2 Signs Your Basement's Concrete Foundation Has Hidden Water Damage
If your home's basement has a concrete foundation, you may be concerned that recent heavy rain or melting snow in your area may have affected the structure, especially if there has been any flooding around your house. However, you may not be able to find any areas where there is water leaking into your basement. If so, look for the following signs that your foundation may have suffered from hidden water damage.
1. Gaps and Cracks Appear Along the Corners and Around Doors and Windows
One sign that your basement's foundation may have been affected by water damage is when you start seeing cracks and gaps appearing along the corners of the walls as well as along the edges of the ceiling and floor. You may also see these gaps around the windows and doorways, depending on how long the water has been damaging the foundation.
When water starts pushing in on the walls from the outside, or when so much water softens the ground underneath the floor, the structure starts to shift. When this happens, your foundation is knocked out of perfect alignment, causing these areas to pull apart or push against one another. If this starts to happen, have a professional take action to correct the misalignment before major structural damage occurs.
2. White Powdery Substance Cakes Certain Areas of the Walls
Another sign that your basement is being damaged by water is when you start seeing a white, powdery substance caking certain areas of the walls. This powder is known as efflorescence, and while it itself does not damage the foundation, it does show that water is affecting the structure.
When water is pushing on the outside of a concrete foundation, many times, it is able to make its way through tiny cracks and pores in the material. As it passes through, it has the strength to carry with it minerals from the concrete.
Once it reaches the other side, the water deposits these minerals on the interior surface once it evaporates. Not only can this weaken the concrete, but it is a definite sign that water is infiltration the foundation.
If you notice the above signs while checking out your basement's concrete foundation, you most likely have some water damage that is affecting its structural integrity. If you believe this is the case, contact a company that offers basement foundation repair services to have them complete a full inspection and discuss with you possible solutions for any issues that they may find.
