As a homeowner, it is your responsibility to make sure that the core structure of your property is always in proper working order. This might sound blindingly obvious, but few homeowners actually bother to consider this—and wrongly assume that the house is impervious to issues.
It is understandable that, when you lead a busy life, the last thought on your mind is the structural integrity of your home. After all, until there is a problem staring you in the face, humans tend to ignore any signs of issues beforehand. However, if there was to be an issue with the structure of your home, then the consequences can be dire. Not only does it put the lives of you and other occupants in danger, but also those of your neighbors.
It can also be eye-wateringly expensive to put structural damage right, so it is vital that you nip any problems in the bud as early as possible. So, how do you go about checking whether you have a problem or not? Here is a guide on how to assess the structural integrity of your home.
Inspect the roof
One of the best ways to check if you have any problems with the structural integrity of your home is to take a look at the roof. The reason for this is that if the roof is compromised, it can quite literally leak problems all the way down to the foundations of the property. Therefore, inspect the roof and check for any missing or cracked tiles which could start leaking rainwater through your attic space and into your home. You should also look for other tell-tale signs such as clogged guttering, which could be pushing water back onto the roof and causing it to run between the tiles.
If you are worried about the condition of your roof, seek out “roof rejuvenation near me“ for a professional inspection.
Look for cracks in the interior walls
Another common sign of a lack of structural integrity within your home is a crack in an interior wall. Now, the vast majority of homes have surface-level cracks of some kind (especially on new builds). This is because natural subsidence occurs, where the property settles into the foundations, and moves with tiny tremors in the earth.
This is completely normal. Instead, what you are looking for is evidence of deeper cracks that point towards a compromised structure.
You will know it when you see it, because it will visibly look serious—rather than a blemish that you can easily conceal with paint.
Check the foundations of the house
You should also consider checking the foundations of your property, to make sure that there are no signs of subsidence.
You can do this by checking the exterior walls for signs of cracking or other forms of rupture, which point towards unwanted movement in the structure of the property. Take care to measure these cracks and consult with a professional to see if they are of concern.
If you have a basement or crawl space, venture down there and check for further signs of movement or cracking.