It's known that the most costly problem for new and old houses, even multi-million dollar custom homes, is foundation problems. More specifically, after a new house is built, the foundation may move and cause damages to the blocks, bricks, concrete, tile, walls, doors and windows; and sometimes structural damages, which are very difficult to repair.
The most effective way to start monitor how your foundation is performing is by getting a foundation elevation survey at the inspection before you buy the house. A foundation elevation survey is not the same as the property survey you get when you buy the property. The foundation survey is specifically for the floor of the house. The inspector takes readings across the floor and records it onto a floor plan to show the differences in readings. Its important to keep the original readings floor plan to compare with the new readings.
The readings alone may not mean anything now, BUT, if you start seeing cracks in your walls, doors do not close or work properly, windows are broken, the walls are cracking or if you have plumbing leak, then the foundation survey will help prove to the home warranty company or home insurance company that your foundation has moved and has problems.
At Properties Analytics we are not Structural Engineers. As part of our training, construction experience and education we have the knowledge to understand and know when a foundation have been compromised and will recommend to our clients to seek the help of a Structural Engineer. As part of our services we include the Foundation Elevation Survey as a add-on service which can help you keep a record of the foundation elevation movement or take the decision to continue or not with the purchase .