Can I Patch Drywall Cracks Instead Of Repairing My Home Foundation?

While you can certainly patch drywall cracks instead of repairing your foundation in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it will only be a temporary solution to a long-term home foundation problem and ultimately cost you money. That’s because if your home is cracking due to foundation damage resulting from the shifting DFW area soils, plumbing leaks, or other things, the problem is not going to go away. In fact, over time the floor and drywall cracks will become much worse.

What Causes Drywall Cracks?

Several different factors contribute to the creation of cracks in drywall including under-slab plumbing leaks, shifting soil (due to too much moisture or not enough of it), and large tree roots that make contact with the foundation. It is important to determine the source of the problem in order to be able to stop it at the source. By knowing what is causing the problem, you can take steps to prevent any future damage. At HD Foundations, we make it our business to determine what the problem is and then quickly remedy it.

Why Patch Drywall Cracks Now?

Because foundation damage becomes progressively worse over time, it is imperative to make any repairs to your DFW home before you make other home improvements. Failure to take action right away can prove to be far more costly than simply repairing the foundation to begin with. Just imagine how shocked you would be to come home and find your new granite countertop, tile floor, or other surface cracked after spending your hard earned money to replace it. Drywall cracks can be particularly unpleasant.

It’s also important to remember foundation issues and cracks generally start on one side of the house and simply trying to patch drywall cracks will not replace the need for foundation repair in DFW or elsewhere. By contacting an established  foundation repair contractor and asking them to fix your property as soon as you discover the problem, you can often avoid the need to fix the other side for years to come. This means that whether you require pier and beam foundation repair or slab foundation repair, the best time to implement the repairs is as soon as you notice signs of trouble.

Signs of foundation trouble can vary greatly and include both interior and exterior conditions ranging from cracks in your home’s brick exterior, walls (drywall cracks), floor, and ceilings, to doors that don’t open and shut properly, gaps between windows and the brick exterior, cabinets that don’t hanging as they should, uneven floors, a cracked chimney, and many more things. Pier and beam homes may even develop a damp, musty odor due to trapped moisture in the crawl space below the home, necessitating the immediate need for pier and beam foundation repair.

While it is certainly understandable that property owners would wish to patch cracks in order to avoid the cost of foundation repair on their DFW home, the thing to remember is that in the end, repairing the foundation right away will ultimately save you money down the road. If you suspect that your foundation may be damaged, don’t delay — make a point of having your home evaluated free of charge by the reputable foundation repair contractor who knows what to look for and is prepared to offer solid solutions. Call the company that can be trusted to do the job right.

Updated 3/20/2022