar to the signs of a sinkhole. This is not surprising since they are both signs of problems underneath your home.

If you’re not sure which you are dealing with it’s best to just call someone out to have a look at your home. An engineer can help you tell the difference. Don’t assume one or the other. You want to be accurate when dealing with your insurance company since this could affect the way the claim is handled.

The signs are:

  1. Doors and windows that are difficult to close.
  2. Floors that slope, or that separate from the walls.
  3. Nails which “pop” out of your walls.
  4. Cracks in your sheetrock.
  5. Walls that bend, buckle, or warp.
  6. A roof that leaks, even if it’s brand new.
  7. If your home is made of brick: diagonal cracks in the brick and mortar.
  8. Cracks in the exposed concrete at the base of the home.
  9. Your crown molding is separating or cracking, especially if the cracks extend into the ceiling.
  10. There are significant cracks in your floor.

These foundation problems will not always be caused by issues with your gutters. There are other things that can cause foundation problems, including the expansion of tree roots that are planted too close to your home.

There are a few sites on the internet which encourage you to do “diy foundation repair.” This is a terrible idea.

Unless you are a professional foundation contractor yourself you should always get help with this kind of problem. A damaged foundation can create an unsafe home, and if you don’t know what you’re doing you will just give yourself a false sense of security. Contact your insurance company and do whatever it takes to get the problem fixed.

Rain Control Gutters has been a trusted gutter contractor serving St. Petersburg, Largo, Clearwater, and the rest of the Tampa Bay metro area for over 35 years. We help homeowners protect their homes by installing seamless aluminum gutters to prevent water damage to major structures like home foundations. Call us today for a free estimate.

Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best?

By Darren Driscoll • February 17, 2020
Everybody wants to save money on home maintenance costs. We get it. Even if you realize the full extent of everything your gutters do to protect your home from water damage, you probably don’t want to spend an arm and a leg making it happen. So if you’re considering DIY gutter installation, hey, we can hardly blame you. After all, we know, and you know, that you could go grab a 6″ x 10″ aluminum K-style gutter in 10″ lengths for about $15 at your local Home Depot. So how do you know whether you should do that, or whether you [...] Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? is from Rain Control Gutters The post Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

What are Galvalume Gutters?

By Darren Driscoll • February 3, 2020
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Are Copper Gutters Worth the Investment?

By Darren Driscoll • January 20, 2020
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What Are K-Style Gutters (aka Ogee Gutters)?

By Darren Driscoll • January 3, 2020
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Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters

By Darren Driscoll • October 4, 2019
Todd Dudkewic has retired after over 40 years of owning and managing Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. He’s sold the business to us, the Driscolls. We’ve always wanted to own a family business, so this is an exciting opportunity for us! We’re Darren and Gwen Driscoll, and we’re excited to step into Todd’s tradition of providing excellent, ethical rain gutter service to the residents of Central Florida. Darren worked with Todd for over a decade before taking this step. Darren comes from a management role at a very successful Master Elite Residential Roofing Company (Sharpe Professional Roofing, LLC). [...] Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters is from Rain Control Gutters The post Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

Why You Should Invest in Flo-Free Leaf Guards Before Selling Your Home

By Darren Driscoll • June 29, 2019
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5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019

By Darren Driscoll • June 1, 2019
You might wonder why on earth a seamless gutter company would publish a list of their competitors, but at Rain Control Gutters, we believe in putting the customer first! Installing seamless aluminum gutters is a major investment in your home, and we know you’ll want to do your research to make sure you’re getting the best service and value. We started a similar list of the best gutter installers in Tampa a few years ago. We got such positive feedback for putting such a list together we thought we’d do it for other cities starting with Odessa, FL. Here are five seamless gutter [...] 5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019 is from Rain Control Gutters The post 5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019 appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019

By Darren Driscoll • May 28, 2019
On our blog we’ve done a lot of talking about hurricanes. It’s only natural. We help people manage the way weather effects their home. And hurricanes are not only a whole lot of weather, they’re almost a fixture in the Tampa metro area.   This year NOAA predicts a normal hurricane season, with 9 to 15 named storms. 4 to 8 of those could become hurricanes. And they predict at least 2 to 4 major hurricanes.   We’ve gathered a few resources to help people in our service area make it through hurricane season, safe and sound. Some of these resources are elsewhere [...] Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019 is from Rain Control Gutters The post Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019 appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor

By Darren Driscoll • April 30, 2019
Nobody spends a lot of time taking Pinterest photos of their gutters or talking about them on HGTV. But they’re one of the most important parts of your house.   Especially in the Tampa metro area! Our torrential rains are no joke.   Your gutters protect your home. Which means your gutter contractor had best be someone good at his or her job.   But how can you know?   You’ve got to do a little research. Here are some things to look for. 1. A ton of positive reviews. Look, customers aren’t exactly unaware of Google+, Yelp, and Facebook recommendations.   If a gutter company can’t get great reviews, something’s [...] 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor is from Rain Control Gutters The post 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim?

By Darren Driscoll • March 30, 2019
Water damage is brutal. It can ruin both your home and your belongings. It can leave behind mold, an even more destructive force. And if you’re not mitigating your water damage risk because you think insurance will cover everything, you may be in for a rude awakening. Insurance is for emergencies. Homeowner’s insurance typically covers things like tree limbs falling and tearing a hole in your roof, or tornadoes ripping the shingles away. It doesn’t cover basic maintenance failures, or even, always, the results of those maintenance failures. “If the damage is not sudden or accidental, but instead is the result of a [...] What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
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