Every week, the detail-oriented folks at Green Scene Home Inspections will give Daltxrealestate.com readers an education in inspection. Want to see what they see? Tune in for “Upon Closer Inspection.”
When you’re buying a home, we advise people that the major areas of consideration are the roof, plumbing, electricity, HVAC, and the foundation.
These are your bigger ticket items, so if something is amiss, you may have costly repairs on your hands at some point.
If you’re buying a home in North Texas, foundation issues are almost a given, so this is an area you’ll want to pay close attention to as you shop for homes.
What to Watch For
In this video, you can see examples of several common foundation observations that would lead a home inspector to recommend further evaluation by a structural engineer.
Crack is Whack
This is an ugly crack. It is likely caused by foundation movement, but it could be due to failure of the concrete at the time of construction, or excessive weight. This homeowner would want to have the foundation checked by a structural engineer.
Work in Progress
This is a shot of a home that is currently undergoing foundation work. The pier being worked on is also right next to a sewer line. If the foundation is damaged, the sewer line could be too, so the homeowner will want to have a sewer line test as well.
Signs of Movement
In this video, you can see some foundation movement indicators inside the house. Other indicators include doors that are out of line, cracks in the ceiling or walls, or floors that are out of level.
If you are considering buying a home with foundation issues, it’s a good idea to have a structural engineer evaluate the foundation.
We recommend talking to an engineer first because while a foundation repair company will evaluate it for free, they are looking to sell you their services, while an engineer is just giving an honest opinion.
