How to do your own foundation inspection

We at RLM Retrofit Foundation always advise an engineer-trained inspection as the best approach to ensure a sturdy foundation, thus it is crucial to mention this right away.

To find foundation issues before they seriously harm a property, however, all homeowners should do periodic inspections. In the long term, regular self-performed inspections can help save money. Here is some advice from RLM Retrofit Foundation on how to evaluate your property and identify any foundation problems before they worsen. The best medicine is avoidance!

Walk around the house’s external perimeter.
A foundation check might start with a stroll around the outside of your house. By seeing down from one end, examine the foundation walls. Keep an eye out for any regions that bulge or lean, since these signs may point to an unbalanced weight on the foundation. The walls of the house and the foundation must be flush and level.

Additionally, keep an eye out for concrete fractures or possible water damage. Standing water may cause timber to decay and the earth to move, which can result in significant harm. It can also be a sign of faulty plumbing within the house. The home’s external moisture should be closely monitored.

Concrete cracks can be challenging to identify since certain concrete fractures are to be anticipated. Concrete contracts as it dries, causing a few small fractures. Look out for any cracks that are bigger than 14 inches. Additionally, a sign of foundation stress is horizontal fractures. Applying waterproofing paint over a crack and waiting to see if the paint breaks or chips can be used as a DIY test to determine how bad a crack is. This suggests that the foundation is shifting and that a fracture is forming.

Walk around the house’s inside perimeter.
You should examine the home’s inner walls in a manner similar to how you would the outside. Any separations or fissures might be signs of a foundation problem. Observe any leaning or bulging walls as well. Even when there are no visible fractures or separations, shifting foundations can cause walls to move about.

Examine the flooring as well. Track down any swelling or buckling. Another sign of a moving foundation is uneven flooring. In homes with more significant soil movements, floors may also slant throughout the length of the structure. Use a ball or other round item to see if it rolls when placed on the ground as a fast test.

Note the foundational elements.
Your foundation supports should be an integral element of any examination if you have the opportunity to evaluate them. The system of piers, concrete, and supports needs to be in good shape. Verify that none are buckling and that they are all level. Rust on metal or steel piers is a common indicator of unwelcome moisture in the crawl space or basement and should be checked for. Pier tops should be flush with beam connections. A shifting foundation may be indicated by any cracked connections or moving of the supports.

These are some of the fundamentals to remember while doing a self-foundation check. Early detection of a Foundation Repair Playa Del Rey issue can help you save money by avoiding damage to your flooring, walls, and other parts of your house. RLM Retrofit Foundation is available to assist when unsure about potential foundation issues. For a free consultation and inspection, get in touch with us so we can help you rebuild the strength of your house.

Obvious signs of water damage in your Foundation Playa Del Rey