Diagnostic Guide
10 signs your foundation is settling
Catching foundation settlement early can save tens of thousands in structural repair costs.
- Diagonal cracks above doors and windows
- Doors that suddenly stick or swing open on their own
- Visible gaps between baseboards and the floor
- Sloping or uneven floors (test with a marble)
- Cracks in exterior brick or stucco
- Cracks in basement walls — especially horizontal
- Gaps between exterior siding and trim
- Sunken or sloping driveway, sidewalk, or patio
- Water pooling around the foundation
- Chimney pulling away from the house
What to do
If you spot 2 or more of these signs, get a professional assessment. Sunken exterior concrete (driveways, sidewalks, patios) often points to soil instability around the foundation — and is fixable with polyjacking before it becomes a structural problem.