Is your Cincinnati foundation failing? Find out here.

Before you call

What to check yourself

1. 1

   Photograph and measure existing cracks

   Find every crack you can see and measure each one: width at the widest point and total length. Write the date next to each crack in pencil or mark the ends with tape. A crack that is the same size six weeks later is far less urgent than one that has grown.

2. 2

   Check whether doors and windows opened normally before symptoms appeared

   Think back to whether the doors and windows you are now concerned about worked normally before your symptoms showed up. Sticking that came on over months points to movement; sticking that has always been there is usually a fit or humidity issue.

3. 3

   Check basement walls with a level for bowing

   Hold a 4-foot level flat against each basement wall. Look for a gap between the wall face and the level. A gap of more than half an inch indicates inward bowing that warrants professional measurement with a string line.

4. 4

   Walk the perimeter and look for gaps at chimney or additions

   Circle the house and look for any gap that has opened between the chimney, a porch, or an addition and the main structure. A gap that has widened over time, especially wider at the top, points to independent settlement of that element.

When to call us

Horizontal cracks and bowing walls are structural emergencies that need same-day assessment, because they are actively progressing failures. Stair-step cracks, diagonal cracks from window corners, sloping floors, and sticking doors on one side of the house are urgent and should be scheduled within the week before the next wet season moves them further. Hairline cracks under 1/4 inch with no other symptoms can be monitored monthly. Because our on-site inspection is free, there is no cost to get a professional read on the severity before deciding how to act.