Foundation | Home Pro Home Inspections

Posts Tagged ‘Foundation’

Crumbling Porch Brick Work

Crumbling Front Porch

This is an example of one way not to repair a crumbling porch. Over time the elements got to the outer later of this porch brickwork. Mortar and bricks became loose and fell out. What the home owner did was to provide bracing to keep addotional courses of block from falling out.

I did not do a home inspection on this property. The picture was taken from the street of a home I was driving by when I saw the condition of the porch structure. It is not know if there was any kind of Safery issue related ith the deteriorated brick work.

Posted on Saturday, September 10th, 2011.
Tags: Exterior, Foundation, Hazard, Maintenance, Rick Erickson, Structural
Posted in Exterior Components, Oh My Gosh..., Structural

Rochester MN Home Inspection Company Discusses Wet Basements

I just had a home inspection client cancel his home inspection this past Monday on a vacant home. The Realtor and plumber met at the property in the morning to turn the water on and reported that there was standing water in the basement that was seeping in through the foundation. As a result, the client decided to cancel his offer on the property.

I can only guess the reason for the water intrusion, but as I discuss with all of my home inspection clients, Gutters and Down Spouts, when properly installed can go a long towards helping to keep your basement dry.

The number one culprit for causing water penetration into the basement of a house is rain gutter downspouts discharging rain water right alongside the foundation. All downspouts should discharge the water at least five feet or more from the foundation. If a downspout is discharging water right alongside the foundation, I recommend installing downspout extensions. That is an easy job that most people can do themselves.

Getting the water away from the foundation will help to avoid water penetration into the basement. Close-to-the-house downspout discharge is not the problem of all water problems in the basement, but it is certainly one of the major ones. If a water penetration problem develops in the basement, before you call in a waterproofing contractor, check the downspout discharge area.

As already mentioned the correction may be as simple as installing extensions on the downspouts and discharging the water away from the house.

One other tip on water penetration and downspout discharge, if your downspout discharges to an under ground discharge pipe and you are getting water penetration in the downspout area, you may have a damaged underground discharge pipe. That pipe may be discharging water right alongside the foundation causing the water intrusion. To determine whether or not the in-ground pipe is damaged and causing the problem, disconnect the downspout from the in-ground pipe and put a five foot extension on the downspout. This will allow the water discharge to occur above the ground. If the water penetration into the basement stops, is will be evident that the broken in-ground pipe line is the problem. If that’s the case, you can either dig up and repair the pipe or just stay with the above ground discharge extension.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections, Serving Rochester and Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942

Posted on Wednesday, August 10th, 2011.
Tags: Basement, DIY, Foundation, Home Tip, Maintenance, Mold, Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Wet Basement
Posted in Basement, Exterior Components, Inspectors Blog, Monthly Home Tip

Mold Growth On Basement Woodwork

This video is showing mold growth and staining in a split level basement ledge of the exterior wall. The basement was finished off about a year ago, with the mold and staining starting within the last two months. The owner pointed out this problem during the home inspection and asked me if I could help to figure out the cause. This wall was the only one in the basement that had this problem. All other areas were dry at the time of the home inspection.
What I had found was on the exterior of the home, the bottom of the siding was right at the top of the block/base plate junction. With all of the rain and driving winds we had had recently, I believe that water was being driven into the joint at the top of the wall, resulting in saturation of the wood. The water was wicking up through the oak shelf, which was attached to the base plate, thus causing the staining and mold growth.
For some reason, the siding on this side of the home was not installed low enough to properly overlap the masonry block/plate joint. The siding was installed properly on the remaining exterior walls.
My recommendation to the homeowner was to have a siding contractor extend the siding down so that it properly overlapped the masonry block. I also recommended that the oak shelf be removed, the area inspected for moisture issues, necessary repairs be made.
Home Inspectors, HomePro Home Inspections. Rick Erickson, Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942 http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Posted on Wednesday, February 9th, 2011.
Tags: Basement, Exterior, Foundation, Hazard, Health, Interior, Mold, Rick Erickson, Safety, Wet Basement
Posted in Basement, Inspectors Blog

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Disclose Steps To A Dry Basement

There aren’t many things worse than walking across your basement, and suddenly getting your feet wet. Maybe the kids spilled something on the carpet or Fido had an accident. Then you realize there is a lot more water there than either could produce.

You realize you have a basement leak! Now What?

Sometimes it can seem like keeping your basement dry is a never ending battle, but, keeping your basement dry may not be as hard as you think. There are some simple steps you can take that will keep your basement dry and comfortable.

While it may sound like a little thing, as a home inspector I occasionally come across outdoor water spigots that were leaking. Even what you may consider a slight drip can develop into several gallons of water per day, running down the foundation wall. A simple fix could have prevented the problem.

Gutters and downspouts need to be kept clear of all debris. Check them for any damage that would prevent water from flowing properly through them. Rainwater spilling out on a concentrated area can create and erode low places in your grade and allow water to concentrate against your foundation wall and in time can deteriorate the concrete or concrete block joints. It will also start seeping through cracks in your basement wall and cause a basement leak.

Where the water exits at the bottom of the downspout is a critical area. It must be allowed to flow away from the foundation. This can consist of a simple splash block or a drain pipe extension as needed.

Make sure the grade around your house slopes away your foundation wall. Sometimes that is not an easy task, but is a must to keep the drainage water away from the foundation. Any low areas found next to your foundation should be filled and graded away from your foundation.

Fix any plumbing leaks as they happen. This may seem like a no-brainer task, but in some cases, these leaks are really hard to notice. Discoloration of flooring is sometimes the only indication of a possible leak.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Posted on Wednesday, July 7th, 2010.
Tags: Basement, Drainage, Exterior, Flooring, Foundation, Home Tip, Plumbing, Rick Erickson, Sump Pump
Posted in Basement, Inspectors Blog

Home Inspection Reveals Bowed Basement Wall

When a basement wall starts to crack, and those cracks open up horizontally, it can be a sign that the wall is being pushed inward. Many times the horizontal cracks will line up with the frost line in the outside soil. The video from this home inspection will show you these cracks in a basement wall.

It’s no secret that the soil freezes in the winter time here in Rochester MN. The frost expands the soil and presses against the wall, causing a lateral load. This lateral load can cause the wall to bow inward. Unstable soils, expansive clay, compressible, or improperly compacted soil can be a basement’s worst enemy.

Fortunately it is possible to rescue a bowed basement wall. There are companies in the Rochester area that can install an anchor system that can stabilize and pull bowed walls back into place. After a careful inspection and analysis, these companies can design a system that will resolve the problem for a fraction of the cost of total replacement.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Posted on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009.
Tags: Basement, Foundation, Hazard, Home Improvement, Rick Erickson, Wet Basement
Posted in Basement, Inspectors Blog, Structural

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Observation Of Foundation Shift

This video shows the impact of hydraulic forces on a basement wall. What are hydraulic forces…Water and frost pressures.

During this home inspection, after noting the excessive cracking in the bathroom, I found that the wall had shifted in ¾- 1 inch below the top course of block. Over time, water pressure, frost, and potentially expansive soils lead to this wall moving inward.

The good thing is, there are companies in the Rochester MN area that can install an anchor system that will pull the wall back into the correct position, and stabilize it from future movement.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Posted on Saturday, July 18th, 2009.
Tags: Basement, Foundation, Rick Erickson, Wet Basement
Posted in Inspectors Blog, Structural

Rochester MN Home Inspector Explains Drainage Around Home

Did you know that a 1″ rainfall results in 623 gallons of water per 1000 square feet of roof? Controlling water above ground can prevent water from getting into your basement.

Routing water away from the foundation is the first step in preventing basement wetness problems. Making sure that your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris will ensure that they are functioning properly. Extensions on the downspouts will move water away from the structure.

Just like your roof is sloped to shed water, the soil and any driveway/patio slabs around your foundation should be sloped for the same reason. The soil, and sometimes slabs next to the foundation often settles after a home is built. This causes the water that hits the side of the house to run toward and settle against the foundation. Soils that are saturated with water will increase the soil pressure on the basement walls, which can lead to basement wetness, cracks, shifts, bowing and other potential structural problems.

A minimum of 2 inches rise to every 6 feet of run will help to divert water away from the foundation. In some cases it is necessary to place impermeable sheeting under the soils or decorative material near the foundation.

Make sure that window wells are constructed correctly, with drains linked to the foundation drains. Soil elevation in the window well should be several inches below the bottom of the window and sloped to the drain. A drainpipe filled with gravel is a common way to create the drain.

Most home inspectors find that the dampness in basements can usually be traced back to lack of gutters and downspouts and/or poor drainage at the foundation. By correcting above-ground problems you can help to prevent structural damage to your home, as well as dry up those basement damp spots.

Rick Erickson, Home Inspector, HomePro Home Inspections. Rochester MN, Southeastern, MN. 507-202-8942. http://www.homepro-inspection.com

Posted on Thursday, May 28th, 2009.
Tags: Drainage, Foundation, Maintenance, Rick Erickson, Wet Basement
Posted in Electrical, Exterior Components, Structural

Home Pro Home Inspections

Posts Tagged ‘Foundation’

Crumbling Porch Brick Work

Rochester MN Home Inspection Company Discusses Wet Basements

Mold Growth On Basement Woodwork

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Disclose Steps To A Dry Basement

Home Inspection Reveals Bowed Basement Wall

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Observation Of Foundation Shift

Rochester MN Home Inspector Explains Drainage Around Home

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