If you are planning to build a new structure for your company or you work in real estate or construction, you should understand the importance of foundation inspection. There’s plenty of reasons why good builders check their foundations again and again before laying the first brick. Foundation inspections are one of the most important tools available for site owners and managers to protect their future investment. Many issues that can be affordably fixed during the initial stages of construction can be bank-breaking later on, so never hesitate to investigate and inspect a foundation thoroughly before starting the project. Here are 4 reasons to get a foundation inspection before building your next structure.
Possible Errors and Material Faults
Perhaps the most important reason to conduct a thorough foundation inspection is to make sure there are no faults or failures in the structure. Errors made when laying any part of the foundation can have disastrous consequences in the months or years following. It’s also possible for individual pieces or entire batches of material to fail due to production flaws or faults in storage and transport. Addressing these problems after the building process begins can be costly and cause significant delays. You should ensure your foundation is inspected properly to catch errors and material faults before they can develop and become more costly to fix.
Changes in Soil Stability
Another reason to inspect the foundation is to insure the soil is stable and will have no issues with crumbling or shifting. Before laying a foundation, sites sites should typically be investigated by a geotechnical engineer to determine composition and other key qualities of the surrounding soil. This investigation helps determine the engineering techniques needed to ensure long-term stability for the future structure. Even after this investigation, builders should ensure that they also inspect the stability of the foundation. Site owners should investigate their foundation for signs of shifting, cracking or settling that could be caused by soil instability. By doing this, site owners will insure the quality of their investment.
Water and Moisture Impact
The soil’s ability to hold water and the general pattern of water movement throughout the area has a profound impact on structural stability. That’s why foundation investigations typically include examinations for leaking and moisture encroachment from the surrounding soil. Property owners have several options for modifying their foundation or the soil to mitigate the impact of water encroachment.
Ensure Project Compatibility
Another reason why you should never skip a foundation investigation is so you can ensure that your structure is actually built to the right specifications. Even if the materials are strong and the craftsmanship solid, it could be a serious problem if it doesn’t match up with the proposed building plans. It’s better to double-check every detail now than come up with a complicated work-around down the road.
Whether you are building a single-bedroom house or a multi-story commercial building, you should always conduct a complete foundation inspection to head off unexpected problems. Inspecting properties according to applicable due diligence requirements also helps protect you from legal consequences if problems eventually arise.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
