Does your house stand on a foundation made of wooden stumps? Yes, these stumps are robust and capable of supporting a house for years. Still, due to age, wear and erosion, these stumps can deteriorate.
Exposing timber to weather and changing soil conditions weakens it over time. Other factors that contribute to this scenario include infestation by pests like termites. As the stump weakens, the foundation of your home becomes uneven and unbalanced. You don’t want this to happen.
Here are five telltale indicators that you may need a new house stumping or restumping.
- Slanted Flooring
Is your house flooring uneven or maybe it’s slanting to one side? Then you’re in a dire need of restumping. As the stumps beneath your house weaken, they give in to the pressure of holding up your foundation. Therefore, the house slants towards these weaker stumps.
But how do you know that your flooring is slanted? In most cases, this is easier to notice especially in serious cases. Alternatively, you can drop a marble on the floor, if it rushes towards one direction or changes course then your home needs restumping.
- Jamming Doors and Windows
When the house is new, the doors and windows open and close with ease. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, especially after some years.
Therefore, if certain doors or windows keep on jamming then the foundation stumps are becoming weak. This is a sign of extensive damage from excess moisture. Another reason for this is a change in the housing alignment resulting from a compromised foundation which in turn causes slanted doors and windows that can’t open.
- Moisture Around the Foundation
As a homeowner, you must constantly check the entire house. If you notice a significant amount of moisture underneath the house, then you should change the foundation. The same applies to homes that are in humid areas or the ones that are subjected to humid environments.
Remember, moisture attracts termites that feed on the cellulose inside the wet wood. The result, a completely rotted stump.
- Creaky Floors and Furnishings
Are the doors, windows, and floors creaking? Then this is a clear sign of weak stumps. The creaky sound appears for two reasons. One the house is sinking as it is losing support. And two, the stump is destroyed by moisture which forces it to expand and creak.
- Cracks in the Walls
Have you started noticing some cracks on the walls that were never there before? Then you have all the reasons to be worried. If the cracks keep getting bigger or new ones appearing from nowhere, then this is a clear sign of an uneven foundation resulting from failing stumps. Don’t wait for the cracks to escalate, call an expert to act on them immediately.
Conclusion
Most suburban homes have a foundation supported by wooden stumps. While these stumps can last for years, they too are prone to pest and damp weather damages.Any damage to the stump compromises the foundation of the house. In such cases, the property owner should replace the existing stumps with newer and strong stumps in a process known as restumping or reblocking.
