Check the Foundation, the Very Base of Your Home

Buying a home is the biggest investment you would ever make. You should check out the condition of the proposed home’s foundation, as part of your home checking schedule. The foundation is the most critical part of the home, as it rests on it. If you have purchased a house, you will probably have no idea about the soil on which it has been built. You will not be aware whether your home has been built on expansive clay, or on compressible or improperly compacted fill soils. You will also not be aware of any improper maintenance around the foundations.

In most cases the main culprit is water. Depending on the water or moisture content, certain soils would tend to shrink or swell, affecting the foundation. Water is one most important threat to your home.

The main reason for inspection of the foundation during your exterior home checking is to look for water seeping into the structure. Improper drainage is the main cause of water seeping into the foundation and its surrounding soil. Water from leaking pipes, clogged gutters or up from the ground due to inadequate or improper drainage, is a threat that can be prevented. Check the home’s foundation for water stains. Presence of saturated soil near the foundation is a sign of improper drainage. This can easily be corrected by improving your drainage system.



Damage to Foundation by Standing Water

Ensure that no water stands near the foundation walls. Water from the rooftop gutters and down spout systems should slope away from the foundation walls and your home. Make sure that the gutters and down spouts are free from debris so that water flows freely and does not overflow down the sides of the walls into the foundation.

Other than for water damage, check the foundation for cracks in the masonry, weakened masonry, and crumbling mortar. Also check the inside and outside walls of the foundation for any damage caused by termites. These need to be corrected immediately.

Shrubs, bushes, and trees can cause damage to the home’s foundation too. Shrubs and bushes can be trimmed, and one will need to consult about uprooting the trees that are potentially likely to cause damage to the foundation. If you are in the process of purchasing one and find that all or part of the foundation has been recently plastered and painted, it is advisable to get it thoroughly checked to see the extent of the damage to the foundation. This would make sure that you avoid expensive foundation repair in the future.