Audrey
While the sight of mold on concrete can be alarming, it’s important to remember that water can still compromise your home’s structural integrity. Mold can’t grow on its own on concrete surfaces, but a damp surface provides the perfect conditions for mold spores to multiply. As water intrusion increases beneath your home’s concrete surface, the soil below causes the concrete to bulge, necessitating concrete leveling. Correcting your unlevelled concrete is crucial, and enlisting the help of an expert will ensure the job is done right.
In this blog, you will understand why mold testing is essential, some reasons and warning signs of concrete settling, and ways to fix it.
Reasons for Concrete Settling or Sinking
Soil conditions under concrete usually cause sulking and unevenness. Sometimes, you can easily fix the underlying issues, while other times, you need to appoint a professional to repair your concrete immediately. This process, known as concrete leveling, involves lifting and leveling sunken concrete slabs with the help of specialized equipment and materials.
Here are a few causes of sinking concrete:
1. Increase in soil’s moisture content
If the soil beneath your concrete home has expansive clay, changes in moisture content cause either expansion or shrinkage of the soil. When there is constant stress beneath the concrete, you see uneven concrete leveling.
2. Soil washout
When there are serious plumbing leaks, flooding, constant rainfall, or heavy snowmelt, a large volume of water is absorbed within a short time. As water flushes in, the soil that supports your concrete washes out. As a result, your concrete sinks to a lower position than the original one.
3. Loose filled soil
If you have maintained the level of your home while constructing it by filling in soil, then there are chances that your contractors have poorly compacted the soil below your home. Consequently, the concrete below your home shrinks and expands constantly, leading to great stress and, thus, concrete settling.
4. Tree root intrusion
When tree roots intrude under your concrete slab, they can cause damage due to uneven grading when the slab is pushed upwards by root pressure.
Top Four Warning Signs Showing Sinking Concrete
As you’re now aware, various factors can cause concrete to settle or sink. Recognizing the signs early on is crucial for prompt action. Here are some signs that indicate the need for concrete leveling:
1. Cracks in your foundation
A small crack in your foundation is an entry point to constant water seepage inside your concrete foundation, which ultimately compromises your home’s structural integrity until concrete leveling is done.
2. Uneven and bouncy concrete
Bouncy concrete floors are highly prone to accidents and trips. It is especially difficult to take care of kids running around.
3. Crumbling concrete slab
When you notice bits of concrete chipping off or broken slabs, it signals a higher risk to your home, and you need to have concrete leveling done as soon as possible.
4. Water-related issues in your foundation
If you observe any water-related damage in your foundation, such as mold growth, pest infestation, condensation issues, dislocated fixtures, or gaps between doors and walls, there is a high chance of mold growth.
Never ignore the mentioned signs, as they will lead to structural damage at your home, demanding expensive repairs that could have been resolved with concrete leveling.
When Should You Go for Mold Testing?
Mold thrives a lot in a moist and warm environment. You may notice mold in your concrete due to water problems as well. When it grows significantly, you are bound to suffer from many issues. Early detection through mold testing, a process where samples are taken from various areas of your home and analyzed for the presence of mold spores, will help prevent you, your family, and all your home structures from being infected by dangerous mold types. Therefore, you need to be aware of all the symptoms and call for an immediate inspection and mold testing to avoid infection from dangerous mold types.
Here are some factors that state the need for mold testing while concrete leveling:
1. Health issues
As mold increases in your foundation, you and your family will suffer from various recurring health problems like asthma, chronic breathing issues, tiredness, and skin irritation. Moreover, mold weakens the structural integrity of your home, leading to repetitive and costly repairs if not addressed promptly.
2. Moldy smelling home
When your concrete foundation slabs are compromised by mold, you will sense it all over your home because a large portion of the air that circulates your home comes from your foundation. So, even when you do not see mold stains, mold can still be present in the hidden moisture corners of your home.
3. Visible stains of mold stains on your home walls
One of the obvious signs of mold ingestion in your home is vividly present mold all over the surfaces. Some mold can be dangerous, while others are harmless, so you need to call a professional for mold testing to safeguard your life.
4. Consistent water leakage
Ignoring your broken pipes or drainage systems and delaying their repair means you are letting mold grow all over your home’s wet surfaces. Constant leakage means you will start observing peeling paint, discolored walls, the unusual sound of running water, and increased water bills.
5. Condensation of window panes
When condensation appears on your windows regularly, it is a definite sign of an increased level of humidity in your home. If humidity is not reduced and maintained according to the reference levels, which are 30 – 50% set by the US EPA, you will start noticing severe signs of mold in your home and must opt for mold testing.
6. Damaged furniture and carpet
Mold can severely damage furniture and other belongings, such as carpets and rugs. If your fixtures are placed on a water-damaged surface, you will observe black or gray mold patches all over them.
During the process of mold testing, there are high chances of mold spores spreading all over your home. So, you need to take safety precautions. If you feel that you cannot handle it yourself, you must call experts for efficient mold testing and remediation.
