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In most cases, it is safe to live in a home with minor foundation problems, but you should not let the issues persist. Virtually all foundations have small cracks from normal settlement, which are not a structural concern but should be sealed to prevent water intrusion. However, major damage—such as large structural cracks, sinking foundations, or bulging walls—can make a home unsafe. Other issues that can pose safety and health risks include poor indoor air quality from mold or pests, uneven floors, and rotten beams or joists. It is always best to have a foundation repair expert or structural engineer inspect any issues to determine if your home is safe to live in.

The best basement waterproofing method depends on the specific issue causing the water intrusion. For minor problems, simple solutions like installing a properly functioning gutter system to direct runoff away and grading the soil to slope away from your foundation can be effective.

If you have more significant water problems, the solution will need to be more robust:

• For standing water on the basement floor, a floor drain or a sump pump system may be the best solution.

• For water pooling around the foundation, installing an exterior French drain can intercept water before it reaches the basement walls.

Other effective waterproofing methods, which can be used depending on your home's specific needs, climate, and soil type, include sealing the interior walls, landscape alteration, installing interior drainage systems, and using a dehumidification system to control moisture levels.

Yes, crawl spaces can attract bugs, especially since moisture tends to build up in the space, and moisture attracts pests. A good way to prevent pest infestation in your crawl space is to install a vapor barrier—called crawl space encapsulation—on the interior to seal the space, along with a French drain or some other kind of foundation drainage system outside to keep runoff out of your crawl space. You can also seal foundation cracks and repair damages to cut off access to pests.

Yes, you can finish a basement that leaks, as long as you address the leak first. Before finishing a basement, you’ll need to repair any cracks in the walls and waterproof the basement to prevent future leaks. It’s much harder to clean up a water leak from a finished basement than an unfinished one, so preemptively addressing any leaking areas prevents expensive repairs in the future.