Water damage to the roof can sometimes be challenging to spot, mainly because the roof leak is often not where the water stains appear. If the area isn’t dried thoroughly, your home is at risk for mold and becoming structurally unsound. The longer the water sits, the more extensive the damage will be. It’s imperative to ensure your home is completely dried as quickly as possible if you experience any flooding. Additionally, if flooding occurs, your walls and foundation could be damaged by hydrostatic pressure. The home can sink into the ground and compromise its stability. Structural damage can occur when the water damage is ignored or if it’s extensive. Not all water issues cause structural damage, but it’s essential to correct any foundation damage before it becomes a concern to your home’s overall structural integrity.Ī home may have water damage if there’s water seepage in small cracks in the foundation or basement or crawl space walls. Water damage to a home’s foundation can happen for a variety of reasons. You could risk extensive damage to your home, costly repairs or your home could even collapse. What may seem minor to your eye may actually be a significant problem in your foundation. Ignoring small signs of structural issues can result in major expenses down the road, sometimes requiring an engineer. Additionally, you may just consider doors and windows that are difficult to open a nuisance, but they could indicate a more severe problem. Knowing what to look for and immediately addressing these serious problems can save you a lot of time, money and stress.įirst, take a look at your roof from a distance.ĭoes anything seem lopsided, slanted, damaged or saggy?Īnother way to tell if your house has structural problems is to inspect your driveway and yard for cracks and keep an eye out for any broken wires or pipes. Water spots and stains in the ceiling, roof, walls or drywall could suggest structural issues. One of the first signs of structural damage to your home could be spotting water damage. And while structural problems are never good, many are easy to fix and repair. Hairline cracks in walls, drywall, the ceiling and roof are tell-tale signs that your home may have structural issues. Structural problems put your home at risk for collapsing. Visual inspection is the best way to initially find structural damage”, according to Jerome Connor, a structural engineering professor at MIT.Īdditionally, water can saturate soil and cause foundation support issues and wood damage, increasing the likelihood of structural instability. A leaky pipe or roof may seem like a minimal issue at first, but can have long-term effects on your home’s integrity. Water and storm damage are often the culprits leading to structural issues. No matter the cause, it’s imperative to ensure your home is restored to building code requirements. The damage may have come from a water leak, an intense storm with high winds, flooding or other natural disasters. Your home, or any building, may have structural damage if the roof or any load-bearing walls have been compromised. Structural damage to your home can occur for many reasons but is often caused by water damage. Get a Free Quote Home Structure Damage Causes Get a free quote from a licensed IICRC-certified restoration expert near you. It also compromises the safety of your home. Hidden damage can cause irreversible, long-term damage to a home. But it could indicate more significant, underlying damage. A door or window that’s a little tougher to open doesn’t seem like a big deal. On the surface, structural damage may seem minor. A shifted door frame can indicate a shift in the overall structure. Water damage may also undermine a structure’s integrity by rusting and weakening foundational metal structures.ĭoors and windows that don’t open like they once did are strong signs of structural damage. Windstorms and flood damage stress metal fasteners and 2×4’s in your home, causing them to buckle. High winds are the typical culprit for this damage, but intense floods have also been known to cause structural damage. Leaning windows and door frames are common signs of a structurally weakened home. Without these walls, your home would collapse. Load-bearing walls are crucial to a home’s structure, and they are what carry the majority of your home’s weight. ![]() Structural damage is any type of damage that affects the core integrity of your home, especially your roof and load-bearing walls.
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