Signs of Foundation Trouble Salt Lake Valley Homeowners Should Know

Your house talks to you. The signs of foundation trouble are visible if you know what to look for. In the Salt Lake Valley, where clay soil expands and contracts with moisture, foundation movement is common. Here's what to watch for.

Interior Signs

• •Doors that stick or won't close properly (the frame has shifted)
• •Windows that won't open or close cleanly
• •Cracks in drywall — especially diagonal cracks from door and window corners
• •Floors that slope or feel uneven when you walk
• •Gaps between walls and ceilings or floors

Exterior Signs

• •Horizontal or stair-step cracks in foundation walls or brick
• •Gaps around windows or doors (caulking separating)
• •Chimney pulling away from the house
• •Cracks in the driveway or approach slab where it meets the foundation
• •Soil pulling away from the foundation (settlement)

What These Signs Mean

These symptoms usually indicate foundation movement — the soil under or around the foundation is shifting. In Utah, that's often clay soil that expands when wet and shrinks when dry. Poor drainage makes it worse: water pooling near the foundation causes the clay to swell, then shrink as it dries, cycling the foundation up and down.

What to Do

If you see these signs, get someone out to assess before planning any new concrete work. If the existing foundation has problems, new work on top of it (a patio, a driveway approach, a slab) may be affected. We evaluate this during the walk-through — we won't pour new concrete on a foundation that's actively failing without addressing the cause.

For foundation drainage — the cheapest insurance your house can buy — see our dedicated post. And see our foundations service page for what foundation work involves.