A good foundation inspection goes hand in hand with a drainage inspection for any property. A foundation inspection and drainage inspection should be completed to ensure that some minor issue does not become a major issue.
Foundation inspections are generally completed along with a drainage inspection of a property and structure to help ensure that there are no anomalies or unusual foundation or drainage issues that pop up during a real estate transaction, whether as a seller or purchaser of a property. Many times a foundation inspection or drainage inspection will be completed by a property owner as a general maintenance of a property
Foundation and drainage inspections are completed in an attempt to find unknown or commonly overlooked minor problems that could result in significant distress to a foundation potentially requiring costly foundation repairs.
Contra Costa County and Alameda County, along with Santa Clara County and, for that matter, most of the nine Bay Area counties have inherent issues with water control or drainage. Much of Contra Costa County and Alameda County soils are highly expansive and when water is not properly controlled around, near or under a structure, the foundation of a structure can be significantly impacted.
Seasonal moisture fluctuation can cause shrinking and swelling of supporting soils and ultimately differential movement of the soil, commonly transferring to the foundation of a structure. Seasonal fluctuation in the soil due to poor drainage control commonly results in settlement of a foundation over time, especially if the supporting soils have some type of inadequacies. As a structure settles, distress can be minor or significant and an experienced professional foundation and drainage inspector can help determine and educate you on the necessity for foundation repairs and drainage or remediation.
Many times drainage improvements alone can resolve foundation problems and many times minor foundation repairs can alleviate more costly foundation stabilization or underpinnings.
A properly trained foundation inspector will know the difference between an actual foundation deficiency and normal or common types of distress, just as a properly trained drainage inspector will attempt to identify causes and concerns.
All property owners, purchasers and seller should be aware that in the building industry there are generally accepted tolerances ranges for movement of a structure. It is very important that when you choose a foundation inspector that they are looking at the underlying issues and that they are trying to determine if there is an actual problem. It is important that they are unbiased and not trying to sell you on a costly foundation repair or remediation system or extensive drainage system that may not be necessary or even warranted.
So, yes, foundation inspections and drainage inspections are very important tools to use when purchasing or selling a property or simply trying to maintain a property.
When you choose a foundation inspection or drainage inspection company, ensure that they will evaluate your property and structure as a whole and that they will offer you a written report of their findings and observations.
They should provide you with the many various options that are available for drainage improvement, from French Drains or subdrains around or under your structure, to simple surface drains or grading to resolve any perceived drainage issues.
They should explain different types of foundation repair options from basic crack repairs to floor level adjustments and foundation releveling to more extensive foundation repair and stabilization or underpinning. They should outline the need and necessity and not just be a salesman offering a repair that may not even be warranted.
They should inform and educate you and you should be comfortable and understand the issues at hand. They should also be able to provide you with competent repair contractors that specialize in the different repair options that are outlined and an expectation of the associated costs. After all, the foundation inspector and the drainage inspector are there to help you, not sell you.
FDRW, INC is an independent Foundation, Drainage and Retaining Wall Inspection and Evaluation Company. We have the knowledge and experience to evaluate your property or structure and we provide a written report and recommendations for repair, remediation or improvement as necessary based upon the individual property. FDRW does not complete any repair work; however, we do recommend competent contractors that are known to us to be the best in the industry. Please feel free to visit our website www.FDRWINC.com to schedule an inspection and evaluation.