Inspection of The Foundation & Framing Systems of Your Home

The structure of a home consists of systems used to produce its shape and strength. The integrity of a buildings' structural systems is the most critical aspect in providing lasting stability. The most common questions asked of professional home inspectors are related to the condition of the structure. Major defects in components of these systems can require complicated and expensive repairs.

Foundation System Inspections

Often viewed as the most important part of a home inspection, a foundation supports the entire structure and the load in it (people, appliances, furniture, etc.). Different types of foundations are prone to different problems. Your inspector will enter and view all accessible interior and exterior portions of a foundation for defects. The list below will provide more information on the type of foundation that your home may have.

• Brick Foundation – Sometimes found to have a brick footing or no footing
• Stone Foundations – Potential source of radon & prone to settle from vertical pressure
• Poured Concrete Walls – Settlement & cracking can occur from improper curing
• Masonry Block – Horizontal cracks can become apparent from lateral pressure
• Slab On Grade – Prone to allow insects into a home

Framing System Inspection

Support of the floors, walls, ceilings and roof structure of a home are attributed to the framing system. Most single family residences are framed using wood. A percentage of the framing system in a typical house is hidden by finish coverings. Sometimes the frame work is completely covered in the situation of a finished basement and finished attic. Inspection of materials used to finish a home is systematically conducted to see if clues exist as to defects which may lie underneath these coverings. Our inspectors will enter accessible crawl spaces or attic areas for proper inspection of the roof structure and floor structure. If not done professionally, past remodeling or alterations to a home can impose undue stress upon a framing system and are carefully evaluated. Additional information on the different methods used to frame houses can be found in the list below.

• Platform Framing – Most commonly used in residential construction today
• Balloon Framing – Typical for homes built prior to the 1930’s but still used today
• Post & Beam or Timber Framing – Used in rustic or exotic homes