Noticing any open cracks between the floor and wall of your home is enough to make your heart skip a beat. Not only is it an eyesore of a problem, but it can also make a simple walk around your home into a challenge. Here, we’ll explore what causes this issue and offer a few solutions to this common foundation issue.
What Causes Floor and Wall Gaps?
Floor and wall gaps are a symptom of foundation damage; to understand floor and wall gaps, we’ll need to explore some of the most common causes for foundation issues.
Foundation Settlement
Foundation settlement refers to what happens when a building’s foundation sinks unevenly into the ground. Most often, this happens because of weak soil. Soil can be weakened in three ways – being too wet, getting too dry, or being poorly compacted. No matter the cause of weak soil, it all leads to poor support for your foundation.
Since foundations tend to be made of heavy materials, weak soil will falter under the weight of your home. Inevitably, your foundation sinks into the soil and causes walls and floors to shift, leading to gaps opening around your home
Bowing Basement Walls
Basement foundations can also cause floor gaps to occur in your home. This is due to another phenomenon involving soil – hydrostatic pressure. As water seeps deeper into the ground, it expands and exerts more pressure on the soil, which, in turn, puts pressure on the walls of your basement. This can cause cracks to form, along with walls that begin bulging outward due to the pressure.
When the basement walls bulge, it causes the walls and floors of your house to shift as well. Over time, the bowing walls will cause enough shifting and gaps will open between your home’s walls and floors.
Damaged Floor Joists
Crawl space foundations can also cause floor and wall gaps to develop. Floor joists are support beams built on the top section of a crawl space. They directly support your home’s floor and everything on it (furniture, walls, and yourself). Often, floor joists may become damaged when high levels of moisture enter your crawl space. Most often, this is due to wood rot that eats away at wooden support beams in a crawl space. When these beams get damaged, floors and walls once again shift and cause gaps to open around your home.
FAQs
You might be tempted to caulk any gaps that open in your home. However, this method fails to address the actual problem of foundation damage. Even if caulking or other DIY methods appear to close a gap for a time, it’s only on the surface level. Foundation damage is still occurring, and the gap will only get larger.
The only way to truly seal wall gaps is with foundation repair options like pier systems or wall anchors. Professional foundation repair can prevent gaps from opening in the future because they offer a permanent solution to foundation problems. So, you can’t close gaps on your own – the best thing to do is hire a professional.
Pier systems can be a little confusing to those who are not familiar with their function. Basically, they are long, galvanized steel rods that are driven into the deepest layers of soil underneath your foundation. In this way, they offer additional support to your home and foundation as the rods transfer the compact strength of the soil to the underside of your foundation for unmovable support.
Peak provides three different pier systems– helical piers, push piers, and slab piers. They all accomplish the same goal but use slightly different designs. Additionally, all three pier systems will not be visible from the outside or ruin the landscaping around your property.
Most people would agree that wall gaps don’t look great, but some homeowners might think these gaps aren’t a huge deal. Unfortunately, this type of thinking can lead to serious damage throughout your home. Floor and wall gaps are indicative of a larger foundation issue. If ignored, it could escalate into an even larger problem and cause many other issues like stuck doors and windows, drywall cracks, or uneven concrete.
Explore Solutions
While floor and wall gaps indicate a larger foundation problem, there are several solutions that prevent damage from happening again in the future. These include pier systems, wall anchors, or the IntelliBrace™ wall repair system. Every solution provides permanent support for your foundation and prevents nail pops in the future.
Peak Structural
SettleStop IntelliBrace™ Wall Repair System
Basement walls that have problems like cracking and bowing will only worsen over time. Ensure your home and family’s safety with a permanent wall repair system from Peak Structural.
Peak Structural
Pier Systems: Helical & Push Piers
Learn how helical and push piers work and how Peak Structural can help you restore your home for good.
Peak Structural
The SettleStop™ Wall Anchor System
Our SettleStop wall anchor system is an excellent solution to bowing foundation walls. The innovative system ensures that your walls remain standing straight over time.
Peak Structural
Crawl Space Support Posts
When crawl space beams get damaged due to high moisture, your floors will begin to sag, and gaps may open between your floorboards. Crawl space support posts are the best solution to the problem.
Call Us for a Free Inspection
Your home deserves a solid foundation. If you’re noticing gaps opening throughout your home, it’s time for a foundation inspection. Peak has been serving homeowners in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Grand Junction Region for nearly 20 years, and we’re committed to bringing the same dependable service to your home.
If you want to learn more about foundation repair options, or if you want to schedule a free inspection from one of our specialists, contact us today. Peak Structural is here to help with any problem your foundation might be facing!
