A foundation crack I missed three years ago just cost me $15,000

Back when I was building my own house in Bend, I rushed the foundation inspection. I saw a small hairline crack in the north wall but figured it was just surface stuff from the concrete cure. I was wrong. Last month, after three years of Oregon winters, that crack had let in enough water to rot the sill plate and warp the floor joists above it. The repair crew had to jack up part of the house, replace the wood, and seal the foundation properly. The foreman told me, 'Water always wins if you give it a path.' I should have used a sealant rated for freeze-thaw cycles right away instead of assuming it was fine. Has anyone else had a small oversight turn into a huge structural fix down the line?

2 comments

2 Comments

troy_butler72d ago

Did the inspector miss it too, or just you?

oscarm242d ago

Reminds me of when I bought my house. The inspector noted a small crack in the basement floor. Fast forward two years, and that "small crack" is now a full-blown river every time it rains. Pretty sure we both missed the bigger picture, honestly.