When to Call a Foundation Repair Company in Montgomery, AL

Knowing when to call a foundation repair company can save your Montgomery, Alabama home

from catastrophic damage. Many homeowners wait too long, hoping the problem will go away,

only to face much higher repair costs later. This guide helps you recognize the triggers that

demand professional attention.

Immediate Call Situations

Call Montgomery Foundation Repair Co immediately if you notice any of these: a sudden, large

crack (over 1/2 inch) that appears after a storm; a foundation wall that is visibly leaning or

bowing; a floor that feels spongy or bounces when you walk; a chimney that has separated

from the house; or water flowing through foundation cracks. Also call if you hear popping,

creaking, or groaning sounds from your home’s structure. These are signs of active, rapid

movement that could lead to collapse. Our emergency response team can usually arrive within

24 hours.

Gradual Symptoms That Require an Inspection

Even without emergencies, schedule an inspection if you notice the following over several

months: doors that stick in summer but close easily in winter (or vice versa); new cracks in

drywall, especially above door frames; sloping floors that you can feel but not see; cracks in

tile or stone flooring; gaps between baseboards and the floor; or the need to shim furniture to

keep it level. These symptoms indicate ongoing settlement that, while not urgent, will worsen.

Early intervention with piers or underpinning costs much less than rebuilding a collapsed

foundation.

Seasonal Triggers in Montgomery

Montgomery’s climate creates specific times of year when foundation problems become

apparent. After a prolonged summer drought, the clay shrinks, and settlement accelerates. Call

for an inspection if you notice new symptoms in late September or October. After heavy spring

rains (March through May), swelling clay may lift foundations, causing doors to stick. If your

symptoms appear or worsen after these seasonal extremes, expansive clay is almost certainly

the cause. Montgomery Foundation Repair Co recommends scheduling an inspection every

two years even without symptoms, and every year if you have had previous repairs.

When Not to Call (Yet)

You do not need to call for minor, stable hairline cracks under 1/8 inch wide that have not

changed in years. Also, isolated concrete spalling or surface flaking (not cracking) is often a

cosmetic issue. If you have a new home (less than 5 years old), some minor settlement and

cracking is normal as the soil adjusts. However, if those cracks exceed 1/4 inch or appear

suddenly, call anyway. When in doubt, a free inspection costs you nothing and provides peace

of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions