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Old 04-14-2017, 03:40 PM
 
Location: Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
3,067 posts, read 8,405,839 times
Reputation: 5714

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Quote:
Originally Posted by EcoDeb View Post
Look for homes 7+ years old with no history of foundation problems. The builders know the soil expands here and still build slabs regardless of Engineering reports, if they even get one. Hire your own licensed Professionall Civil Engineer to inspect before buying any home in North Texas We built a Pier and Beam to avoid problems with plumbing in the slab as this can be a very costly repair in addition to the foundation.
Unfortunately the age and history of a home is not a very good indicator of whether it will or won't have foundation issues. I just inspected a 12 year old home (one owner) that had significant foundation issues and repairs. The builder, in their infinite wisdom, planted two Live Oaks within 10 feet of the foundation. It took 15 years for them to grow to the point they caused foundation issues. The same could happen with a homeowner improperly planting a tree or doing many other things, or not doing things they should, that can cause issues.

Yes a buyer can contract with a licensed Professional Engineer with a Civil Engineering (CE) background. CE's are well rounded but are broadly trained and will usually specialize in a particular area. Buyers should make sure the CE has specific experience in the type of foundation the home has. The buyer can also use a Structural Engineer (SE) who has foundation experience.

As an alternative the buyer can use a licensed Professional Inspector and if foundation issues are noted they can call one of many foundation repair companies who will come out and perform a free foundation inspection. With this option the buyer can obtain an actual estimate for repairs if they are deemed necessary. That itself is a very big help when deciding how to progress with the purchase.
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Old 04-14-2017, 06:22 PM
 
487 posts, read 467,007 times
Reputation: 654
Structural Engineers are degreed in Civil Engineering. Professional Engineers are licensed and have very stringent guidlines to maintain their license with the state of Texas. If you inspected a 12 year old home with past problems it's just that a house with foundation problems. The goal is to find a home with no major foundation issues. Most foundation problems will arise within 3-7 years...and yes tree roots can be an issue no matter when the house was built.

The point is a new house with potential for foundation issues or an older home with no history of foundation repairs or problems.

A foundation which has withstood the test of time with no problems is the best measure of success.

Link to find a licensed Professional Engineer

https://engineers.texas.gov/

Last edited by EcoDeb; 04-14-2017 at 06:47 PM.. Reason: Added info to help THX!
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Old 04-17-2017, 01:28 PM
 
Location: Dallas, Tx
1 posts, read 526 times
Reputation: 10
Quote:
Originally Posted by ea0337 View Post
As most will tell you, make sure the work was done by a reputable foundation company, which has been in the business for atleast 10+ years. Secondly, the warranty should be transferrable to you. Finally, ask for the structural engineers report etc. post the repair work to make sure the problem was addressed.
Warranty transfer is huge.. also potentially speak with the company to help your concerns.

Last edited by SouthernBelleInUtah; 04-17-2017 at 03:20 PM.. Reason: Need at least 10 other posts to make specific recommendations
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