How Storm Damage Affects Your Home’s Foundation

It might seem like your foundation is safe from storm damage. Solid concrete, partially buried in the ground, what can a storm do to it?

The answer is: a lot. It’s possible for wind, water, and other aspects of a storm to cause serious damage to your foundation. Neither the solidity of concrete nor being buried can protect a foundation from storm damage. We’ll explain the signs of storm damage to watch for that might indicate a storm-damaged foundation, then we’ll explain the mechanisms of storm damage to your foundation, and the storm damage restoration process.

Signs of Storm Damage to Your Foundation

Much storm damage can be obvious, and you’re unlikely to miss it. You won’t just glance past the lightning strike or the branch that the storm blew onto your roof. However, with foundation damage, the signs aren’t always easy to see.

Here are some signs of storm damage to your foundation to watch for.

Cracks in the Foundation

If your home is a few decades old, the odds are good that you’ve already got a few cracks in the foundation. However, after a major storm you should be vigilant for new and expanded cracks.

Any new crack that’s more than 1/8 inch wide or more than a foot long is a cause for concern. In addition, you should be concerned about any old crack that grew by more than a foot or opened by more than 1/8 inch during or after the storm. Dramatic growth of cracks as a result of a storm is a good indication that the storm damaged your foundation.

Water Penetration

If you’ve never had water penetration through your foundation before but you do since the storm, it’s a sign that your foundation might have sustained damage during the storm.

Depending on your house, the signs of water penetration might be hard to pick up on, but look for:

• Discoloration of walls
• Wet spots on the floor or wall
• Water damage to contents
• Musty smell
• Mold growth

The presence of any unexplained water in your house is a cause for concern. Once you find any water and you don’t know where it came from, take some time to trace it back to its source, whether it’s a damaged foundation that leaks groundwater or a damaged pipe.

Damage to Walls

Your house’s walls rest on the foundation, and any damage to the foundation might be more easily noticed in the walls.

The most common type of damage is cracking in the walls. Look for stair-step cracks that angle across the wall. These might start or end at the corners of doors and windows. Cracks can appear on the inside of the house or on the outside in stucco or brickwork. You might even notice warped, loose, or sprung siding.

Damage and Other Changes in Floors

Just like your walls, your floors depend on your foundation, and you might notice signs of foundation damage in your floors. Very dramatic shifts in the foundation might lead to floor tiles or boards popping up out of place. In some cases, ceramic or stone floor tiles might crack.

Other times, the changes in your floor might not be as significant. You might notice the floor is squeakier, bouncier, or more uneven than in the past.

Sticky Doors and Windows

The space between a door or window and its jamb is narrow, and any significant shift in the foundation can make it so these stick and don’t open easily as they should.

Sticky windows and doors can be normal for a house, especially an older house, but if you notice a sudden change in your doors and windows after a storm, it might be worth checking for other signs of storm damage to the foundation.

Wind Damage to Foundation

Although being buried can protect your foundation from wind, the winds of a tornado or hurricane are strong enough that they can shift or damage the foundation.

Wind can strike your foundation if some of it emerges above ground, such as for windows and exits. In addition, the parts of the wall that are anchored to the foundation can give strong winds leverage to damage the foundation.

Fallen trees or branches blown onto the house might also lead to foundation damage.

Water Pressure

Water is a more common source of storm damage to a foundation. A flash flood can strike your foundation like a wall of water, and though the water will break around the foundation, the foundation might break, too.

In addition, when water soaks into the ground around your foundation, it can exert significant pressure on the foundation wall. This can lead to cracking or deformation of the foundation, as well as cause water to seep through the concrete.

Heaving and Sinking

Storm water can also damage your foundation by causing heaving and sinking (also called settling). When saturated by water, some types of soil can expand significantly in size. This can lift up your foundation or put so much pressure on it that it cracks.

Other times, erosion can undercut your foundation, removing the support it should have. This can make your foundation sink or settle. Sometimes, you might not be able to tell that this happened, because earth fills in the eroded area before you have a chance to inspect your foundation.

Help for Foundation Damage in Michigan and Ohio

Do you suspect that your foundation might have suffered damage from a recent storm? If your home suffered any kind of storm damage, including foundation damage, Cousino Restoration & Environmental can help.

We are the leading storm damage restoration company in the southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio area with over 45 years of experience in the industry. We can handle every aspect of your restoration, from foundation cracks to damaged drywall. Our meticulous process utilizes the latest industry best practices to achieve outstanding results. We will restore your home’s appearance to normal, and you can trust that the structural repairs are as reliable as the cosmetic ones are attractive.

Cousino Restoration & Environmental offers 24/7 emergency response services. We know that storms don’t keep regular hours, so if you have concerns about your house, including the foundation, we can be out right away. We can also coordinate directly with your insurance to make sure you get compensation for all covered repairs. However, it’s important to note that any damage which might be considered related to a flood might not be covered by typical home insurance.

For help with home repairs after a major storm, contact Cousino Restoration & Environmental today.