What the Ottawa Home Inspector Saw - Foundation Crack

Posted on August 29, 2008 
Filed Under Buying Your New Home, Listing and Selling Your Home, Things Buyers May Notice, Valerie Zinger

At a recent inspection, the home inspector found loose parging on a spot on the outside wall of the foundation.  The parging came away from the wall with a touch and behind it was a visible crack in the concrete foundation.  The next step was to check inside the house to see if the crack was through the concrete, the size and length of the crack and if any repairs had been made.  There was no declaration on the Seller Property Information Statement that a foundation crack existed so this was a surprise discovery.

When we got to the basement, we had to unload a shelving unit and pull it away from the wall.  There behind the unit was a visible crack that had been filled.  The house inspector suggested that we, the buyers and I, check with the owner, through his REALTOR®, to see if there was any knowledge of the crack, and experience of water in the basement near the crack and if it had been professionally repaired.  If professionally repaired, was the warranty still in existence and was the warranty transferable.  The inspector then suggested that, if we were not satisfied with the information, to call one or all of three suggested concrete foundation companies and get a verbal estimate.  In doing so, we found out that repairs are generally $750 to $1,000 plus GST and include a 10 year warranty against water leakage.  

According the building inspector and the companies, foundation cracks are very common, repairs are called for as prevention and that the warranties are almost always provided.  It was reassuring to the prospective buyers to get this information.

Some foundations are not all they are cracked up to be. 

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Ontario ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ Email vzinger@royallepage.ca

Comments

2 Responses to “What the Ottawa Home Inspector Saw - Foundation Crack”

  1. ClintJCL on August 29th, 2008 10:15 am

    Heh. 10 yrs later, I never dealt with mine :)

  2. residual income on September 26th, 2008 6:34 pm

    residual income…

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