The foundation holds up your home, so inspecting pilings regularly prevents costly repairs down the line. Yet subtle signs of needed piling repair often get overlooked. Identifying five such indications lets homeowners address issues before the damage worsens. Reputable piling contractors provide expert evaluations, too.
Inspecting Your Foundation’s Support System
Regular piling inspections catch issues early. Pilings beneath the surface sustain a home’s weight through all soil and weather conditions, so their integrity must be monitored.
Cracks in Pilings
Small cracks allow water entry, hastening rot progression. Larger cracks weaken structural strength. For that specific reason, Home Water Line Trenching is very important. Inspecting the entire buried length reveals rot’s full extent before stability deteriorates. Nearby cracks often connect, indicating a compromised wood section.
Changes in Ground Level
Even subtle soil changes around pilings should be examined. Settling pulls pilings out of alignment, tilting the foundation. The settlement also creates gaps for moisture intrusion, accelerating rot where pilings contact wet soil. Soil compaction prevents further problems.
Loose or Unstable Structural Elements
Wobbly railings, doors, or floors attached to the foundation suggest underlying pilings shifted unequally from rot in lower sections, no longer uniformly supporting the home. This movement stresses connection points and must be addressed.
Woodpecker Damage
Woodpeckers detect rotting wood’s odor from far away and drill to access insect larvae’ food stored inside. Multiple holes indicate an extensive decayed area that is structurally inefficient. Contractors extract and replace such compromised sections.
Leaning Walls or Structures
If chimneys, walls, or rooms attached to decaying pilings tilt noticeably over time, the load is no longer evenly dispersed. Leaning also strains electrical and plumbing junctions. Strategic pilings require underpinning to realign the structure stably.
Professional Evaluation
Only trained professionals know where and how to inspect for obscured deterioration using tools like borescopes and moisture meters. Their guidance catches issues before costly repairs become necessary from ignored signs of diminished integrity. By the way, if you want professional evaluation and live near League City, Texas, then search for piling repair league city tx.
How often should pilings be inspected for cracks and weaknesses?
For homes less than 20 years old, inspect pilings every 5-10 years. Newer homes are less likely to have issues, but regular inspections are still recommended.
For homes 20-50 years old, inspect pilings every 3-5 years. As homes age, deterioration becomes more likely, so more frequent inspections are appropriate.
For homes over 50 years old, inspect pilings every 1-3 years. Older homes face higher risks of decay, settling ground, etc., so annual or biennial inspections are a good idea.
If the home is in a flood-prone area or has a history of moisture problems, inspect pilings every 1-2 years. Wet conditions accelerate deterioration.
If new cracks, leaning, settlement, or woodpecker damage is noticed, have pilings inspected immediately in addition to regular checks. This could indicate an emerging problem.
During major storms/flooding or significant foundation work, have pilings inspected afterward. Extreme events can potentially cause new issues.
