Becoming a homeowner is a huge milestone, because it will give you the freedom to create your own place of domestic comfort. You no longer need the blessing of your landlord to renovate a bathroom or keep pets, but it also comes with a great deal of responsibility. One of them is keeping up with the regular maintenance, which can go a long way toward keeping its property value and avoiding expensive repairs.
One of these costly repairs is your foundation, but maintaining your home’s structural integrity is an important part of preserving its value and keeping it safe to live in. Everything from shifting soil to flooding can damage your foundation. When these issues come up, you need to take care of it as soon as possible.
Here are some reasons why you should never put off repairing your foundation.
#1: You Can Avoid Plumbing Problems
As foundation cracks expand and floors start to slope, the risk for plumbing leaks will increase. Any pipes that run below a concrete slab can get damaged when it moves. But other parts of your home will be under stress, which can cause leaks to develop.
#2: It will Improve Energy Efficiency
Your home will be more efficient if there aren’t any cracks in the walls and ceiling, because there will be less heat loss or gain inside. Heat can flow in the summer and escape during the winter, but distorted windows and cracked door frames can compromise this seal because there are uneven gaps. This will allow hot or cold air to get inside your home, which will cause your AC bill to go up in the summer and your heating bill to increase during the winter.
#3: You Can Avoid a Termite Infestation
Termites can get inside your home through a single crack. Most of them only need the width of a business card to get inside, so foundation cracks and even ones along your home’s exterior near ground level can give them plenty of entry space.
#4: It Will Be Easier to Sell Your Home
Whenever a homeowner notices a crack, the common response is to fix it and move on. While there’s nothing wrong with doing this, you should never assume that it’s going to make the structural problem go away. It won’t prevent other foundation issues from popping up. When it comes time to sell your home, it could be a “deal-breaker.” Even if a prospective home buyer is willing to accept the risk of purchasing a home with a foundation issue, a lender isn’t likely to allow a mortgage to be granted for a property with this kind of problem.
#5: You Can Avoid Rising Repair Costs
The cost of restoring your home from foundation damage can increase if the problem isn’t taken care of quickly enough. Most homeowners will get an estimate once they notice the issue to find out that it’s much higher than they hoped for. They will put off the job until they’re more comfortable paying for the repair, but many of them don’t realize that none of these issues will go away. The problem will get worse the longer you wait. But, so will the cost of the repair. You can save thousands of dollars in the long run if you take care of the problem as soon as you find it.
#6: It Will Improve Your Home’s Structural Integrity
Foundation damage can have a detrimental effect on your home’s structural integrity. If it’s left unchecked, it can lead to serious damage (such as cracks in your walls and ceilings, bowing floors and beams, as well as compromised roofing). If you take care of your foundation repair once you notice a problem, you can keep other parts of your home from getting damaged. This will make sure that every part of your home is structurally sound.
#7: It Will Keep You and Your Family Safe
Probably one of the most important reasons why you should never put off foundation repair is because it will keep you and your family safe (along with anyone else inside your home). A weak foundation can cause floors, walls, and other parts of your home to suddenly and unexpectedly collapse. So, anyone inside your home will be at risk of injury or even death. If you take care of foundation problems as soon as they come up, you can make sure your home is safe.
If you’re looking for one of the best places for foundation repair in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with Streem Foundation Repair.