Homeowners live in fear of discovering damage to their property, but even more alarming is the thought of not noticing until it’s too late to find a reasonable fix.
Thankfully, most issues can be fixed, though the costliness and complexity of the task is likely to rise with severity. For this reason, catching problems early is an important way to help keep your home in its best condition for longer.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the earliest signs of structural damage to your home, helping you contact a structural expert quickly to resolve them.
Damp floors
Poor ventilation is a major bugbear in homes of all ages, sizes and scopes. When left unchecked, it can cause damage to the structure of the property, and in a worst-case scenario, cause the floorboards to rot and lose their integrity.
An early sign of this damage is unsightly stains – can you see any uneven patches on your carpet where the floor looks a different colour from the rest?
We strongly suggest getting this issue looked at straight away, as nobody wants their floorboards to become uneven or to risk costly repairs when the issue could be caught in time for a more straightforward fix.
Crumbling brick and concrete
If you start to notice the building blocks of your house crumbling, then it’s time to talk to a structural expert. The causes of this issue can be varied, but in every instance they should be checked to ensure there isn’t a deeper problem to deal with.
One of the key causes of crumbling brick and concrete is exposure to moisture, such as you may experience after a flood or extreme water damage and damp. Alternatively, chemical exposure can also cause this reaction, due to an interaction with the components of the building materials.
Carefully assess where the crumbling brickwork is occurring. Is it higher up the building, or on the lower levels? This will help you to report the issue and ultimately find a fix.
Contact a structural repair expert as soon as possible, to help get to the bottom of what’s causing the erosion.
Cracked floors
Just as cracked walls and ceilings can be indicative of a lingering problem, the same applies to cracked floors. The health of your floor is a good indication of how ‘healthy’ your foundations are, so it’s important to pay attention to any changes.
Shifts in the ground underneath your home can cause these cracks to appear, but with the help of structural experts, it’s possible to find a fix that supports the underlying structure.
While it might be tempting to ignore smaller cracks in the floor, it’s always best to deal with these problems quickly before they develop further and become more costly and complicated to resolve.
A leaking roof
Think of your roof as a sort of ‘first defence’ within the property. It’s exposed to the elements day in, day out, all year round – and so will quickly become susceptible to any problems that need fixing.
At its most dramatic, a leaking roof can lead to severe water damage throughout your home, exacerbating (or causing) mould and other issues that require further work to fix.
When less severe, a leak in the roof can give you a quick indication that something is wrong – and also a straightforward route to getting it resolved with the help of an expert.
The first sign of structural damage to your home is likely to be reflected in the roof. Does it look like it’s sagging or uneven? Can you see any damp patches on the ceiling? This could all indicate that you need to get the roof fixed.
Keep in mind that the roof can also leak due to severe weather conditions and poor maintenance, so always keep up with necessary repairs before they have a chance to escalate.
Cracks in the walls
Have you noticed any little cracks in the walls or ceiling of your property? Then this could be a sign of damage to the structure of the home. While new homes hardly ever display these issues, as time goes by, small cracks are likely to appear and can grow more dramatic if left unchecked.
The problem can be caused by the foundations gradually settling, but there might be a more sinister cause. Poor construction is another reason why these cracks appear, so contact an expert as quickly as possible to get a clearer picture of the damage to your home, give your property a health MOT, and look into treatments such as crack stitching that can provide a long-term solution to the issue.
Not sure how to fix your structural problem? We’re here to help. Contact us to discuss your unique requirements in detail.