31 March 2021
 Categories: , Blog

Concrete slab flooring is essential for the structural stability and the design of your home. The concrete slab that was installed prior to the sub-flooring acts as the foundation for the ground floor as any upper ceilings and walls for your home. A concrete slab serves several purposes, but most importantly, it is what secures the structure of your home, so it is essential that you are aware of any damage to the concrete and make the necessary repairs as soon as possible. Here are some of the warning signs that indicate there may be problems with the concrete slab flooring of your home.

Interior or Exterior Cracks

Small cracks on the exterior steps or walls of your home are often the result of settling and the environment, so they are anything to worry about. However, if you notice zig-zag pattern cracks or large cracks, it may be a sign of problems with the concrete slab flooring. You should inspect the interior of your home to check for cracks in the drywall also have a zig-zag pattern, especially near the top of the walls. Generally, these types of cracks are an indication of the concrete slab shifting or sinking, so you should have a foundation repair company inspect the concrete and make the repairs before the problem worsens.

Rotten Wood

If the humidity of the concrete slab is too high, it will force the moisture to seep into the wood of the floors, eventually causing the wood to rot. If you are noticing "bouncing" floors or wood that feels spongy when you touch it, there has probably been flooding or leaking water on or near the concrete slab. If the damage is due to a leak, you will need to have the leak fixed before the concrete slab can be repaired. You can contact a concrete slab leak repair service to have the issue repaired.

Nail Pops

Sheetrock is installed by attaching it to the wood framing with nails or drywall screws. If you notice nails or screws working their way out of the sheetrock, it is known as nail pops, and it generally means that the walls are shifting and causing the screws to work their way out of the drywall. This is often the result of the concrete slab flooring shifting, causing the walls to also shift. Contacting a concrete contractor or a foundation repair company as soon as you start noticing nail pops allows you to have the slab repaired before there is any further damage to the structure of your home.

Concrete is used for slab flooring because of its strength and durability, but like other building materials, it isn't completely foolproof. Various factors, such as the type of soil or the weather conditions can lead to cracks in concrete slab flooring. It is common to expect some shrinkage and cracks in slab flooring, but they don't typically compromise the structure of your home. So, noticing any signs of large cracks, shifting floors or walls, or even separating joists, is a sure sign of serious problems with the concrete slab, so you should contact a professional to inspect it as soon as possible.