As a property owner, it pays to be able to spot the signs of sinkholes and foundation problems early. This can lead to enormous savings on repairs for you.
Identifying such problems in your Dallas-Fort Worth property also means resolving the damage before it turns into a large-scale issue. Even if sinkholes appear to form suddenly, most actually progress gradually before the signs are discovered.
If you suspect you have foundation failure in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, it could be due to sinkholes. These usually appear where soluble bedrock is found.
As groundwater passes through the bedrock, it can lead to these rocks disappearing through dissolution or washing out. This causes the formation of underground caves and tunnels. The soil on the surface above begins to cave in or sink into the newly formed hollowed spaces.
Professionals Should Check Sinkholes and Foundation Issues
When sinkholes begin to materialize in your Dallas-Fort Worth property, you need to contact a geotechnical engineer. This specialist can assess the underground conditions, conduct geophysical testing and provide the proper solution that resolves the root cause of the issue.
Geotechnical engineers and foundation repair contractors need to conduct a thorough inspection of the property when sinkholes impact your Dallas-Fort Worth home. But if the foundation problems can be attributed to other causes, such as tree roots, bad construction, or lack of proper drainage, a foundation repair expert can handle it.
Signs of Sinkhole Formations
Foundation damage can be a result of many issues. But if you suspect the issue is the formation of a sinkhole, take a look at your landscape.
An obvious sign would be spotting a hole in the ground. There are other covert signs of sinkholes to watch out for in your Dallas-Fort Worth property.
Here are other things to keep an eye out for:
Soft, Spongy Spots
Have you noticed certain parts of the ground surrounding your Dallas-Fort Worth home have turned soft and spongy? This can point to a sinkhole formation.
New Depressions in the Ground
Another sign to be aware of is depressions forming around your property. But this still needs to be examined further, since there can be a few explanations for it: It can be caused by rotting tree roots or buried rubbish.
Consider if the land area appeared to be flat prior to the depression. If this is the case, then call a professional for evaluation. Even cracks emerging from sidewalks and driveways can be caused by a sinkhole.
A Tilt on Outside Elements
Another way to tell is to observe the fence posts, stairs, porches, and trees around your Dallas-Fort Worth home. Did they use to be straight? If they happen to tilt now, this is another hint that a sinkhole issue is forming.
A Portion of the Structure Breaking Down and Cracking
Another good indicator of a sinkhole is the uneven appearance of your home. Does one side appear to be lower? Foundation shifting can be due to clay soil expanding and contracting.
However, sinkholes can affect pier and beam foundations, resulting in structural problems that can put your property in danger.
Other Warning Signs of Sinkhole Formations
There are several warning signs of a sinkhole formation under your property. This includes the following:
- Water pooling around your property
- The appearance of cracks on the intersection of walls and ceilings or walls and floors.
- The trim and molding breaking away
- Floors that bulge, sag, or appear warped
- An intense, earthy scent in your crawlspace
- Noticing leaky pipes, a sudden rise in your water bill, water debris, and cloudy water
Sinkholes can lead to foundation issues, so it’s advisable to contact a professional once you spot any of the signs mentioned above.
Sinkholes and Foundation Problem Signs Inside Your Home
In general, houses do settle over time, so panicking is not a good idea. However, you obviously want your house to be on a solid foundation, so getting the issue fixed as quickly as possible is important.
Inside your home, you’ll want to keep track of the following:
- Jammed doors
- Wall cracks over doorways, windows or intersections of walls and ceilings/ floors
- Ceramic tile/vinyl cracks
- Windows getting stuck
- Interior joint cracks
- Sloping floors
- Uneven kitchen drawers and cabinets
- Flooding or water leaks
- Sloping stairs
- Nails popping out of walls
- Moldings being displaced
- Wet crawl space
Sinkholes and Foundation Issue Signs Outside Your Home
While it’s important to recognize the signs of sinkholes and foundation issues inside your Dallas-Fort Worth property, the condition of your outside property is also essential. You want to check outdoors for these signs:
- Slumping fence posts
- Rainfall gathering in areas where water pools didn’t use to exist
- Wilting of vegetation, since moisture is redirected to the sinkhole forming under the ground
- Street/yard depressions
- Deep cracks on concrete roads and driveways
- Water pooling
- Front porch sinking
- Cracked/slanting chimney
Repair Solutions for Sinkholes
Normally, we tend to think of a sinkhole as a massive space large enough to suck your house underground. But this usually isn’t the case!
It can cause property damage for sure, but if your Dallas-Fort Worth home has a sinkhole, it can be repaired through underpinning and void filling.
Granite Foundation Repair has foundation specialists that can construct concrete piers to fortify the foundation of your property where sinkholes exist. They’re needed to provide more stability for your home.
Conclusion
For those living in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, it’s crucial to schedule a property inspection when you spot signs like those listed above.
Granite Foundation Repair has foundation repair experts who can inspect your entire property and address foundation problems, no matter what the root cause may be. As a well-known company, we’re trusted in the foundation repair industry.
Call us today at (214) 865 8609 to find out more of our foundation repair services. We offer a free foundation inspection and consultation!