I have done about 200 FEMA housing inspections in the Houston area and 200 in the Dallas area this year and boy I have seen some serious foundation failures! The worse being pier and beam for obvious reasons but I see a lot of slabs with washout problems too. My checklist for foundations, particularly slabs, exterior first: find the slope and grade in the yard (this will tell you the flow of surface water leading to washout), masonry step cracking typically found on corners of the structure and doorway/window corners, and the planes in masonry lines like you pointed out. If issues in any of these points are present they will always converge and rarely will only 1 problem area be present, especially with steep grading toward or away from the foundation. If it is a singular defect it is likely a settlement issue shortly after construction, which really isn't an issue. Interior: look for horizontal cracking in wall finishes in door and window frames, widening vertical cracks in window and door frames, vertical hairline cracks in these areas are usually seasonal expansion/contraction and unrelated. You can also find ceiling cracks using the same principles. The interior problems will always converge with the exterior ones. These slab foundation failures most of the time can be corrected or arrested with a combination of French drain installation with downspout tie-ins and engineered retaining walls.
Good video. I like you showed us the zip level and that there was minor movement but how much movement would their have to be to cause concern? What amount of movement would make you say we have a foundation issue?
I have done about 200 FEMA housing inspections in the Houston area and 200 in the Dallas area this year and boy I have seen some serious foundation failures! The worse being pier and beam for obvious reasons but I see a lot of slabs with washout problems too. My checklist for foundations, particularly slabs, exterior first: find the slope and grade in the yard (this will tell you the flow of surface water leading to washout), masonry step cracking typically found on corners of the structure and doorway/window corners, and the planes in masonry lines like you pointed out. If issues in any of these points are present they will always converge and rarely will only 1 problem area be present, especially with steep grading toward or away from the foundation. If it is a singular defect it is likely a settlement issue shortly after construction, which really isn't an issue. Interior: look for horizontal cracking in wall finishes in door and window frames, widening vertical cracks in window and door frames, vertical hairline cracks in these areas are usually seasonal expansion/contraction and unrelated. You can also find ceiling cracks using the same principles. The interior problems will always converge with the exterior ones. These slab foundation failures most of the time can be corrected or arrested with a combination of French drain installation with downspout tie-ins and engineered retaining walls.
Very well thought out and presented video.
very good Thank you.
More videos like this!! Maybe you could go over the inspection procedure for the electric system
Good video. I like you showed us the zip level and that there was minor movement but how much movement would their have to be to cause concern? What amount of movement would make you say we have a foundation issue?
It would be around an inch and half with in 10 feet. That is the first sign. You need a few more things present for foundation failure to be verified.
Cool. I think that you are describing a situation with expansive soils. In other soils the slab will not necessarily return to a level condition.
@@pcatful yes sir, in Houston we have very expansive soils.
Thanks! Do you have a video specifically on roofs and what to look for and how to determine if it needs to be replaced?
I do not but I can work on it by shooting more videos of good and bad roofs
@@AActionHomeInspectionHouston yes please 🙏