If you have lived in the Albany area for any amount of time, we are sure you know somebody who has had challenges with the foundation of their home. Most homes sit on full basement, slabs or other foundation types, that might include masonry piers, stem wall foundations or monolithic wall foundations.
Regardless, there are common problems people experience with their homes foundation and we typically find me is when we are out doing Ballston Spa or Saratoga Springs home inspections.
One such challenge people tend to have is with soil erosion around their foundation. This typically is caused by poor rain water drainage or even the flow of water under the foundation. This happens more often with homes that are built on sleeping around by a river or a lake or on a hill. The problem is most people do not have good drainage systems that come off of the roof or around the property to divert water away from the foundation of the house. If this is a concern for you, you might want to consider hiring a professional to assess your current situation and determine what kind of drainage systems would be most beneficial.
Another problem we typically see here in the Capital Region is people having trees in relatively close proximity to the home. If you look at a tree, you have to understand that the root system will likely be just as large underground as what you see above ground. If you have trees too close to your house, the roots will grow under your home and potentially damaging your foundation. This can cause the foundation to settle and get moisture or water under the foundation causing extensive damage.
The only solution here is to hire a tree service company to come in and remove trees that are potentially causing damage to your home underground. You cannot remove all the routes that exist but you can remove the stump and prevent any further growth or damage.
If you are considering buying or selling a home and are looking for a Ballston Spa or Saratoga Springs home inspector, please call Bald Eagle Inspection Services today!