How to Identify Structural Damage in Your Home

Unfortunately, natural disasters are a harsh reality that many Australians face, causing significant damage to the environment, properties, wildlife and people. In recent years we have seen the devastating effects of bushfires, floods and extreme weather events across the country. These natural disasters can have dire effects on the structural integrity of a home, causing foundational issues, leaks, cracks in walls or water damage.?

Structural damage is any damage that affects the central integrity of your home, especially affecting the roof or load-bearing walls. Without the integrity of load-bearing walls, your home could collapse, this is why it is important to address these issues as soon as they arise.?

High winds are the main cause of structural damage to properties, causing foundations to shift or damage to roofing. However, strong floods can also cause issues by putting stress on the metal fasteners and wooden frame causing them to buckle under the pressure.?

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If your home has encountered a natural disaster, look out for these signs of internal structural damage:

• Ill fitting doors and windows. If you’re suddenly struggling to close doors properly or your windows are sticking in their frames, this could be a major sign that the foundations of your home have shifted and are no longer even.?
• Cracks above doorways in a step pattern or cracks that are accompanied by a sagging ceiling or uneven floors are signs of a serious structural problem that should be addressed as soon as possible.
• Sagging or uneven roof and leaks are a sign of damage to the structural integrity of a property and should be addressed right away. This could be the result of damage to the roof itself or to one of the load-bearing walls, causing the roof to shift.
• Uneven floors are another sign the foundations of your home could have shifted and should be checked before they progress.?
• Damp ceiling or walls, this could be a sign of leaking pipes or weather leaks. Dampness should be dealt with as soon as possible, if left too long it could progress and cause rotting, mould and rust within your walls or ceiling.?

On the surface these issues may not seem too important, just a crack or a door getting stuck, but having them checked should be a priority so they don’t have the chance to progress and cause further issues for your property.?

If your home has been struck by a natural disaster, our trained and dedicated restoration team has the equipment and capabilities to respond swiftly and provide the assistance you need. At Abril, we also provide 24/7 emergency support to the community, making repairs or a property safe if structural damage occurs.?

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