Tips

What are the signs of structural problems in a house? – This type of question is usually the result of suspicions that come from noticing cracks in concrete, bricks, drywall, or doors or windows that do not operate correctly. In other words when you see something wrong with your house that you never noticed. To…

Foremost, foundation repair is beyond the ability of most homeowners, due to the equipment and knowledge required. The foundation of a home supports the entire house, so the weights involved are extreme. The nature of the question presumes the foundation is no longer supporting the house, or at least some portion of it, so any…

How can I identify a load bearing wall? – This question is easy to answer, although getting the needed information can sometimes be difficult. It typically means getting up in the attic and possibly moving some insulation to expose the ceiling joists. What is a Load Bearing Wall? Essentially, a load bearing wall is a…

Houston, we have a problem! How much of a problem depends largely on how large is the roof sag? And we are going to differentiate between a sag and a hole, as this may have been caused by a tree or branch falling on the roof. What Does a Sagging Roof Mean? Generally, any sag…

Wood-destroying insects are always a concern for homeowners, with the most egregious of the insects being termites. Common wood destroying insects in houses include termites, powderpost beetles, and carpenter bees. Potential damage caused by each of these insects results in the destruction of wood where infestation occurs. Let’s discuss each of these pests and how…

What Causes Floor Tiles to Crack? Unfortunately, floor tile cracks are common in houses. The floor tile crack may actually grow in length or width.    When you look around the room, absolutely no other signs of cracks or distress exist.   Your house may be less than a year old or 30 plus years old.  Immediately,…

Garage Slab Cracks Garage slab cracks are caused by various conditions and show up in the slab in different ways.  Two common conditions include (1) “spider cracks” generally located in the center or open area of the garage and (2) a long crack near the common wall of your house (Common-Wall Slab Crack).  Carport cracks…

Foundation corner cracks are extremely common in residential concrete foundation slabs. These cracks are also commonly referred to as slab cracks. They occur, as the name suggests, at the corner of the foundation where brick veneer is installed on the house. That’s right, they only occur along walls that have brick veneer on the outside…