A door that sticks in summer. A crack over a window. A floor that feels a little off. In Fort Worth, most people assume the foundation. Sometimes that is right. Sometimes it is water. It is worth knowing which before you spend anything.
Signs that point to movement
Stair-step cracks through brick, doors that stick or will not latch, gaps between a wall and the ceiling or the cabinets, and a floor that slopes. These often come and go with the seasons. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation says soils that shrink and swell with moisture are a very common cause of foundation problems, and North Texas has plenty of clay.
Signs that point to water
- A stain, soft spot or swollen baseboard near a bathroom, kitchen or exterior wall.
- A floor that is cupping, not sloping.
- Bubbling or peeling paint along a wall or ceiling.
- A water bill that went up with no change in how you live.
A slow leak can soften a wall and make a door stick, and it can look a lot like movement. Check for one before you assume the worst.
Quick checks you can do
- Look at the cracks on the outside. Note the pattern, and take a photo with a coin next to the crack for scale.
- Check under sinks, behind the toilet and around the water heater.
- Look at the ceiling below any bathroom and at the walls under windows.
- Turn every fixture off and watch the water meter. If it is still moving, there is a leak somewhere.
- Repeat the photos in a month, same spot, same angle.
What to do next
- Wet, soft or leaking: That is the work we do. We find where the water went, dry it and rebuild. See our water damage and drying page and our process. Call us. We answer 24/7.
- Movement: A licensed structural engineer is the right person to look at a foundation.
- A leaking pipe: A licensed plumber finds and fixes the leak. Then the wet materials need to be dried.
After water has been in a wall
Hidden water can sit in a wall for weeks. Our post on small leaks that become big problems and our post on ceiling stains after rain show how to spot it early. For a bigger event, see our water damage first-night guide, fire damage restoration or the emergency page.
Where we work
We work across Fort Worth and DFW, including Westover Hills and Rivercrest, Mira Vista, Southlake and Fort Worth. Questions? Contact us.