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The signs of foundation problems Rochester homeowners should watch for, and a free inspection with a written price when you see one.
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We connect property owners in Rochester and nearby areas, including Corn Hill, South Wedge, Park Avenue, 19th Ward, Greece and Irondequoit, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.
Check in early spring
The National Weather Service says about half of Rochester's snow comes from lake-effect storms, and that soils are wet in spring. Look at your basement walls in March and April, when the melt is in the ground.
Check after a hard freeze
Frost can reach about 42 inches down here. The Town of Chili sets deck posts at that depth. A crack that grows over the winter is a sign the frost is pushing on that wall.
Older homes need a closer look
More than half of the homes in the City of Rochester were built in 1939 or earlier. Stone and early block walls this old often show loose mortar and damp spots first.
Most homes in Rochester have a few cracks. Concrete shrinks as it cures. Old plaster cracks as the house ages. Many of these are cosmetic.
The signs on this page are the ones that mean something is moving or water is getting in. Some need a look soon. Some are worth watching. If you are not sure, the free inspection will tell you.
These are the signs Rochester homeowners call about most. Each one tells the inspector something.
A long sideways crack in a block wall
It often runs along a mortar joint about halfway up. This is a common sign that soil is pushing the wall in.
A wall that bows in at the middle
Hold a level or string against it. A gap in the middle means it has moved.
Stair-step cracks
Cracks that zig-zag along the mortar joints of block or brick. They can mean the wall or footing has shifted.
A crack that is wider at one end
This can mean one part of the wall is moving more than the other.
A crack where one side sticks out
If one side is pushed past the other, the wall has moved.
Water at the base of the wall
Water where the wall meets the floor is the most common leak.
A white, chalky crust
This is salt left behind by water moving through the wall.
Loose or sandy mortar
In stone and old block walls, mortar that crumbles when you touch it lets water in.
A wall that slides at the bottom
Sometimes the bottom of the wall is pushed in past the top.
Problems in the basement can show up in the rest of the house.
Doors that stick or will not latch
Most of all if they used to close fine.
Gaps at the top of a door frame
A gap shaped like a wedge can mean the frame is out of square.
Cracks over doors and windows
Cracks that run out from the corners at an angle.
Floors that slope
A ball rolls to one side of the room.
Gaps between the wall and the floor or ceiling
Trim pulls away from the wall.
Windows that stick
Most of all on one side of the house.
Walk around the house and look low.
Stair-step cracks in brick
These follow the mortar joints.
A chimney that leans away from the house
Gaps around windows and doors
On the outside wall.
Downspouts that dump next to the wall
Not a sign of damage, but a common cause.
Soil that slopes toward the house
Water runs right to the wall.
A porch or step that pulls away
From the house.
Call soon if you see:
Worth watching:
You can track a crack yourself for free.
A local crew walks every basement wall, not just the one you are worried about. They measure any wall that leans in. They check floor levels upstairs. They look at gutters, downspouts and the slope of the yard. Then they tell you what they see, in plain words, and give you a written price if work is needed.
If what you see is cosmetic, a good inspector will say so. Most repairs fall in typical ranges you can see on the cost guide. These are typical ranges, not a quote.
Thin, straight cracks in a poured wall are common. Concrete shrinks as it cures. If a crack stays thin and dry, it is often cosmetic. If it leaks, grows or one side sticks out past the other, have it checked.
It can be. A long crack that runs sideways along a mortar joint, often about halfway up the wall, is a common sign that soil is pushing the wall in. Have it checked soon.
Hold a long level or a tight string against the wall from top to bottom. If there is a gap in the middle, the wall is bowing in. The inspector will measure it.
It is mineral salt left behind when water moves through the wall and dries. It means water is getting in. It is not dangerous by itself, but it points to a water problem.
It can just be humidity. If a door sticks all year, or new cracks show up over the door frame, the house may have moved. A free inspection can tell the difference.
Most thin floor cracks are from shrinkage and are not a big deal. A floor crack that lets water in, or where one side is higher than the other, is worth a look.
Take photos of the cracks and mark the ends with a pencil and the date. Note when water shows up and after what weather. Clear a path to the basement walls if you can.
Call (585) 449-9661 or send the short form with a photo. A local crew will call you back, usually the same day, to set up a free inspection.