Foundation in Castle Hills (Dallas: mortgage, houses, transfer) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

lcp07 · 05-10-2007, 10:09 PM

New to Texas and never seen a place with such foundation issues. Thinking about purchasing a house in CH; however, it is terraced and has 2 retaining walls in the front. It has a post-tension slab WITHOUT piers. Would it be a bad decision to purchase this house without a piered foundation? Thanks for your help.

TriumphOfTheSprint · 05-10-2007, 10:22 PM

I think you'll find that the vast majority of newer construction in the Dallas area is PT slab. For pier-and-beam you would have to look at older areas in Dallas proper or at some of the higher-end custom builders.

There are several threads on this forum discussing foundation issues - you might do a search for those to get some other opinions.

As far as CH, I recently purchased there and love the neighborhood. My home was built around 2000 - no foundation issues. I am not on one of the terraced streets, however. Is this new construction, or one of the pre-existing homes?

If you are concerned, I think it would be worthwhile for you to have an engineer (not just an inspector) look at the house during your option period.

khfar · 05-10-2007, 10:22 PM

I am no expert, but I do have a good friend that lives in Castle Hills. They bought their house 3 years ago, and have NO foundation issues.

I think that most houses with pier and beam have more foundation issues than slab.

stargazer · 05-10-2007, 10:23 PM

Personally, you should get an engineer out to look at it. Do you have a friend or family who is a engineer? I know we were helped out of the situation due to the same circumstance with a lot by a creek which had no bedrock. We were set to build but then my step dad who is an engineer looked at it and begged us not too. For your peace of mind, you really should get someone to look at it and see if the retaining walls are ok and the structure safe. Good luck.

destin04 · 05-11-2007, 04:49 AM

I've lived in the northern part of DFW all my life. My father was a mortgage banker...when you actually had to be degreed in that field. There isn't a house in this region that doesn't have the possibility of foundation problems. It's not the builders, it's the clay soil that this area has. My father always said...you live in a house long enough in this area ....you're gonna have foundation problem.

socketz · 05-11-2007, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by destin04

I've lived in the northern part of DFW all my life. My father was a mortgage banker...when you actually had to be degreed in that field. There isn't a house in this region that doesn't have the possibility of foundation problems. It's not the builders, it's the clay soil that this area has. My father always said...you live in a house long enough in this area ....you're gonna have foundation problem.

I think your exactly right. From a geologic perspective, most of the metroplex shares the same exact soil, which is an enabler for foundation issues. It's merely a matter of time. That's really why foundation issues don't seem to be a big deal to people out here. If the issue was disclosed and the warranty transferrable, it shouldn't be a big deal.