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<\/a><\/a>\nThat confidence is running headlong into a hard reality: the American home is aging. Nearly half of all U.S. homes were built before 1980, according to First American Data & Analytics covering roughly 161 million homes. Groundworks experts note that homes of this era are the ones where foundation problems most often begin to surface, as decades of soil movement, moisture cycles, and settling take their toll. An estimated 38.4 million homes built between the 1970s and 1990s are now entering their 40-year structural service window \u2014 the age at which the need for structural attention historically accelerates. America's housing stock is older than ever, and most homeowners have little sense of what that means for the place they live.<\/p>
\n\u201cA majority of people only think about their foundation once in their life \u2014 the moment it fails,\u201d said Matt Malone, founder and executive chairman of Groundworks. \u201cOur experts repair over 100,000 homes a year, and the difference between what homeowners believe and what's happening beneath them is bigger than anyone realizes. That\u2019s the gap we exist to close.\u201d<\/p>
\nConfident on the Surface, Flying Blind Underneath<\/b><\/p>
\nThe survey doesn't just reveal a confidence gap \u2014 it reveals how dangerous that confidence has become. More than one in three (36%) homeowners admit they lack the knowledge or confidence to check for foundation or basement problems on their own. Most have no idea what they're not seeing, and when they finally do, the timing is rarely in their favor.<\/p>
\nThat\u2019s because the most expensive home repair is often the one homeowners never planned for. While many Americans believe a major structural issue would be covered by insurance, some of the costliest forms of home damage \u2014 including foundation problems caused by soil movement, drought, and settling \u2014 may not be covered by standard homeowners insurance policies, depending on the cause of the damage and where they live. By the time warning signs appear, what started as an invisible problem has already become an expensive one \u2014 and most homeowners are left covering far more of the cost than they ever expected.<\/p>
\nNo Region is Off the Hook<\/b><\/p>
\nThe confidence gap doesn't respect geography, and the data makes that uncomfortably clear. In the Northeast, more than two-thirds of homes predate 1980 \u2014 the highest concentration in the country. Across the Midwest, the figure exceeds 61%, with near-universal basement construction in heartland states. Millions of homeowners are living directly above the problem. The South tells the most surprising story of all: with just 37% of homes predating 1980, it has the newest housing stock in the country \u2014 yet 39% of Southern homeowners have uncovered a structural problem worse or more costly than expected, the highest rate of any region.<\/p>
\n\u201cIt\u2019s not the age of the home that causes structural movement \u2014 it\u2019s the soil beneath it,\u201d said Jeffrey Martin, chief operating officer of Groundworks. \u201cA newly built home and a century-old home can experience the exact same foundation issues when soil conditions change. The encouraging news is that these problems rarely appear overnight. In most cases, homeowners are given warning signs long before repairs become more extensive or costly \u2014 they just need to know what to look for.\u201d<\/p>
\nWhat Homeowners Can Do Now<\/b><\/p>
\nCatching a foundation problem early is the difference between a small repair and a major one. Groundworks recommends homeowners watch for these early indicators:<\/p>
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- \nWall and floor cracks:<\/b> A crack in a floor or wall isn't cosmetic \u2014 it can be a signal the ground beneath your home is moving. If it grows, act immediately.<\/li>\n
- \nSticking doors and windows:<\/b> When a door that used to close easily suddenly doesn't, the frame may not be the problem. The foundation could be.<\/li>\n
- \nGaps between floors and walls:<\/b> These don't appear on their own. They may indicate active structural movement, which means every month they go unaddressed, the repair bill grows.<\/li>\n
- \nUneven floors:<\/b> Floors that slope, bounce, or feel soft underfoot could mean the structure beneath them may already be compromised. This one doesn't get better on its own.<\/li>\n<\/ul>
\nDon't wait for the problem to find you. Visit groundworks.com<\/a> to learn more about how to protect your home.<\/p>
\nSurvey Methodology<\/b><\/p>
\nGroundworks commissioned Atomik Research, part of 4media group, to conduct an online survey of 2,000 homeowners of single-family homes and townhomes throughout the United States. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Fieldwork took place between May 27 and June 2, 2026. Regional subgroup data for the South reflects n=518 respondents (margin of error approximately plus or minus 4 percentage points). Property stock figures are drawn from first-party residential property records covering approximately 161 million U.S. homes.<\/p>
\nAbout Groundworks<\/b><\/p>
\nGroundworks is North America\u2019s leading foundation repair and water management solutions company. Our mission is to protect, repair, and improve the customer\u2019s greatest asset, their home, through superior engineered products, highly trained experts, and lifetime guarantees. As a nine-time recipient of Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies, and with over 80 offices across the U.S. and Canada, Groundworks\u2019 combined brands have helped improve the lives of over one million homeowners. Learn more about Groundworks\u2019 continued growth and success at www.Groundworks.com<\/a>.<\/p>
\nMedia Contacts:<\/b>
- \nSticking doors and windows:<\/b> When a door that used to close easily suddenly doesn't, the frame may not be the problem. The foundation could be.<\/li>\n