I'm currently in the process of buying a house in Raleigh, and I came across a foundation crack in the crawl space during my inspection. The crack is less than a quarter of an inch wide, and the inspector mentioned that it might just be a result of minor settling. He recommended having a foundation engineer check it out for a more thorough evaluation if I wanted. Additionally, the past property disclosure included a structural engineering report from a few years ago, which advised monitoring the cracks, but I noticed some homes in the area had helical piers installed for reinforcement. Now I'm debating whether it's worth spending over $600 for another structural inspection, or if the current findings and previous report suggest it's not a major issue. What do you think?
3 Answers
I’d say it’s worth getting a structural engineer involved. If the previous report recommended monitoring the cracks and you have no idea if any movement has been detected, it's better to be safe than sorry. Repairs can get really expensive, and it’s best to fix any potential issues before they escalate.
Did you get a reputable structural engineer to inspect it, or was it just a general home inspection? If it's something you think will bug you later on, paying for a second opinion could be worth it—for peace of mind, $600 is a small price to pay to avoid worrying for years.
How old is the house? And what do the gutters look like? The crack seems small from your pics, but I'd check those details just to be safe.
Exactly! I really don’t want this hanging over my head. If it puts my mind at ease, I might lean toward getting that inspection.