Before buying your home in Brooklyn , or anywhere , it's important for you to have the foundation walls checked for cracks. I recently performed a home inspection in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, and while inspecting the foundation walls , I found some minor cracks. This was no big deal since foundations will have some shrinkage cracks , this is normal. But as I kept inspecting the walls , I found a long vertical crack behind the washing machine. This is a type of crack that I'm glad I did not miss.
Is It Really That Serious?
Foundations walls may crack for a variety of reasons. Cracks may be a result of shrinkage , settlement , or lateral forces. Some cracks are serious while others are insignificant. Which ones are serious? Your home inspector or a structural engineer are best able to help you with this , but here are some helpful clues: Cracks that are V-shaped , wider at the top and narrower as it goes toward the bottom generally indicates a problem that needs correction. These type of cracks usually worsen over time , and are caused by the uneven settlement of the footing ( material used to support the structure's load).
Then there are cracks that continues into the foundation floor. This could be a result of the footing not being deep enough or wide enough to support the structure's load. Perhaps the most serious , or at least what home inspectors are really on the look out for are horizontal cracks which indicates that there is hydrostatic pressure (water pushing through). Other reasons for horizontal cracks are: back-fill damage , wet soil causing a heavy load against the foundation , and hillside causing a heavy load against the foundation.
What I found
The long vertical crack I found during my home inspection was of concern because not only did it extend into the basement floor , it also was wider than 1/8th of an inch. Any crack wider than 1/8th of an inch is a concern and should be investigated further. The crack also made its way through from the exterior , and allowed rain water to make its way into the interior. This type of condition if left untreated can cause all types of costly problems. So before you buy your next home , please have the foundation walls checked for cracks , you will be glad you did , my client sure was.
The value of a home inspection
For more information on my home inspection services , visit:
www.abrooklynhomeinspector.com
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