A Home's Major Systems
The Foundation: Holds a Home in Place
A foundation holds a house above ground, prevents it from moving along with the earth it sits in, and helps protect against both cold and moisture. A foundation's structure varies depending on when a home was built, the climate in which the home was built, and whether or not the home was built with a basement or atop a crawl space. The appearance and nature of cracks in a foundation can foreshadow water leaks, structural issues and vulnerability in the event of an earthquake or other natural disaster. Often, cracks and unevenness are due to "settling." Settling can be minor or more dramatic. It happens over time to almost all structures.
During your home inspection, we will determine which type of foundation your home has and examine it for potential defects. A-1 foundation inspections involve both a review of the home's interior, usually focusing on the basement or crawl space, as well as its exterior, where foundation cracks and shifts are often apparent. According to data in This Old House, the average U.S. house weighs 50 tons and the average foundation weighs 7.5 tons; when it comes to new construction, foundations may account for eight to 15 percent of the total cost of a new construction project. These are figures worth keeping in mind if you're evaluating a home with foundation issues.