Your home’s foundation may be something you don’t think about too often since it’s mainly out of sight. For this reason, developing problems can remain hidden until too late and expensive repairs are needed. A foundation inspection can help locate possible foundation issues early.
When to Call
Professional foundation inspections aren’t usually included on home maintenance checklists because they aren’t something that usually needs to be done regularly. Most homeowners don’t schedule an inspection unless they notice a problem. Some of the signs that you should get a home foundation inspection include:
Damages
Any visible damage, even if it appears minor, warrants an inspection of the foundation. Often a crack is not a major concern or just a cosmetic problem, but in some cases, that first small crack can be indicative of a more major issue. Being proactive and having the damages looked at, no matter how minor, can prevent a more expensive problem.
Natural Disasters
A typical thunderstorm shouldn’t damage your foundation, but severe flooding can cause erosion around or water pressure against the foundation. Both can lead to damage. Natural disasters like earthquakes are another event that can have major impacts on the state of your foundation, so schedule an inspection if any tremors have occurred.
Home Purchases
The purchase of a new home or a new-to-you home should include a thorough foundation inspection in addition to the general pre-purchase home inspection. Foundation problems aren’t always obvious, but they can be very expensive to fix depending on the severity. Make sure there are no hidden surprises with the foundation before you finalize the home purchase.
What to Expect
An initial foundation inspection primarily checks for superficial issues that indicate foundation problems may exist. If issues are found, then the foundation may need to be excavated for a closer look so repairs can begin.
Exterior Problems
In most cases, excavation around a foundation to check for exterior problems is not necessary. The exterior part of the inspection will be focused primarily on the visible portion of the foundation, whether the issue is with the top of a slab or basement foundation, or the inspection of the foundation piers beneath a home on a post foundation.
The inspector is mainly looking for cracks. Cracks that run horizontally or that resemble stair steps are the most alarming because these indicate foundation movement. Even typically harmless crack types, such as hairline cracks, will warrant a closer look to make sure they won’t lead to damage. For example, if a crack is large enough to let water in, then worsening damages are more likely.
Interior Damages
Interior foundation inspections can be more difficult, particularly on slab foundations where the foundation is likely covered with carpeting or another flooring material. Basement foundations are easier to inspect unless the basement is finished.
Visible cracks, particularly if the foundation isn’t level on either side of the crack, can indicate issues. In basements, bulging walls and cracks are the biggest signs of foundation problems.
Window Functions
Some parts of the inspection won’t seem to be related to the foundation. Windows and doors, for example, can be used as a major indicator that foundation damage may be present.
Most foundation issues are a result of a home that doesn’t settle properly. This uneven settling puts the whole house out of alignment, which is most noticeable at windows and doors. Windows, and to a lesser extent doors, may stick or fail to open and close properly if the frames are crooked due to foundation settling issues.
Support Structures
In some homes there are foundation support structures, typically in the form of additional pillars in the basement or crawlspace. There may also be metal strapping and earthquake anchors on home foundations in regions where earth movement is a risk.
Your inspector will check any support pillars for cracks, as well as verify that the support isn’t leaning or otherwise moving out of alignment with the house. They will also look at any visible earthquake anchors or strapping to see if they are damaged or pulling out of the foundation due to shifts.
Moisture Issues
One of the major causes of foundation damage is hydrostatic pressure from water in the soil pressing against the foundation walls. Certain types of soils are more likely to hold large quantities of water, which is what leads to foundation woes in the first place. Sometimes a soil test is first performed to check if the soil type is prone to moisture absorption. Soil moisture levels may also be checked.
Drainage around the home can also lead to foundation problems. Your inspector will likely verify that runoff from the roof and surrounding landscaping is draining safely away from the home and not collecting near the foundation.
Call Straight Line Construction for more assistance with foundation inspections, maintenance, and repairs.
