Defined Inspections

Certified Professional Home Inspections

Foundation

Common Causes Of A Wet Basement

If your basement has ever flooded, you know what a headache it can be. While inspecting your home, we consider common and effective ways to prevent moisture intrusion into the foundation of a home. Two things home owners should consider if they have experienced a wet basement are:

Failed gutter systems: leaks, improper fastening and debris buildup are commonly found at homes that have reported water issues in a basement. Ensuring the integrity of the gutter system is imperative in the maintenance of any home located in climates that see heavy rain and snow fall.
Negative grading: negative grading refers to the exterior of your home sloping towards the foundation, bringing water into the system during rain and snow fall. Ensuring a positive grade away from your home is imperative in keeping water and moisture out.

We take special care during our exterior inspection, roof inspection and foundation inspection to ensure homeowners a wet basement won’t be an issue they will have to deal with!

Settlement vs. Structural Cracking

Cracks in the foundation is often a top concern of a new home buyer. So what are the typical types of cracking your home inspector encounters during a foundation inspection?

Horizontal Cracks: horizontal cracking is often indicative of a serious foundation issue. Seismic pressure has begun to cause the foundation wall to fail, and requires a structural engineers evaluation and repair
Vertical Cracks: vertical cracking is commonly caused by the settlement of a foundation. If the cracking is too small to fit a pencil in, the structural integrity of your home is not at risk. The crack should be sealed by a professional to prevent moisture intrusion

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