By David Norris:
TULSA — When you think of earthquake damage to a home's foundation, you may think of large cracks that weren't there before. Easy to see, easy to prove.
But David Crow with Edens Structural Solutions said it's not quite so simple. Damage could be hidden, or come in the form of small cracks that grew longer during the quake.
Even if you suspect your foundation was damaged by a quake, it may be difficult to prove the damage wasn't already there.
Crow said the trick is to know what your foundation looks like before and after a quake. Take pictures of any cracks and keep tabs on their length.
"It's good to notice bricks around windows and things. That's usually the places that will crack, around doors and windows," said Crow.
If you're concerned about foundation damage, Crow said so far, it's not typical. He said they get more calls for damage caused by the recent droughts than anything else.
In fact, in the 33 years he's been working on foundations, he said he's only seen one home with a foundation damaged by an earthquake..
"Over by Stroud, right after that huge earthquake about three years ago," said Crow. "It was definitely from the earthquake."
But as the number of earthquakes in Oklahoma continues to increase, guys like Crow could see a new trend in foundation damage.
Crow said you can also listen for creaking joists or cracking concrete during an earthquake. If you hear those sounds, your foundation may be damaged.
ktul.com
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