When reviewing the foundation and foundation walls, moisture is not the only culprit a homeowner should be concerned with. Radon is an odorless gas that has been proven to be hazardous to health. Some say as bad as secondhand smoke. Over 1 in 10 US homes have a level of Radon that is higher than the EPA recommends, and the only truly 100% safe level is zero. Radon mitigation has several methods and the most effective for your area of the country and your construction type should be employed.
My home is slab-on-grade, and there is not much that I can visually assess about it. I walked around the house looking for signs of settlement in the windows and doors. I also felt the flooring on the ground level to see if there was any movement or places where the floor was uneven. Everything looked very good. This is a picture of a crack on a small porch at an entrance of the house. The crack looks superficial, however, it does go down over the side. It is quite long, but probably not a defect.
I studied the image of Foundation Push. If bowing is not readily apparent, there are two different types of cracks that show the foundation is being pushed inward. Long, vertical cracks from the top of the foundation wall to the bottom indicates movement. And a horizontal crack with separation in the middle third of the way is a dead give away for foundation push.
Admixtures are ingredients added to change the properties of concrete to affect the workability, the set time or color. These ingredients can anything that is added that is not water, aggregate and Portland cement. Admixtures are usually added to change the set time in response to current temperatures.
ICFs consist of insulating foam, expanded polystyrene, and extruded polystyrene. The three basic form types are hollow foam blocks, foam planks held together with plastic ties, and 4/8 panes with integral foam or plastic ties.
It can be used to form various structural configurations, such as a standard wall, post and beam.
Aging in place is the phenomenon describing senior citizens’ ability to live independently in their homes for as long as possible.
As the baby boomers age, the 60+ population will spike from roughly 45 million in recent years to more than 70 million by 2020.
Retaining wall failure at corner of wall. Several large pieces are missing. Backfill is being pushed thru holes. Vertical cracks in wall. Reinforcing metal bars are to exposed to the weather. Large components of wall are dislodged and may fall in near future.
The wall area you see behind the stairs is actually part of a cistern that lies underneath the upper verandah. The cistern holds 9000 gallons of water collected from the gutter system during rains. The cistern walls (foundation walls) are made of poured block with face stone that sit on a footing trench cut into solid rock with rebar placed in the trench then pour full and level with concrete. The inside of the cistern has been parged with a mortar mix then covered with a two part potable water epoxy coating made by Sherwin Williams. This cistern has been in place for 8 years with absolutely no movement, no hairline cracks and no leaks even though the home has been through 4 hurricanes. Point is…don’t cut corners, overbuild critical systems.
Just read “Backflow Prevention” This is new to me so found it quite interesting. I have always been on rural properties with their own water system. I would like to know more about the inspection of backflow preventers for residences in an urban setting. Are there simple tests that the home inspector can perform the make sure they are functioning properly?
In this photo of the exterior wall of a residential home, youll notice that at the point where the poured concrete wall meets the decorative cinder block wall there is some minor cracking, or separation. These generally appear to follow the mortar joints between the two walls and are normal occurrences with this type of construction. No visual evidence of structural problems are apparent, however it should be monitored for further movement. Maintenance needed: As part of normal maintenance caulk and seal should be applied to prevent further damage to the wall.
Cockroaches are a disease-carrying household pest that can spread diseases such as salmonella, food poisoning and dysentery through contact with their feces and defense discharges. Inspectors should look for evidence of pepper-like specs in and under kitchen cabinets, under kitchen sinks and bathroom vanities. Be on the lookout for their egg sacks, which look like small ribbed tubes about a quarter of an inch in length, attached to cracks and crevices in kitchen cabinets, drains, behind refrigerators and dishwaters. If signs of infestation exist document it in your report and offer the homeowner tips on how to control cockroach activity, which would include spreading boric acid and bait stations around areas of cockroach activity. Keep food in sealed containers and tight fitting lids on trash cans. Never keep pet food out overnight. Cockroaches can be controlled by maintaining a clean home and eliminating moisture intrusion.
In Georgia having a moisture resistant floor is essential to prevent termites, decay, and damages to wood products. I have been recommending these products for years. Vinyl or laminate flooring has a cheap hollow sound and look. The upgrade to Water-Resistant Polyethylene Sub-Floor System is a revolutionary change that I think will deeply impact the flooring industry.
I chose to read and write about “A Garage Inspection”
by Kenton Shepard. Modifications to roof structures in garages are becoming more common in my area. I have recommended several structural engineers come out to verify that the alterations were not safe.
The image shown is of a masonry crack that has been attempted to be repaired by pointing. The previous repair is obvious and the crack has returned. This should be noted in the report and mentioned to the homeowner to be repaired.
The image is studied was labeled Inspecting a Retaining Wall. The picture explained that the wall should be plump and not leaning. Also, it shows that slumping on the exterior of the wall can cause to the wall to lean.
In CBC construction in homes in South Florida from the 60’s and 70’s, there is a unique vent system. The picture included is a garage vent in a 1970’s Florida ranch. In theory, it is to keep pressure and temperature equal in and out of the garage. The openings are between 4 and 5 inches and are supposed to have screens to prevent pest infiltration. In reality, they are an open invitation to pests to come in and make themselves at home.
In the article “Cement Substitutes” by Nick Gromicko, I expected more in-depth information of cement substitutes in the creation of concrete. In reality, it is a more concise restatement of the information in this course. It did peak my interest to do more investigation, and I expect that I can find the information on google.
Efflorescence and moisture are present on the foundation walls. This condition leads to damage to the foundation walls and additional stresses put on the foundation. It is recommended to correct issues with negative site drainage into the crawlspace, properly installing gutters with the downspout diverters leading away from the crawlspace and by installing a vapor barrier in the crawlspace to prevent further moisture intrusion into the foundation.
There are a number of different foundations types each with their own special consideration and building codes for its engineering and applications. Some of those considerations include costs, soil type, moisture content, water table and frost lines, and when to use different types of additives or admixtures and other reinforcements depending upon the environment and other circumstances in which the foundation is installed.
This is a view from the inside of a crawlspace looking at the foundation wall on the front of the house. There is vapor barrier but it does not overlap the 6", is not taped together, and is not attached to the interior walls of the crawlspace. The insulation between the floor joist are falling out all over the crawlspace.
