Signs of foundation problems

Inside the house

• Drywall cracks running diagonally from the corners of doors and windows.
• Doors that stick, swing open on their own, or won't latch, especially if it started recently.
• Gaps between walls and the ceiling or floor, or crown molding pulling away.
• Sloping or uneven floors, or cracked floor tile in a line.
• Windows that become hard to open or close.

Outside the house

• Stair-step cracks in brick mortar.
• Gaps around window frames, door frames or garage doors.
• Brick separating from window frames or trim.
• Cracks in the exposed slab edge or a corner of the slab breaking off.
• Water pooling against the foundation after rain.

What's usually normal

Thin hairline cracks in a slab or garage floor from concrete shrinkage are common and often harmless. A single small drywall crack that doesn't grow may be settling or seasonal movement. What matters is a pattern of several signs, or cracks that keep getting wider.

How to monitor a crack

1. Mark both ends of the crack with a pencil and write the date.
2. Photograph it with a coin or ruler for scale.
3. Check again every few weeks, especially after big swings between wet and dry weather.

If cracks grow, doors start sticking, or you see several signs at once, it's time for an inspection.