Is Your Home’s Masonry Foundation In Need Of Repair?

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Is Your Homes Masonry Foundation In Need Of
Repair?
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• To ensure the structural integrity and longevity
  of your home, its important not to neglect its
  foundation. A home with a foundation that has
  become weakened over time, or is damaged in some
  way, will inevitably lead to your entire home
  beginning to tilt at an angle if not repaired
  professionally and in a timely manner. A whole
  range of other issues can also occur as a result
  of foundation damage or weakness.

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• What can cause a foundation to weaken?
• Foundation damage is often caused by an excess of
  moisture, such as if your home was flooded or had
  a leak that went undetected for some time, or by
  excessive drought. However, whatever causes
  foundation damage, the problem must be addressed
  as soon as possible to prevent your entire home
  from becoming damaged and needing costly repairs.
• What are the signs of a damaged foundation?
• Fortunately, you dont have to be an expert to
  spot the signs that your foundation might be in
  need of repair, and here are some telltale signs

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• The doors and windows are crooked
• Naturally, windows and doors that have been
  installed correctly will be level and should open
  and close with ease. If youve begun to notice
  that some of the doors and windows in your home
  arent quite aligned properly anymore, have
  started to stick regularly, or that some of the
  glass is cracked, its probably time to call a
  local masonry contractor and have them carry out
  an inspection of your homes foundation.
• While misaligned, sticking or cracked windows and
  doors dont look very attractive, they can also
  cause your energy costs to go up as a result of
  lost heating and cooling.

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• The floors are sloping or are cracked
• Not all sloping when it comes to floors is
  necessarily something to be worried about, as
  every home will experience a certain degree of
  settling, but if the slope is at an angle that is
  beginning to affect the way you use your home or
  the way it looks, then it could indicate that
  your foundation is struggling in some way.
• To help fix a damaged foundation before it goes
  on to cause you even more problems further down
  the line, its wise to always be on the lookout
  for any cracks, fissures or warping that might be
  developing, along with any shifting of your
  homes upper walls. Also be mindful of any
  decaying or crumbling that may be occurring
  within the brick or cement façade of your home,
  and stains, moisture or mold that may be a result
  of water penetration.

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• The external walls are cracked or bulging
• Smaller cracks and fissures in the masonry
  foundation of your home are usually nothing to
  worry about, but if you notice any big cracks or
  larger bulges in any of the external walls, this
  could be a sign that your foundation is sinking.
• The brick walls are beginning to detach from the
  property
• If the region your home is in has experienced a
  particularly dry climate of late, this can cause
  soil shrinkage to occur, which in turn, can cause
  the foundation of the property to settle more
  than was expected. When the soil dries out and
  shrinkage takes place, the corners of your home
  may begin to detach from the roof or from the
  external corners, and this can spell big trouble
  if not inspected and treated right away.

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• If you suspect there are any issues with your
  homes foundation, its always best to have a
  professional masonry contractor or construction
  company come and assess the situation as soon as
  possible. Based upon their findings, theyll
  advise you of the best course of action to take,
  and hopefully, prevent your home from suffering
  further damage.

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• At I.T.M Construction Corp. is one of the best
  construction contractors in Astoria, Queens NY.
  Our family owned and operated business has been
  providing valued clients in Astoria, Queens and
  beyond, with a variety of high quality
  construction and roofing services for almost two
  decades. Whatever your needs, weve got a skilled
  contractor to handle them, and with fair pricing
  and quality workmanship. If you are looking for
  masonry contractor in Astoria, NY, contact us at
  718-956-8483.