While walking around your house, you may have noticed some small issues with the structure. You may have noticed small cracks forming at the corners of your doors or found that the floor is no longer level, making you wonder about the condition of your home's foundation.

If so, there are other things that you can look at outside of your home to verify that there is an issue with your home's foundation. Below are a couple of exterior signs that your home's foundation may be damaged and need to be repaired by a professional. 

1. You Find Diagonal or Stair-Step Cracks on the Surfaces of Your Home's Exterior Foundation Walls

One exterior sign you should check for when examining the exterior of your home to determine whether the foundation needs repairs is the presence of cracks on the external walls. While vertical and horizontal cracks are most likely superficial stress fractures that appear with time, the types of cracks that should concern you are those that are diagonal or shaped likes steps on a flight of stairs.

If the foundation walls are cracking unevenly and at an angle, the settling of the home or shifting of the ground may be pulling the concrete apart. If you find diagonal or stair-step cracks, you should have a professional inspect the structure for deeper damage.

2. Your Home's Siding Has Started to Warp or Pull Away From Itself and the Side of the House

Another sign you should look for outside of your house can be found by looking at the siding. When the house's foundation is level, the siding planks will be straight and flush against the house.

However, if damage to the foundation has caused a shift in your home's structures, you may find that the siding has become warped or is starting to pull away from itself and the side of the house for no apparent reason. If this is the case, you should have a repair professional inspect your home's foundation for damage.

If you find diagonal or stair-step cracks on the exterior foundational walls of your home and/or the siding has started to inexplicably warp and pull away, your home may have settled to the point that the foundation has serious unseen damage. Eventually, the damage will become worse and cause extensive cracking and crumbling if the issue is not found and fixed. Contact a local contractor who offers foundation repair services to learn more.

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