Are you looking to get a home foundation inspection?
The foundation is a critical component of your home’s structure. The integrity of your home is dependent on its foundation. That is exactly why it’s important to get your foundation inspected if you suspect any structural issues. Now we are going over the typical questions regarding home foundation inspections. You’ll learn about the usual procedures, potential outcomes, and its limitations.
How is a home foundation inspection carried out?
Make sure that your home foundation inspection is carried out by a qualified structural engineer. In any other case, the depth and quality of your foundation inspection may be in jeopardy.The process starts with an interview. The structural engineer should conduct a comprehensive interview in order to learn about warning signs, noted damage, and an overall timeline of your foundation issues.Exercise caution when the inspector ignores the need for an interview. Every solid home foundation inspection process involves asking plenty of questions to deliver the best results. Before any other inspection procedures take place, the engineer conducts a floor elevation survey. In short, this survey is carried out to find correlations between observed damage and floor elevations. The inspection would be incomplete without this data. The inspection continues with visual observations. Your home foundation inspector will check your property’s exterior, interior, and its immediate surroundings. The main focus here is on visible cracks, gaps, and damage. Sometimes there are secondary sources of evidence that might indicate foundation trouble. For example, windows and doors that stick could be a sign of structural problems. Any leaning or listing indicates foundation issues as well. That is why the structural engineer will use a level to check the situation of your walls, cabinets, and trim. Many warning signs of foundation issues reflect underlying movements. The final part of the inspection is aimed to understand why this movement takes place. Soil shifting and poor grading are common causes for such shifts around the foundation.
What can a home foundation inspection uncover?
Home foundation inspections may uncover a variety of issues. Most of these are serious problems that require immediate attention. Take care to fix foundation trouble as soon as possible.
Pest Issues
The inspector visiting your home might find signs of pest infestation. For instance, termites have the potential to cause significant structural damage in your home. Consult with a structural engineer to understand your situation and learn what steps you can take to fix the damage.
Foundation Damage
The main aim of the inspection is to find out whether your foundation has been damaged. This is a crucial part of the assessment because your home’s stability depends on its underlying structures. There are many kinds of foundation issues and we are taking a closer look at these below.
Masonry Trouble
Masonry and brickwork that has been exposed to water can become a structural hazard. Sometimes a foundation inspection can uncover damage to your home’s masonry components. These areas of your property may be damaged by the outside elements in addition to domestic water damage.
What are the typical foundation damage cases?
Now let’s list the common scenarios that result in foundation damage or failure.
- Leaking water under the slab. Does your home have a slab foundation? The slab covers water pipes and sewer lines. A leak could occur in a hidden pipe, which slowly deteriorates the slab. The most common signs are increasing water bills and wet areas in your interior floors.
- Foundation settlement. There are many underlying reasons for foundation settlement. However, the major underlying issue is always about having too much or too little moisture in your soil. A little settlement is fine. But a serious foundation failure requires immediate intervention.
- Honeycombing. Many homeowners believe that the honeycombing of their concrete structures is an aesthetic issue. In reality, the gaps resembling honeycombs invite corrosion and deterioration. These areas should be fixed as soon as possible.
- Tree root issues. Tree roots can start damaging your foundation. There are two main pathways for this: removing an excessive amount of water from the surrounding soil or putting too much physical pressure on your foundation.
- Overloading. Every foundation has a certain capacity for bearing weight. Adding new rooms or floors to your home can increase the load beyond its capabilities. That’s why consulting with a structural engineer is important before taking on such projects in your house.
In a nutshell: What to Expect from a Home Foundation Inspection
Home foundation inspections should be carried out by a qualified structural engineer. These inspections are necessary when buying a new house or suspecting foundation damage in your current home. Before hiring a structural engineer for a foundation inspection, check their credentials and background. Take the inspection report seriously and fix any noted issues before they become costlier.
Advantage Realty Services, Inc. is a professional property management company servicing Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Odessa and Land O Lakes areas. We provide professional services for residential properties and have been doing so for over 20 years.
