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Defects and Standards

Defects and Standards

 

Typical Defects Typical defects that home inspectors should report include:

  1. earth or hard surface slopes toward the foundation,
  2. depressions in soil at the foundation caused by soil settlement, recent foundation work, or recently modified landscaping,
  3. gutter and downspout problems including blockage, damage, deterioration, improper slope, downspouts discharge too close to foundation,
  4. foundation drains blocked or damaged (only above ground terminations are usually visible),
  5. changes to swale slope caused by plant roots or by modified landscaping,
  6. debris in swale blocking water flow,
  7. underground drains blocked (blockage is often not visible, but debris may be visible at the termination point),
  8. underground drain termination point blocked or not visible,
  9. earth or mulch at the foundation too close to or above wall coverings,
  10. planting boxes installed above the foundation,
  11. soil settled in utility trenches,
  12. soil erosion,
  13. evidence of water and drainage problems on lots at bottom of hills or in low-lying areas.

 

 
Two photos of visibly poor drainage outside a home.
 

Standards (1) IRC 2018 R401.3 (drainage), R403.1.7 (footings near slopes), R801.3 (roof drainage/gutters); (2) local governments and homeowner associations often have regulations about drainage and grading issues.