We’re looking at a house to buy. It was built in 2001. The foundation seems to be solid but what the heck is this 2 x 4 sticking out of the foundation? It looks like two different foundation materials are separated by it.
Builders….what am I looking at?
- Thread starter Smawgunner2
- Start date
Hire a local inspector. Looks like an addition was added at some point. Any signs of cracks on the inside? Specifically tiny ones that would open up in the winter. Fresh coat of paint would cover them up.
There was an addition at some point in 2011 but I can’t figure out the extent of what was added. It’s in the walk out basement and the cement floor is solid, no cracks or patches. I laid a pool cue (all I had) against the drywall ant that corner was out of plumb a quarter inch at the top. I’m baffled why they would use wood against the ground like that. If we go into contract we’ll have an inspection.
I’m no professional but could it possibly act as an expansion joint?
IMO, I’m by no means or even close to being a builder/expert but that 2x4 would be a huge red flag to me. Especially touching dirt wicking in moisture and eventually ants, termites and rotting eventually.
Same idea, but a flat side and plumb are different. Did you check for plumb (vertical level) or for flatness (gaps between floor and ceiling)?
I’d love to dig around that corner just to see what’s going on. Is that foam like two inches thick against concrete then backed by stone? Should be like that the whole length of the wall not just the corner.
Plumb may not be the right term but think of it as a level….placing it vertically on the wall, there was a 1/4 inch gap at the widest starting about 2 feet down from the ceiling. I would have expected that toward the floor so not sure what to make of it. Was no gap at the other end of the wall. The cue was straight…rolled it on the floor. Scientific? …no but it’s what I had.
You've got a bait station there with wood exposed at grade and a buried corner.