I'm in the process of buying a house built in 1954, and I've noticed a significant gap between the basement floor and the block wall foundation. There's also a metal lip along the perimeter. Is this a common issue, and would I need to fill it with caulk?
2 Answers
Have you checked if there’s newer concrete around the outside of the slab? That might help you determine if any work was done recently that could affect the integrity.
That gap is actually pretty normal! It usually means the basement slab is designed to float a bit, which allows for movement due to things like frost or shifting soil. This way, if the slab moves, it won’t affect the foundation itself. But I’m no engineer, just sharing what I've heard!
Interesting! But could that gap suggest there was a leak under the slab in the past? I noticed there's a Triple Safe sump pump installed.
I only have a couple more pics of the floor. I can share them to get a better idea!