Help with home inspection terminology!?

Question

I had a home inspection done and wanted to know what exactly the following mean to me as a homeowner-i.e. is my home ok?- I have some vertical cracks not more than 1/4 inch on two walls, efforescence on walls, step cracks near window sills and a crack on floor. The inspector says its ok, but I just have this gut feeling (not good), you know? I want to know if there is any way to know if this will become an issue later also. Thanks!

Answer 1

it is quite normal for cracks to form. it's just a result of the house settling.. nothing to worry about unless they continue to grow at a rapid rate. (like a crack looking bigger one month than it did the month before) it should take years for them to have any significant changes. the cracks can simply be patched and ignored for a couple years.
the efflorescence is usually caused by moisture coming through the walls. to stop this check the level of the ground outside your house and make sure that the ground slopes downhill as it goes away from the house. adding some dirt to create that slope fixes most basement moisture problems. also check to ensure that your gutters are all in good shape, not full of leaves, and draining properly. then you can brush the powder off of the walls and touch up the paint.

Answer 2

Ok clarify, how long are the cracks in the walls? What kind of floor is cracked? Either way, let's move along. Cracking of drywall can be normal, it shouldn't be offset, the same for concrete or block walls and floors if it's your slab that is cracked.
You can monitor the drywall, if it moves it could be a sign of problems. If you have structural issues, they begin in the basement and will transfer up, so those cracks are suspect, but of course could be nothing. Some signs of obvious structural damage are doors/windows out of plumb, as well as some of the items you described. Depending on the age of the home, it may still be under it's 10 year structural warranty, which is given on the home, not the owner.

Efforvescence is a natural occurrence in concrete based materials. Look at the fake stones on new homes, they are painted concrete, and it is quite common. I've got a flyer on it, email me if you want more info.

Cracks around windows are ok, if minor and it functions properly.

I do home inspections, and I've worked for most of the top 10 national builders doing warranty work, and you don't want any part of serious structural issues.

Call your inspector, and get him to clarify. Are inspectors certified in your state?

Either way, don't sit on it.

Good luck

Answer 3

Cracks means pressure from the outside.Pressure coming from the outside of the walls and the floor.As for the inspector saying it was ok,means that it isn't anything immediately a problem.It is probably from the freezing and thawing of the ground.Which it will do, but if there is excessive moisture in the ground,it pushes the ground against your walls more then normal.But over time...it can become a problem.If this is the case.

Efforescence is the process where a crystalline hydrate loses water, forming a powdery deposit on the crystals. Or in your case, the concrete blocks and the cement that places them together.

Answer 4

Cracks are normal in foundations and sometimes vertical walls due to settling of the structure. But if the cracks grow larger then the 1/4" I would be concern and then call in a structural company. In most cases after a building has settled you can then fill the cracks and everything should be O.K.
Efflorescence is a fancy name for salt crystals coming to the surface, this is normal and should stop after awhile (average 1 yr)

Answer 5

The inspector has to cover his butt from a lawsuit. So all the gobblely ****. Efflorescence on the basement interior wall indicates frequent water on the walls (probably not condensation). Inspectors are required to report cause (if possible) and recommendation. If you own the home, just check the walls in wet weather to see if they are still wet. If you are buying, tell the seller you are concerned and ask to run a garden hose outside near the wall.

Answer 6

If that is all you had count yourself lucky. Those are just very minor things. Cracks can be filled in. Every house gets cracks after settling. It is very common. It doesn't sound like it is gonna be an issue. Things that you have to worry about it major water damage, furnace or air conditioning problems, plumbing problems, roof damage, excessive damage to any surface. I wouldn't worry about the minor cracks.

Answer 7

If i replaced into you, i'd think of approximately upgrading to a 200 amp 40 two circuit panel. the fee isn't plenty extra for a 200 amp then a one hundred amp panel. yet you will would desire to alter out your service drop and meter base, believe me its certainly rather well worth the fee of doing that. you will have all the flexibility you will ever want interior the destiny. i'd say without watching your service drop, it maximum in all probability won't cope with one hundred amps. i in my view, would rip out all the two twine circuits and replace it with 12/2romex, set up the GFCI's the place mandatory and you are able to set up arc fault breakers in all the occupied rooms of the residing house as properly. be sure you have a competent floor rod as properly, and you good bond each thing lower back on your floor, your water pipe, the cable coax, the telephone cable, all this could be bonded lower back to the main appropriate floor rod. do no longer floor the gas line. in case you will do the paintings your self, there are countless stable books and movies you may get to show you the thank you to try this. i'd hire an electrician to do the service improve, as you will need that inspected and a enable for that area of the interest. yet as for something of it, you're able to do it your self, have an identical electrician come and verify your paintings once you're finished.

Answer 8

Vertical Cracks are ok. Step cracks are bad. Really any crack is bad and they usually end up getting bigger. Trust your gut.

Answer 9

If hes says not an issue then most likely its not. He is refering to cracks in the concrete in the basement? most likely they are just normal due to settling of the house

Answer 10

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