After the foundation walls are poured into new constructions or additions, the land survey conducts foundation surveys to ascertain the foundation's position.
The purpose of the study is to determine that the foundation was poured correctly and in the correct place and location.
Municipalities, as well as lending institutions, require a foundation survey to confirm whether the structure, house, or a commercial building is located not only on the correct property but that it also meets local zoning ordinances.
Why is a Foundation Survey Necessary?
It is essential to verify that the foundation is poured correctly and in the right location before proceeding.
Lending and government agencies request a foundational survey to confirm that the improvements do not violate any zoning or building setbacks.
It is either asked by the lender or a contractor.
The survey also ensures that quality standards are met and that the foundation complies with the rule and regulations.
It helps to identify any problems on the foundation before raising any building on it.
What Does a Foundation Survey Entail?
The foundation survey focuses mainly on the foundation of a structure and provides a snapshot of any foundation on a given date.
The professional surveyor visits the location of the foundation and carries out the documentation of the construction.
The surveyor plots the dimensions relative to the property lines and compares them with the previous site plan.
The expert may also take the elevation reading throughout the foundation to identify both low and high points.
Benefits of Foundation Surveys
So what exactly are the benefits of performing foundation surveys?
1. Prevent Future Problems
Foundation surveys help prevent future problems after a house is built and complete.
Foundation problems may cause a house to move, causing damage to the brick, tile, concrete, walls, doors, or windows.
Some of the damages caused by a foundational fault may be difficult to repair.
2. Claim Compensation
If you have a house under warranty and it begins to move, you need the original record to show where the house elevations started.
If you do not have the foundation survey records, the likeliest thing is to lose money on foundational repair because you will not have anything to prove to the warranty owner.
3. Accurate Assessment of Damage
When you do not have a foundation survey record, the foundation repair company can claim that your house has a bigger problem than the actual one.
They may cite large cracks resulting from foundation movement.
In the real sense, it may be caused by something different.
You need to have the original foundation survey records to prove that there is little or no foundational movement causing the cracks but that the gaps result from something different.