This first picture was taken through a hole in the basement foundation and access has been blocked. Note the partial beam, no wonder why the corners sag
Originally Posted By: rbracklow This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Hey Paul,
Let me ask a question, isn't that part of Kansas a Tornado area?? If that is the case, why is that house still standing. I've seen bad foundations and crawl spaces in my time, but Man, none like that, whew!!
Ron.
-- The highest compliment my clients can give me, is the referral of their Friends, Family and Business Associates!
Originally Posted By: psabados This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Ron
You know, after I finished writing up my report and looked at the pictures, I realized that I probably shouldn't have gone into that area. Knock down one of those supports and who know's I could have been squashed like a bug.
Last year a small F1 was about a mile an a half away from the town. If anybody is interested in a charming 18th Century, in need of some TLC this ones available. Only 80K 
Originally Posted By: kmcmahon This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
I will never, ever, buy a home with a crawlspace…what horror stories I have seen under there…and the inexpensiveness of building a crawlspaced home is offset by the cost of repairs after due to lack of access…full basements or nothing for this guy!
Originally Posted By: psabados This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Actually Kevin
A lot of the newer homes that are being built in this area over crawl spaces can be quite useable. Three to four feet of headroom, lighting installed, finished concrete floors and in some cases equipped with a sump pump and even hvac. It depends upon the builder and I suppose the person that is paying for the construction.
Kind of like a mini basement, all it needs is a mini bar and a mini TV. Tell the wife and kids about spiders and bugs, they'll never go looking for you in that spot  You get what you pay for.
Originally Posted By: jpope This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
kmcmahon wrote:
I will never, ever, buy a home with a crawlspace....
Actually Kevin, when properly constructed, crawl spaces (raised foundations) can be much more practical than slabs 
-- Jeff Pope
JPI Home Inspection Service
"At JPI, we'll help you look better"
(661) 212-0738
Originally Posted By: rbracklow This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Both of you Gentlemen are absolutely correct. Kevin, let me add a detriment against slabs. The plumbing is usually wrapped and then laid in before the concrete is poured. Some time later if the slab base was not compacted, scarified, mesh/rebar was properly done, the slab can settle, crack, shift, etc. which will cause the piping to crack, leak etc. If it is water, you just have carpet & wall damage. But, what if it is a gas line ruptures and is ignited?
I know that I have painted a bleak picture, do these happen, yes they do!!
I personally, would never own a house with a slab. In the winter time, man due those floors get cold.
Ron.
-- The highest compliment my clients can give me, is the referral of their Friends, Family and Business Associates!
Originally Posted By: kmcmahon This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
All of the basement slabs here only have a floor drain…nothing else is buried underneath.
In a crawlspace, if the plumbing is underground, what are you going to use to dig it up? Shovel better have a real short handle. The crawlspaces I see rarely have 18" of clearance. Had one that was 3’ which was nice and a concrete slab. Always potential for freezing in a crawlspace which adds to problems not easily detected as seen in this photo…they had no idea the sewer-line cracked. People don’t go down to inspect crawlspaces near as much as they go down to the basement to store items, do laundry, etc. where they would notice problems when they occur. That’s my point.
Originally Posted By: rbracklow This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Kevin,
When you are referring to a slab home, you are speaking of a slab laid on top of compacted soil and a perimeter foundation. The mud sill and stick framing is placed on top of that, with the utilities placed in the concrete as poured. I am not speaking of a basement or crawlspace slab.
One other problem with a slab foundation, is if the soil surrounding the foundation/slab is not graded away from the slab properly, water can seriously undermine the foundation/slab and cause great harm, such as shifting, settling etc. Which requires mud jacking to correct!!
Ron.
-- The highest compliment my clients can give me, is the referral of their Friends, Family and Business Associates!
Originally Posted By: Peter Foxe Smothers This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Paul,
It must have taken you a life time to finish the report on this Federal. The current owners sure got their moneys worth! If your really unlucky they might ask you to come reinspect when the repair work is complete, that's if the house does not tumble into itself before then.
Originally Posted By: psabados This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Peter
Haven't anything from the owner/seller, but the way they do things around here I'm sure the report has made it into their hands. It was time consuming but since many of the normal inspections area's were not included it made it a lot easier. Buyer decided that after 2 plus hrs of what I posted was enough not to buy.
It's still available, need the HGTV crew out here to do an extreme makeover
