Hi,

i've just made an offer of purchase on a house on the condition that an
inspector visit. This house is in the province of Quebec (Canada) I was
wondering, the house is perfect for our needs it really has everything and
needs little maintenance. it's a bungalow built in 1993. I had the inspector
over this morning to inspect it. The only thing that worries me is there is
a crack on each side of the house almost in the same spot (coincidence?)
anyways, they start at the granulat and head down to the ground, I can't
tell how deep etc.., but they are about 1/8th" thick or less on one side and
the other is almost like a hairline crack with another joining onto it. The
inspector that was there was very objective and didn't take anyones side. He
told me that the outter inspection is normal and that 90% of the houses he
inspects have cracks like these. (i'm trying to get back to him, but i
figured I'd try this group

Even the house beside the one i'm interested in has a crack (that was fixed)
but you can see this in most houses..

I just want to know if I should worry, because I could still back out of
this deal. I want to be sure though, because i'd be givin' up a nice place
if the cracks aren't a big deal. Is there anyway I can know if they are due
to settlement due to age or something like that? I've read a little about
performing repairs in this area, and I have a father in law who has done it
before that is willing to help out. My worst fear is that one day soon, i'll
have to heli'lift the house out of the foundation and fix the whole
foundation, this would obviously be $$$. I should note also, the house has
never had any internal water damage, and is in mint condition.

I appreciate any feedback anyone may have, if you also have any websites
dedicated to this matter, I would be very interested.

thanks!

Chris

"Diesel" wrote:
i've just made an offer of purchase on a house on the condition that an
inspector visit. This house is in the province of Quebec (Canada) I was
wondering, the house is perfect for our needs it really has everything and
needs little maintenance. it's a bungalow built in 1993. I had the inspector
over this morning to inspect it. The only thing that worries me is there is
a crack on each side of the house almost in the same spot (coincidence?)
anyways, they start at the granulat and head down to the ground, I can't
tell how deep etc.., but they are about 1/8th" thick or less on one side and
the other is almost like a hairline crack with another joining onto it. The
inspector that was there was very objective and didn't take anyones side. He
told me that the outter inspection is normal and that 90% of the houses he
inspects have cracks like these. (i'm trying to get back to him, but i
figured I'd try this group

Even the house beside the one i'm interested in has a crack (that was fixed)
but you can see this in most houses..

I just want to know if I should worry, because I could still back out of
this deal. I want to be sure though, because i'd be givin' up a nice place
if the cracks aren't a big deal. Is there anyway I can know if they are due
to settlement due to age or something like that? I've read a little about
performing repairs in this area, and I have a father in law who has done it
before that is willing to help out. My worst fear is that one day soon, i'll
have to heli'lift the house out of the foundation and fix the whole
foundation, this would obviously be $$$. I should note also, the house has
never had any internal water damage, and is in mint condition.

I appreciate any feedback anyone may have, if you also have any websites

Concrete shrinks as it cures, it's the nature of the beast. When it shrinks,
you'll get cracks, and usually at the corners of the foundation. As long as
the cracks are narrow (1/8" quallifies, IMHO), and the two sides of the crack
don't seem to be moving relative to one another, then I wouldn't sweat it.

On Wed, 19 May 2004 00:59:48 -0400, someone wrote:

inspector ...
told me that the outter inspection is normal and that 90% of the houses he
inspects have cracks like these......

Even the house beside the one i'm interested in has a crack (that was fixed)
but you can see this in most houses..


I tink you answer you own Q above.

If you can find a concrete residential foundation without a crack,
please report where we could all go and see such a rare thing.

-v.

(v) wrote in message ...
On Wed, 19 May 2004 00:59:48 -0400, someone wrote:

inspector ...
told me that the outter inspection is normal and that 90% of the houses he
inspects have cracks like these......

Even the house beside the one i'm interested in has a crack (that was fixed)
but you can see this in most houses..


I tink you answer you own Q above.

If you can find a concrete residential foundation without a crack,
please report where we could all go and see such a rare thing.

-v.

The new houses I've seen built recently have hairline vertical cracks
before the buyer moves in. As 'v' said it's rare not to find cracks.
Now if those cracks were horizonal it would be another story. This
topic comes up avery two months. Just check the archives.