I'm in the process of buying a new house, but I've discovered that the garage and basement walls are bowing. According to the structural inspection report, the wall bows by 1.98 degrees, and there are some cracks visible. The landscaping around the house is flat, so I'm uncertain whether the bowing is an old issue or if it could be getting worse. The inspector mentioned potentially using carbon fiber reinforcement straps, but I'm unsure how concerning this situation really is. Is 1.98 degrees a significant bow? Can I leave it as is?
3 Answers
I’ve heard that it’s better to get the seller to pay for necessary repairs before you buy. If this bowing comes up later when you’re selling, it might be a pain! Don’t hesitate to push for those straps to be taken care of upfront.
Honestly, it's tough to say without more information. I'd recommend bringing in a structural engineer for a thorough assessment. If it's just some initial settling and nothing is actively shifting, you might be fine. But cracked walls definitely raise concerns, so you don’t want to take any risks here.
If this house is really your dream place, you should definitely get a professional assessment. Ignoring the issue could end up costing a lot in the long run. If it turns out it's serious and needs repairs, better to deal with it now than later.