Should You Repair Wall Cracks or Your Sagging Roof First? Milwaukee, WI
House repairs are part of owning a home. While they may seem cumbersome and sometimes expensive, they are a necessity if you want to ensure that your home is comfortable and safe. This doesn’t mean that repairs are an obvious choice for homeowners. Many homeowners would prefer to ignore repairs on their homes for as long as they can. Many only attend to repairs when they are urgent.
It is therefore not surprising that homeowners put off the repair of foundation wall cracks. However, they are more willing to spring into action when they notice their roof sagging. They fail to realize one thing: the sagging of the roof may have been caused by problems in the foundation.
Wall cracks and shifting roofs
Cracks in the walls of your foundation are one of the first signs you’ll notice when your foundation has an issue. It is important to have your foundation inspected by a foundation repair contractor to determine the underlying cause of the damage to your foundation. Ignoring the cracks won’t make them go away. If anything, it will only make the problem worse.
Foundation wall cracks may a sign of shifting in your foundation. Shifting of the foundation can take various forms including bowing of the foundation walls, upheaval or lifting of the foundation as well as settling or sinking of the foundation. A foundation repair contractor will inspect your foundation and tell you what type of damage you’re cracks resulted from. They will also recommend solutions for repair.
The foundation of your home is the structure upon which everything else is built. Therefore, when your foundation shifts the entire building will shift along with it. This also includes your roof. Slight shifts in a home’s foundation are normal. In fact, roofs are designed to accommodate these shifts. However, shifts of more than a few inches can result in structural damage throughout the home including in the roof.
Should you repair the wall cracks or your roof first?
Many homeowners are eager to repair their roofs first as these seem to be the more urgent problem. The problem with this is that the foundation will continue to shift. This will result in damage to your roof even after repairs. Another problem is that if you repair your roof first, it could become damaged when you invest in foundation repair. This is especially the case where repair involves restoring the foundation to its original position and stabilizing the walls.
The answer to the question therefore is that you should invest in repairing your foundation first then repair your roof.
Contact the Professionals at Accurate Basement Repair Today! 414-744-6900
In Southeast Wisconsin, we have the only Nationally Certified Structural Repair Specialist on staff and two Nationally Certified Waterproofing Specialists on staff.
Accurate Basement Repair is a member of the NAWSRC (National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors), NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry), the Basement Health Association, the BBB (Better Business Bureau), WAHI (Wisconsin Association of Home Inspectors), BIASEW (Building Inspectors Association of South Eastern Wisconsin) and Angie’s List.
We are proud to say that we have an A+ rating with the BBB and we won two Super Service Awards from Angie’s List in 2010 – one for foundation repair and the other for basement waterproofing. Our professional and knowledgeable staff will educate you on various self-help procedures to save money on your foundation and waterproofing needs. We are NOT a franchise. Our dedicated team works year round! We use high quality and well maintained equipment which will provide the lowest impact to your landscaping. Our team of trustworthy and competent staff attends regular training, seminars and/or trade shows, so they are able stay up-to-date on everything that is happening in the foundation restoration and waterproofing industry. We provide outstanding customer service throughout the entire repair process – from estimate to completion. And last, but not least… Accurate Basement Repair is the #1 referred foundation repair company by professional engineers, basement consultants, realtors, municipal building inspectors, home inspectors, lenders, property management companies and most importantly, our past customers.
