Last Updated on January 12, 2026 by SampleBoard
Hours and hours of watching the home and garden channels on TV have inspired you to take on a few small projects around the home.
Giving your kitchen a boost by painting your cabinets, laying some flooring in the front foyer, or upcycling your thrift finds can get the creative juices flowing.
How about a little She Shed in the back garden or a Gazebo, the possibilities can be endless, and they all look good on paper.
When it comes down to the actual ‘doing’, things can get a little more complicated and daunting. Everyone knows that things stand stronger and last longer when built on a solid foundation that can withstand pressure without showing any cracks.
Here are some often-overlooked risks that stem from settling concrete and uneven foundations, which can affect even the interior design elements of your home.
| Over 1 million Americans are injured in slip/trip/fall-related accidents each year. – CDC |
Simply knowing about these risks is the first step in protecting your investment and ensuring your design vision stands the test of time.
Natural Settling of the Foundation
When a structure is built, it can take two or three years for it to settle, but this is completely natural.
The materials can lose moisture, soil compacts over time, and there can be soil changes underneath due to environmental changes. These things often occur with no notice or effect on the structure itself.
However, if you’re noticing subtle changes, this could mean there is a problem with the foundation:
- Doors are sticking
- Windows won’t open
- Cracks appear in the drywall
- Cracks appear in the concrete inside or out
- Air gaps where you might feel a breeze
- Sloping floors
- Gaps between the ceiling and the walls
If you live in an area where there are tremors and earthquakes, heavy rainfall (or flooding), freeze-thaw cycles, drought, and clay/limestone soils, you could end up with a ruined foundation, which causes uneven/cracked/sunken sidewalks, patios, pool decks, etc.
In areas with the abovementioned issues, people also often have water drainage issues in their basements, and their garage pathways sometimes sink or drop, resulting in all kinds of issues.
| The two most common causes for water intrusion during rainfall are improper grading and uneven concrete around homes. – FEMA ‘Flood Damage Statistics’ |
For instance, in Lancaster County (Pennsylvania), you’ll have heavy rainfall and soil erosion resulting in soil that tends to heave, pushing foundations and causing unevenness and cracks. So people in this part of the U.S. would research ‘concrete lifting Lancaster County’ online to find a local contractor to fix the foundation issue by injecting polyurethane foam under slabs, which helps level uneven surfaces.
People around Kansas City (Clay County) have – as the name suggests – clay soils which expand when moist and shrink when dry. These changes in soil result in slab heaving and settlement, damaging the surface.
InOlmsted County (Minnesota), there are harsh freeze-thaw cycles that lift concrete due to frost heave, after which the slabs would settle. Almost 40% of homes in that county have damaged sidewalks and pathways because of that.
A job like this might be too big for the average DIY fan to take on, so contact someone in your area who has local climate knowledge, and they’ll be nearby with the right equipment.
| Concrete lifting is 50-70% less expensive than a full slab replacement – HomeAdvisor. Concrete lifting jobs are typically completed in 2-3 hours; full replacements are completed in 3-5 days – Concrete Network. Polyurethane foam weighs 93-96% less than mudjacking grout, which reduces the chance of future resettling and lasts 20+ years. – U.S. Department of Transportation |
Soil-Foundation Interaction – The Science
If you aren’t into scientific data points, then you can skip this section. Otherwise, here’s some important data regarding how soil interacts with the foundation pulled from the U.S. Geological Survey and from the ASCE Journal of Geotechnical Engineering:
- Expansive clays (e.g., like those in Clay County) can exert pressures of up to 5,500 pounds per square foot (psf) on foundations during ‘swilling’ phases.
This would be as if you had two mid-sized cars on every square foot of concrete.
- Frost heave can exert pressure north of 40,000 psf.
This would be as if you had ten fully loaded city buses on every square foot of concrete.
- 30-50% of total movement over a building’s life is attributed to long-term settlement in poorly compacted soil.
Extremely heavy buildings are slowly, but continuously, sinking into the soil several inches over decades. These changes can sometimes be very visible, but even if they aren’t, these shifts can result in issues such as doors sticking, windows jamming, or room walls being tilted.
People often forget (or just don’t think about) just how strong nature is. If you want a stable and safe building, then it’s paramount to make a superb-quality foundation beforehand.
Foundation Issues and How They Affect Your Design Ambitions
Before undertaking any design changes, if you’re experiencing any of the issues listed above, it’s no harm in having your property inspected so you can feel more confident that you won’t have to contend with any of these heartbreaking issues after you have spent money on your vision:
- If you have cracks in drywall, especially around door frames, windows, and where walls meet ceilings.
This kind of damage is quite visible and can undo any recent changes to decor, and will require frequent repairs and repainting, adding costs to your maintenance budgets.
- Sloping Floors
- Bookshelves and dressers can rock, requiring shims.
- Custom-made units may not fit and may look unprofessional.
- Hanging pictures straight can become a challenge or require some optical illusion tricks.
These might not affect your visitors, but when you value perfectly styled shelves and aesthetics, this’ll play on your mind as you know it’s not quite right. Plus, it’ll affect the overall value of your home.
| Even half an inch foundation shifts can create sloping floors; Homes with a noticeable slope can lose up to 10% resale value. – American Society of Home Inspectors |
- Unlevel Subfloor – This mightn’t be directly related to a foundation issue, but if your subfloor is not level, tiles can crack, vinyl can bow, and hardwood flooring can squeak, warp, and the planks can separate.
This can be one of the worst things that can happen to your design aesthetic, and sometimes thousands of dollars are wasted in materials and repairs.
| Flooring replacements due to subfloor issues can cost an avg. of $4,000-10,000 (USD); Hardwood repairs are the most expensive. – National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) |
So make sure you start with a level subfloor to avoid any of these expensive scenarios.
The Ultimate Exterior Renovation
If you have your sights set on a revamp of your exterior building, garden, or walkway, here are a couple of steps to take before committing any funding:
- Walk your property this weekend – really look at everything around you
- Note any areas causing stress or safety concerns
If you see any DIY projects you can handle:
- Painting
- Small repairs
- Creative additions
- Planting etc
- Create a timeline and budget
If anything larger appears like:
- Unlevel Garage Floors
- Sunken Walkways
- Rotten Deck Boards
- Create a list of professionals who can help with these projects and then get a budget together.
The whole point of these projects is to enter with a plan and budget, but you also want to have fun creating beautiful areas for living.
| Home exterior improvements typically yield a 70-90% ROI at resale. – National Association of Realtors ‘Remodeling Impact Report’ |
Look around your neighborhood and see what houses reflect the kind of curb appeal you want for your home. Brainstorm ideas that use the best of your creative skills, and you can create a comfortable area that you can share with your community.
Try to use sustainable materials for the eco-friendly areas and give back to the environment.
Perhaps some of these ideas might inspire you:
- Seating types: Benches, movable chairs, hammocks, or picnic tables will accommodate different group sizes and activities.
- Different zones: A fire pit for evening chats, a small lawn for games and picnics, or a sheltered pergola for shade.
- A place for everyone: Ensure that pathways are smooth and any decks or patios are accessible for any other abled bodies to enjoy the fun as well.
- For hardscaping, responsibly sourced wood or recycled composite materials.
- Think about gravel, pavers, or permeable concrete for pathways and patios.
- Source locally: Stone, wood, or even ceramics from your region mean lower transport emissions and greater harmony with your local landscape.
| 1 in 4 U.S. adults live with a disability, which makes homes with accessibility features (ramps, even smooth pathways, etc.) more desirable and marketable; especially in aging adults. – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) |
Conclusion
You can have a wonderfully beautiful living space both inside and out, just be aware of risks and what to watch out for along the way.
DIY home renovations could be a joy that you cannot find anywhere else in life, so be wise. Know your skills, be brave and try new things, budget carefully, anticipate issues by using professionals and local agents, and let your creativity flow.
If you’re cautious where it counts, you can save money and be proud to look at the results and say, “Look what I can create!”
