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Posted on: 17 October 2019

Heave, subsidence, and settlement are all terms that relate to soil movement that affects the foundation of a home. When a home is built, the soil is supposed to be carefully prepared in order to ensure that the foundation will remain stable for many years to come. Unfortunately, there are situations where the soil is not properly analyzed or prepared, which can lead to issues in the future as the soil shifts and causes problems with a home's foundation. If you suspect issues with the soil surrounding your home, you need to schedule a foundation settlement investigation with an experienced forensic engineer. Some signs that you may need to schedule a foundation settlement investigation include:

Documented Leaks

There can be many different types of leaks in a home's plumbing system, but one of the most serious types is a slab leak. A slab leak consists of a leaking pipe under the foundation of a home. Slab leaks are not easily detected, so it is not uncommon for a slab leak to result in a lot of leaking water before it is repaired. Thus, a slab leak can introduce a lot of moisture into the soil surrounding a home and the foundation. If your home has experienced a serious slab leak, a foundation settlement investigation may be necessary, especially if there are other symptoms of soil issues.

Poor Drainage Around Foundation

When a home is constructed, the soil should be graded so rain and melting snow flow away from the foundation of the house. However, over time, it is possible for the grading to change. If a home has no grading around the foundation or if there is a slope that allows water to flow towards the foundation instead of away from it, issues can arise. Pay careful attention to the grading surrounding your home's foundation -- if you notice problems, you may need a foundation settlement investigation to check the soil and integrity of the foundation.

Formation of Cracks

Foundations settle slightly over time because a home is quite heavy and puts a lot of stress on the foundation. However, when there are soil issues, the foundation can settle too much and shift too much, leading to cracks. If you notice cracks in your ceiling, floors, garage, basement, or driveway, do not ignore them. The best thing that you can do is make arrangements to have a foundation settlement investigation conducted, and then find out if you need foundation repairs. 

For more information on foundation settlement investigations, contact a company in your area like Federal Engineering & Testing.