Celebrating National Homeownership Month in Florida

June is National Homeownership Month in America, a time for Florida residents to acknowledge and celebrate the benefits and importance of owning a home. The impact of owning a home on us and our family's lives, not just as a place of shelter and security, but also as a place we can uniquely call our own, cannot be understated. Beyond the immediate, everyday benefits, owning a home is also a key contributor to the building of an individual and family’s wealth and net worth. 

Beginning in 1995 under President Bill Clinton’s administration as a week-long event and later expanding into the entire month by President George W. Bush in 2002, National Homeownership Month was developed as a strategy to remove barriers and make homeownership more obtainable for Americans across the country. Through the assistance of loan programs by the Housing Administration (FHA) and counseling initiatives by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), many American citizens have been able to obtain what has been long considered an integral part of the American Dream. 

Purchasing a home is often the greatest investment one can make in their life, and as a Florida homeowner, National Homeownership Month is a great time to celebrate by conducting some routine home inspections. Catching and addressing any potential issues that could be impacting a home’s foundation early is often guaranteed to save more money in the long term and maintain the value of this generational wealth-building asset.

Signs and Symptoms of Foundational Issues for Florida Homeowners

There’s no better way to celebrate owning a home this National Homeownership Month than by inspecting its condition and looking out for these common signs and symptoms of foundational issues:

• Wall and Ceiling Cracks. Perhaps the most glaring sign that a home’s foundation is in trouble is the appearance of cracks in both the interior and exterior walls, as well as in the ceiling of the home. Often a sign that the foundation is settling, ignoring these cracks may end up being a costly mistake. Having the foundation professionally inspected upon first noticing these cracks can help avert further damage and be more cost-effective when addressed early.
  
  
  
  
• Sticking Doors and Window Frames. Sometimes it seems like certain doors and windows don’t close or open as easily as they used to, and will seem to ‘stick’. In more serious cases, cracks may extend out from the corners of window and door frames. Often times this is a symptom that the home’s foundation has shifted and might warrant the need for some further inspection. 
  
  
  
  
• Uneven/Sagging Floors. For homes with a crawl space, a very common issue to be on the lookout for is if the floors in the home are uneven or sagging. Often accompanied by a feeling of instability when walked upon and even an audible ‘squeaking’ sound, this usually indicates a problem with the support from the crawl space below. Having a professional inspect the crawl space and identify areas needing repair can provide the floor joists with the support they need and prevent further damage or even a complete floor failure.
  
  
  For slab foundations, a less common but very problematic occurrence is the upward movement of the slab, known as foundation heave. This results not only in an upward slope of the floors but is often accompanied by previously mentioned symptoms such as wall cracks and sticking doors. Foundation heave is usually caused by the expansion and swelling of the underlying soil and most often occurs within the first few years after the home is built.
  
  
• Yard Grade and Drainage. Shifting the focus now to the outside of the home, inspecting the overall grade of the home’s property can help indicate whether rainwater can be negatively impacting a home. If the terrain of the yard slopes toward the home, flooding around the foundation is likely to occur during heavy Florida rainstorms as the rainwater flows down the landscape.
  
  Additionally, an effective and well-maintained drainage system can help remove rainwater away from around a home and alleviate excess pressure on the foundation.
  
  
  An inspection of the yard’s grade can help determine if a home is at risk of moisture and flooding damage and identify solutions to safeguard the home’s foundation.
  
  
• Cracked and Uneven Concrete. While conducting a home inspection, it’s always a good idea to check for any cracks or uneven sections in the driveway, walkways, and pool deck. Just as foundations settle due to unstable underlying soil, so does concrete. Cracks in concrete surfaces can typically spread further and allow for water to intrude below the concrete, washing away the soil and causing the slabs to shift and sink. This doesn’t just appear unsightly; it also poses a potential danger, with many tripping hazards likely to develop as a result.
  
  
  An expert concrete repair specialist can help determine available solutions to repair concrete, avoiding the need and expense of a costly replacement.

Safeguarding Florida Homes During National Homeownership Month

Celebrating homeownership during the month of June is a great time to honor one of the greatest investments in one’s lifetime by ensuring the foundation it sits on is in great standing order. Early signs of potential foundation issues are not to be taken lightly, and acting fast to address these issues cannot be understated.

Now is a great time for Florida homeowners to have their homes inspected, and LRE Foundation Repair is ready to assist. Whether it's for foundation, concrete, or drainage issues, a free inspection by LRE’s team of experts can ensure every Florida home sits on solid ground.