Many homeowners assume that they are in the clear when their homes are relatively new; however, foundation issues can affect any home. Therefore, the age of a home should not be the sole factor to consider when ascertaining foundation problems. Here are some useful tips to guide homeowners troubleshoot foundation problems.

Pre-Construction Compaction -- One major reason why home foundations develop structural problems like cracks because of failure to compact the bearing soil properly, which is the uppermost soil layers that support a foundation. Poor compaction during grading can cause the foundation to be uneven as the soil consolidates. Moreover, different soil conditions beneath a foundation can make a home to settle differently in what is referred to as differential settlement.

Notably, some parts of a house tend to settle while others remain stable thereby causing cracking. Furthermore, apart from cracks, framework problems might occur, for instance, slanting floors, leaning chimneys, bowing walls and doors that fail to shut completely. Therefore, pre-construction compaction should consider factors such as the soil type and seasonal movement of the bearing soil.

Moisture Content -- If the moisture content of the bearing soil, at the time of construction, is either too high or too low, then the resultant foundation can be affected adversely. When the moisture content is very high during foundation pouring, water will be trapped except at the edges where the slab experiences exposure to heat and wind. Therefore, the edges will lose moisture at a high rate compared to the rest of the foundation.

Conversely, low moisture content causes the perimeter of the foundation to regain moisture at a high rate compared to the other parts because of the direct exposure to water. The effect of uneven moisture content is the settlement of a building, which subsequently leads to foundation cracks among other problems. Therefore, homeowners must ensure that soils have optimum moisture levels.

Repairing -- Foundation repairs can only last if the causes of the problem are addressed permanently. For example, you can stop the sub-grade soil from swelling and forming a heap by eliminating all water leaks. As such, take care of your drainage system by ensuring that water drains away from the building.

Consider watering the soils adjacent to the foundation to maintain moisture content. Waiting too long before you start watering can increase the chances of cracks developing. Summarily, since most homeowners are not adept at troubleshooting and diagnosing foundation work problems, they should call an expert to identify the above issues and device corrective measures as soon as possible.