We connect property owners in Pittsburgh and nearby areas, including Mount Washington, Polish Hill, Spring Hill, Lincoln Place, Bon Air and Lawrenceville, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.
Foundation problems in Pittsburgh rarely start with a big crack. They start small: a damp corner, a door that sticks, a thin line in the block. Here is what to look for, room by room, and which signs mean you should call soon.
Signs in the basement
Water on the floor after rain. Often where the wall meets the floor. This is the most common sign in Pittsburgh.
White chalky powder on the walls. This is salt left when water moves through the wall and dries. It means water is getting in, even if you never see a puddle.
A musty smell. Damp basements grow mold and mildew.
A long sideways crack in a block wall. Often halfway up the wall. This can mean soil is pushing the wall in.
A wall that bulges or leans in. Look down the wall from one end. A bend in the middle is a bowing wall.
Stair-step cracks that follow the mortar in block or brick.
The top of the wall has slid in past the bottom, or there is a gap between the wall and the wood above.
Loose stones or missing mortar in an old stone foundation.
Water or sewage coming up the floor drain in a storm. That is a sewer backup, which is common in parts of Pittsburgh with old combined sewers.
A sump pump that runs all the time or a pit that overflows.
Rust on nails, tools or appliance feet stored on the basement floor.
Signs upstairs
Doors that stick or will not latch, all year long.
Cracks in drywall or plaster, often running at an angle from the corners of doors and windows.
Floors that slope or feel soft or bouncy.
Gaps between the wall and the ceiling, or between the floor and the baseboard.
Windows that are hard to open or that have gaps around the frame.
Cracks that come back after you patch them.
Signs outside
Stair-step cracks in brick, especially near corners.
A chimney or porch pulling away from the house.
Gaps around doors and windows on the outside walls.
Soil that slopes toward the house or water that pools next to it.
Gutters that overflow or downspouts that dump right at the wall.
A retaining wall that leans or a slope behind the house that is slumping or has new cracks in the ground.
Trees, fences or poles on the hill that start to tilt. On a Pittsburgh hillside, this can be a sign the slope is moving.
Pittsburgh signs that need a call right away
Some signs need fast attention:
The ground on your slope cracks, slumps or drops. Many Pittsburgh hillsides have a clay-rich layer called the Pittsburgh red beds. When soaked, it can slide. In 2018, more than 200 landslides hit Pittsburgh and nearby counties. In Spring Hill, six homes were evacuated after one slide. In Penn Hills, three homes were condemned after another.
A bowing wall that moves fast, or blocks that crack, shift or fall out.
New cracks across several homes on your street at once. Parts of Allegheny County sit over old coal mines. In 2023, at least seven homes in Lincoln Place had foundation cracks after a mine collapse.
Sewage in the basement. It is a health risk. Clean up safely and ask about backup protection.
If you see one of these, call (412) 990-2570 and say so. A local crew can help you figure out next steps fast.
Why these signs are common in Pittsburgh
Old houses. About half of the homes in the city were built before 1940. Many have block, brick or stone walls with no footing drain.
Wet ground. Pittsburgh set its rainfall record in 2018, and heavy rain events are more common now than they used to be. Wet soil is heavy and finds every crack.
Freeze and thaw. Winter here swings above and below freezing again and again. Water in the soil freezes and pushes on the wall each time.
Old sewers. Most of the city has combined sewers that can back up in heavy storms.
What a free inspection checks
Every basement wall for cracks, bulges, water stains and white powder
Floor drains and the sump pit
Floor level in the rooms above
Doors and windows that stick
Gutters, downspouts, grading and the slope
A written plan and price for anything that needs work
What to do next
Take photos of every crack, stain and bulge. Put a ruler or coin in the photo for size.
Mark crack ends with a pencil and the date.
Point downspouts away from the house if you can.
Book a free inspection. Call (412) 990-2570 or send the short form.
In Pittsburgh homes it is often water. A damp wall, a puddle after rain, or white powder on the block often shows up before any big crack.
Are hairline cracks normal?
Thin, dry, up-and-down cracks in poured concrete are common and often harmless. Watch them. If they leak, grow or start to run sideways, call for an inspection.
How do I check if a crack is getting bigger?
Mark the ends of the crack with a pencil and write the date. Take a photo with a ruler next to it. Check again each month.
My doors stick only in summer. Is that the foundation?
It may just be humidity swelling the wood. If doors stick all year, or new cracks show up near the door frames, the house may be moving.
What should I do if many homes on my street crack at once?
Tell the inspector. In some Pittsburgh neighborhoods, cracks that show up fast across several houses can point to old mine collapse. The state handles abandoned mine problems and runs a mine subsidence program.
Should I wait until spring to get it checked?
No. An inspection can be done any time of year, and many problems get worse through freeze and thaw. Checking now gives you time to plan.