Problem…Ignored

One of the purposes of hiring a home inspector is that in order to find and coordinated every tradesman and contractor necessary to inspect a house would be a logistical nightmare. The other is bias or should I say lack of.

The home inspector unlike for example the plumber, has nothing to sell other than his skill inspecting homes. Sure the plumber is way more knowledgeable about plumbing, but he makes his living installing pipes and associated components, not inspecting them. The other aspect of an expertise is the expert may often see their product/skill as the answer to the homeowner’s problem even when it may not be the solution.

During a recent home inspection of an end unit condo I found the patio at the rear of the unit settled by several inches. The slope of the patio was such that it had created a nice little wading pool against the house when it rained. The dried mud tells the story. The concrete stairs next to and along the patio had also settled similarly. No doubt all this sinking was due to water collecting against the foundation.

I noted a sump pump discharge along the same wall. Not really a surprise to see considering the exterior drainage conditions one would think.

Inspecting the basement I found it finished at the corresponding wall. I also found the sump pump installed in the corner at the point where the water pools on the exterior and wall drainage. Wall drainage is a gap cut into the floor at the wall in order to collect water running in through the wall. This drainage system was only, as far as I could tell, along the rear foundation wall. I did not see it along any of the other exterior foundation walls.

Does this system address and cure the problem of the poor drainage on the exterior? No, I do not believe it does, but the company that put it in accomplished their goal. They sold their product and services. Did I mention all the carpeting in the basement had been removed and there were water stains along the finished walls.

Clearly the main issue with water penetration in this basement is the patio and the soil grading and drainage. Water penetration does not seem to be an issue on the other two exterior walls because it would seem the grading and drainage there is proper. This sump pump may indeed be necessary, but the root cause of the problem has been ignored.

And everyone knows ignoring problems doesn’t make them go away.