Home foundation inspection is one of the most important things you can do if you own a house or planning to buy one. If it is done properly in advance, it will help you avoid costly structural or mechanical repairs.
You can either hire a professional home foundation inspector or conduct the inspection by yourself. If you don’t want to involve an inspection service, here are four ways to conduct a home foundation inspection by yourself.
#1 Chipping and Crumbling Concrete
Foundations that are built using properly mixed concrete will last for decades without any repair. However, regular expansions and contractions may cause some degradation over time.
When inspecting your house’s foundation, make sure you look at the nature of the concrete. If the concrete is crumbling or chipping, this is a clear warning sign of foundation damage. You, therefore, need to contact a repair service to help you fix the problem.
#2 Check Whether Doors or Windows Close Correctly
You can know if the foundation needs repair by inspecting the walls, doors, and windows. A door or window that no longer closes correctly is a clear indication of foundation problem. Also, if you notice any leaning on your walls or support beams, it’s probably time to call a repair expert.
#3 Check for Ruptures, Fissures, and Cracks
Cracks, ruptures, and fissures are some of the most obvious telltale signs of home foundation damage. However, not all cracks, ruptures and fissures translate to foundation damage.
Check for horizontal cracks in foundation walls, vertical cracks on the walls, zigzag cracks on the staircase or ruptures extending into the base of the floor. Actually, any of the above symptoms will tell you that the home foundation inspection may be necessary.
#4 Check for Mold, Moisture and Poor Drainage
If the house is located in a region that experiences heavy rainfall, you need to unearth foundation problems caused by mold, moisture or poor drainage. Check whether the standing puddles near that house drains properly. If not, this may be a clear symptom of poor drainage.
You need to check if the symptom is affecting the foundation. Also, check whether the soil that surrounds that property is experiencing extreme water changes. Soils that turn from dry to wet too quickly may cause pressure on your house’s foundation.
All these symptoms mean that you need to call a contractor to ventilate the foundation. When in doubt, just contact a professional home foundation inspection service. Some of them are ready to give you a free no obligation quote.
Assigned category: Foundation Repair
