Ensuring Your Home Has A Solid Foundation

When people think of foundation problems, basement flooding is often the first thing that comes to their minds. Homeowners and homebuyers both want to make sure that their home and possessions are safe from water damage.

People often don’t realize that water in the basement can cause more problems than a foundation crack. It could endanger the foundation’s integrity and ability to support the home. Major foundation repairs can cost thousands.

Your foundation

A foundation inspection will determine if the foundation of your home is sound and capable of supporting the rest of it. Sagging roofs, cracked floors, and slanted floors can all be signs of structural problems. This makes the home more vulnerable to pests and water damage.

It’s not something that anyone wants to hear. However, it is something you shouldn’t leave to chance. An annual maintenance home inspection in ottawa is also beneficial to track any foundation issues or other concerns homeowners may have.

This is a risk you should be aware of if you are a potential homebuyer.

Common foundation problems

The foundation of a home can be damaged by extreme temperature or earthquakes, and tree roots. It is important to inspect your foundation for any potential dangers. The following are other contributing factors:

1. Type of soil. Fill dirt is common on lots because they are often built on uneven ground. Fill dirt must be used to fill low areas. If the slope is too steep, retaining walls may be necessary to keep the fill dirt in place. Fill dirt can cause settlement if it isn’t compacted properly. Settlement can occur when foundation soil is subject to extreme changes in moisture content. The soil can become saturated by excess moisture, which can cause soil softening or weakening. Settlement occurs when the soil is not able to support the load. Different soil types react differently to moisture, so it is important to identify the soil around your home (eg clay or sand).
2. Drainage. Moisture can cause serious problems for homes, but it is more so when it affects the foundation. Poor drainage can cause water to pool around your house, which in turn causes the soil surrounding the foundation to expand and shift. The pressure on the foundation walls increases, causing cracks and leaks which allow water to seep into the foundation. This can lead to electrical hazards, mould growth, and structural damage. It is important to remember that older homes are often built on flat land where drainage is an issue.
3. Age. The home’s support beams are a major factor in foundation strength. Older foundations have smaller beams and are less stable than those built today.

Foundation inspections

Your home inspector will inspect your foundation for cracks, uneven areas and damaged walls and floors. They will inspect the crawlspace underneath your house to see if it is damp or musty. There may be a problem with the foundation drainage if there are wet areas or rotten spots.

Concrete cracks that are small can be considered normal. However, larger cracks visible in the concrete may indicate a greater problem. Your inspector might recommend that a structural engineer perform a thorough foundation inspection.

Your home inspector will inspect the exterior of your home and look for drainage problems. Standing water near the foundation could indicate problems inside. Poor drainage could be caused by poor grading or gutters that drain too close to the house. They will inspect the inside of your home to make sure there is no standing water.