As a homeowner living in the state of Florida, one of the biggest concerns that individuals have to be worried about are sinkholes. Sinkholes can end up causing a lot of costly damage to a home and property, but most of the time these damages can be mitigated or avoided if the sinkhole is caught early.
Sinkholes typically do not show up overnight and cause massive damage. Most of the time, a sinkhole is slowly growing and causing problems in different areas that can be noticeable.
When it comes to the signs of an active sinkhole, homeowners should know that one of the common signs is staircase cracking. Spring Hill residents should know that these cracks can often look like other benign issues, so it is important to know what staircase cracking is all about.
What are Staircase Cracks?
Staircase cracks are cracks in the home that look like that of a staircase. These cracks will go up and over in a repeating pattern, and they are caused by a sinkhole that is slowly removing soil and sediment, causing the home’s foundation to separate and cause issues.
When talking about staircase cracking, Spring Hill residents should be made aware that these cracks look a lot like cracks that would be caused by a settling foundation. Over time, a building’s foundation will naturally shift, or settle, and it can cause cracks, but they are harmless unlike those caused by an active sinkhole.
These staircase cracks will often appear on the outside of the home, and typically they will follow along the lines of certain materials such as cinder blocks or bricks. Keep in mind though that cracks that are caused by an active sinkhole can appear in different places.
Where are Staircase Cracks Found?
As stated above, staircase cracks can be found in multiple areas of the home, but the most common place to see them is on the outside of the home, usually in one of the corners of the home.
If these cracks cannot be seen from the outside of the home, they can be found inside in specific areas. One of the more common areas to see staircase cracks on the inside of a home is around the windows or door frames of a home. Because of these cracks, it can make it hard to close these items.
If you look inside or outside the home and notice staircase cracking, Spring Hill residents should get in contact with a sinkhole professional to come out and see if there is an active sinkhole present.
*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of *Sinkhole Titan*
