What does the home inspector look for in the structure (foundation and slab)?
Your At Home Inspections, Inc. professional checks exposed sections of foundation walls for cracks (vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or stair-step), ‘bowing’ (a lateral or sideways shift in the wall from one end or corner to the next end or corner), ‘bulging’ (a lateral or sideways shift in the wall from top to bottom), and disintegration of the foundation wall (e.g., spalled brick/block/terra cotta tile, or structural failure of the masonry mortar or cast concrete wall as a result of incorrect proportions when mixing and placing the material). Repairs to foundations can be expensive (depending on soil type and condition of exterior grading/drainage). Exposed sections of concrete slabs are checked for cracking, ‘uniform settlement’ (entire slab settles uniformly – may have no effect on the structure of the house, but may cause major problems with water and sewer main pipes entering and leaving the house), ‘heaving’ – usually a function of an expansive clay under the slab, and ‘voids’ un
