Summer heat does more than raise your energy bill. It can dry out the soil beneath your Texas home, leading to widening cracks, sticking doors, or gaps around windows. Knowing the signs early can help you avoid costly repairs down the road.
At Structured Foundation Repairs in Dallas, TX, we’re a full-service foundation repair company that helps homeowners stay ahead of foundation issues before they become major structural problems. Read these signs to know if your home needs some fixing-up to handle the harsh Texas summer.
Shifts in Door or Window Alignment Could Point to Trouble
You don’t need to crawl under your house to notice something’s off. A door that used to swing open easily might now stick. A window that once glided might grind against the frame. It’s tempting to blame humidity, but if you see gaps at the top or bottom, especially where light shines through, your foundation may be shifting. These changes often happen gradually.
When a foundation moves, it subtly shifts the frame of your home, changing how doors and windows fit. Hinges squeak, locks feel misaligned, and quick fixes no longer work. What starts as a minor annoyance can become a symptom of deeper structural issues. This is often the first thing homeowners notice. Unfortunately, ignoring these issues can lead to damage to the framing and drywall as your house begins to pull against itself.
Visible Gaps Around the Base of Your Home
In the Texas summer, weeks of high heat and little rain can dry out the clay-rich soil beneath your home. This type of soil contracts as it loses moisture, and that shrinkage can cause your foundation to settle unevenly. Over time, small cracks or gaps may form around the base of your home, especially around the bottom corners.
These aren’t just signs of normal aging. Even hairline cracks can indicate structural stress beneath the surface. If you notice gaps wide enough to fit a coin into, it’s worth investigating. Once a gap forms, stormwater can collect near the foundation, weakening the soil’s stability and leading to further settling or shifting over time.
Many homeowners first notice these separations near exterior corners or around patios, where the signs are easiest to spot. These gaps can also create easy pathways for moisture, humidity, or pests to enter your home.
Cracks That Follow Patterns
Not all cracks indicate foundation issues, but certain patterns are a red flag. Foundation movement causes structural stress that often shows up as stair-step cracks in brick masonry, diagonal lines across interior drywall, or long horizontal fractures near the bottom of basement or crawl space walls. These cracks don’t happen randomly. They tend to follow predictable stress lines caused by uneven soil pressure or shifting piers and footings.
Cracks that angle down from windows or doors, especially on both sides of the frame, signal differential movement in the foundation. That means part of the house is shifting more than another, and the frame is literally being pulled out of alignment. You may also notice that these cracks widen at the center or show separation in the corners. These are classic signs of structural stress.
In Texas, expansive clay soils amplify this effect. As the soil shrinks during dry spells and swells during heavy rains, the foundation experiences cycles of movement. Over time, these small shifts compound and cause cracks to grow longer or reappear after cosmetic repairs. If you’re seeing consistent patterns, especially those that return after patching, it’s a sign the issue lies beneath the surface.
Uneven or Sloped Floors
A level floor should feel consistent underfoot. If you notice that you’re leaning a little when walking through a hallway, or if furniture no longer sits flat, your floor might be shifting. You might also spot uneven water surfaces in sinks or bathtubs, where water gathers on one side instead of staying level.
A warped floor can mean a foundation pier has dropped or that part of the slab has cracked and settled. In many homes, the center of the floor dips while the perimeter stays stable, creating a sag. Over time, this issue shows up as cracked tile grout, separated floorboards, misaligned baseboards, or doors that swing open or shut without being touched.
Watch for Issues with Trim and Molding
You may notice the trim pulling away from the wall or gaps forming between your countertops and the backsplash. These small cosmetic changes are easy to overlook, especially if you’ve recently had temperature swings or a spike in humidity. But when they show up in multiple rooms or keep coming back after you’ve repaired them, they usually indicate your foundation is settling unevenly.
Look for nails popping through drywall, corner seams cracking, or crown molding pulling away from the ceiling. These signs often appear long before major structural damage, which means you have time to address the root cause. Ignoring them or chalking them up to age allows the underlying pressure to grow. If you notice signs like these, our professionals can inspect your home and determine whether they’re part of normal aging or the early symptoms of foundation trouble. Addressing them early can help prevent more serious issues in the future.
Outside Structures Like Porches or Steps
The main part of your home isn’t the only place problems appear. Porches, steps, and concrete pads can shift and sometimes even faster. If one side of a step sinks lower than the other, or if cracks appear at the joints, it often means the soil beneath is drying out or eroding unevenly. These structures are usually lighter and may not be anchored as deeply as your home’s foundation, so they tend to show early signs of ground movement.
Gaps where the porch meets the siding or a step that feels unstable underfoot aren’t just issues that need repair. They suggest ongoing soil changes that may also be affecting the house itself. Monitoring these exterior features helps reveal how widespread the settling might be and when it’s time to bring in an expert for a full evaluation.
Strange Plumbing Behavior Could Mean Foundation Trouble
Many homes in Texas have slab foundations, which means the plumbing lines often run directly underneath the concrete. When the foundation shifts, it can put pressure on those pipes, causing joints to misalign or crack. You might notice signs like slow drains, fluctuating water pressure, or gurgling sounds in sinks and toilets.
These issues aren’t always the result of clogs. Even a slight shift in the pipe’s angle can disrupt water flow, create backflow, or lead to small leaks beneath the slab. That added moisture can soften the soil, increasing the risk of further movement. Call for slab foundation repair if you notice any signs.
Contact Your Local Experts
At Structured Foundation Repairs, we’ve proudly served homeowners in Dallas, TX, and the surrounding areas since 2003. If you’ve noticed signs of foundation trouble, our team can inspect your home and determine the cause. We specialize in both slab and pier-and-beam foundation repairs, offering reliable solutions tailored to your needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced professionals.
