Quote:
Originally posted by pratickm
if it's an old house, there could be issues with grading, especially over a period of time when the building and ground settles.
Hello Pratickm,
It’s good to learn about home grading, Appreciate if you can answer these questions:
1. Can new house have grading issues?
2. When buying house (new/old), where to get information about grading? Isn’t it a duty of home inspector to educate you about the grading around?
Thanks in adv.
Quote:Yes, esp. since ground hasn't settled yet
Originally posted by frnd
It’s good to learn about home grading, Appreciate if you can answer these questions:
1. Can new house have grading issues?
Quote:Records from the local townhall.
2. When buying house (new/old), where to get information about grading?
They will have surveys and whatnot.
I've never requested such documents, but if you walk in there and ask them about it, they will guide you appropriately.
Quote:Yes, they should based on their observations.
Isn’t it a duty of home inspector to educate you about the grading around?
Note that in the 1 - 1.5 hrs. allocated, they can't do thorough investigations or look up previous ground and water reports, etc.
They can only go by visual inspection and some limited measurements.
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Posts: 5775
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 19-03-09 15:03:32
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 19-03-09 15:03:32
Quote:
Originally posted by frnd
1. Can new house have grading issues?
2. When buying house (new/old), where to get information about grading? Isn’t it a duty of home inspector to educate you about the grading around?
1. Yes. It all depends on the builder and the designer/Engineer who designed the grading. The city calls for 2 % minimum grading (which is 10 centimeter drop for 5 metres in length). IMO, this is not much and there can be flooding when there is heavy rain and if your catch basin (if you have) is clogged up.
There is also a secondary back up measure which is raising your concrete walls of the foundation to atleast 6" 915 cms.) above the higest grade to prevent water from entering the house. Sometimes the builders make adjustments to this which can make the rain water enter the house.
2. Grading detail is in the Site plan (which is submitted to the city). The city will not make this public. The builder will have a copy which he will not give you. The working drawings of the houses are also with the city and the builder and which will not be released to you. All you will have access is the marketing drg.
3. Only upon the approval of the city / Town (based on your site plan and working drgs.) will the builder be allowed to build the house. Once he does the grading,a city inspector will have to give the approval. So the home inspector does not have any obligation to look into this matter. As far as I know, I wonder as to how many home inspectors would even know this.
Hope this helps
Peace by TK
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Quote:
Originally posted by tamilkuravan
Quote:
Originally posted by frnd
1. Can new house have grading issues?
2. When buying house (new/old), where to get information about grading? Isn’t it a duty of home inspector to educate you about the grading around?
3. Only upon the approval of the city / Town (based on your site plan and working drgs.) will the builder be allowed to build the house. Once he does the grading,a city inspector will have to give the approval. So the home inspector does not have any obligation to look into this matter. As far as I know, I wonder as to how many home inspectors would even know this.
Hope this helps
Peace by TK
Thanks for sharing the information TK and Pratickm,
As required detail is not available publically, and city inspector is approving the grading plan. Is city planning responsible for faulty grading? Because owner is relying on Builder and City inspector who approves the plan.
Posts: 5775
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 19-03-09 19:23:18
Location: God's own country
Posted on: 19-03-09 19:23:18
Quote:
Originally posted by frnd
As required detail is not available publically, and city inspector is approving the grading plan. Is city planning responsible for faulty grading? Because owner is relying on Builder and City inspector who approves the plan.
There is a min. for grading and most builders follow that. The minimum does not take into account if there will be a flooding which can be flood the basement. As pratick said, the grading may get lowered over a period of time and flood the basement.
Grading may not be the worst mistake that the builder makes / does. faulty pouring of the concrete foundation (cracks, exposed / corroded steel) may be the most major one. The next is seeping of water through the joint of the basemenet slab and foundation wall which is conc. slab on grade. Also not weather proofing the extrior can cause more damage to the house. Like that there are so many things in which a builder can make mistake.
Peace by TK
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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.
Quote:
Originally posted by tamilkuravan
There is a min. for grading and most builders follow that. The minimum does not take into account if there will be a flooding which can be flood the basement. As pratick said, the grading may get lowered over a period of time and flood the basement.
Grading may not be the worst mistake that the builder makes / does. faulty pouring of the concrete foundation (cracks, exposed / corroded steel) may be the most major one. The next is seeping of water through the joint of the basemenet slab and foundation wall which is conc. slab on grade. Also not weather proofing the extrior can cause more damage to the house. Like that there are so many things in which a builder can make mistake.
Peace by TK
Thanks (again) TK for the reply.
Looking at the details it looks like although the owners, builders and city inspectors do their job properly; due to natural changes/settlement under ground no one has control over it. Does that mean damage like this is covered under home insurance?
Is old home owner (the seller) need to disclose any past basement flooding problems to the buyer? Is there any disclosure law in GTA for the same?
For a new home there is a warranty period:
http://www.tarion.com/HOME/Warranty+Protection/Warranty+Coverage/Two+YearWarranty.htm
For an older home there is not. Simply put, the old owner could simply deny he/she knew anything about the leak while they lived there. To find proof might be a bit difficult so a lawyer might be someone you should speak to.
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