Basement wall crack

[hamburgler]

Im thinking of buying a house that was built in 1954. All looks good except for 1 crack in the foundation that kind of worries me. It is the only one that can be seen from the outside. Can anyone comment on the severity of this from the pics? Thanks

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/hamburgler39/IMGP8551.jpg

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/hamburgler39/IMGP8561.jpg


http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/hamburgler39/IMGP8562.jpg

[masoncgy]

I would get someone who specializes in foundations over to review that crack and give you an idea of what it would cost to fix it, that looks pretty significant, gap wise.

At least it seems to be reasonably accessible, that's half the battle in terms of repairing it.

[Cooked Rice]

Doesn't look like there is any serious shearing going on, you can get a specialist to seal the crack to prevent moisture from entering it and making it worse over winters.

[CapnCrunch]

Are you worried about it structurally or just for leaks?

[spikerS]

if the crack is visible inside and out, it definitely needs attention.

In looking at your last picture, it looks like there is already moisture at the bottom, and it also looks like someone has already tried to seal it once, and poorly at that.

Your biggest problem will be the next couple winters. Moisture freezing in that crack will only make it wider, and thus allowing more moisture in, to the point you will have an issue with water coming in freely. While this is not an issue now, you will want to rectify it before winter. I can't tell if it needs a full out repair from the pictures, but I would definitely get a quote from a foundation repair company to at least seal it up water tight, which will involve some excavation on the outside of the wall, right to the footings.

It is not going to be cheap, and I would factor that into the offer you put on the house.

[DENZILDON]

I would suggest to get the current owner to fix it properly before even buying it. Or buy it minus the money to properly fix it but then you get the headache of getting it fixed.

[bspot]

Originally posted by DENZILDON
I would suggest to get the current owner to fix it properly before even buying it. Or buy it minus the money to properly fix it but then you get the headache of getting it fixed.

I would never do that. The current owner has no long term interest in the repair, they will cheap out.

Get a quote, knock that off in your counter offer, get it fixed.

[hamburgler]

Thanks guys. I am not worried about the basement structurally - just water leaks. I will see what the home inspection says. And yes I would rather do it myself rather than them cheaping out.

[hamburgler]

Ill have to do something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXGtxxMhoq0

[spikerS]

Originally posted by hamburgler
Ill have to do something like this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXGtxxMhoq0

That is pretty much exactly what will be needed to be done to the house you are looking at, at the bare minimum, assuming of course that the crack itself is not going to affect structural integrity.

again, best thing you can do, call in a foundation repair company or 3, and get quotes, and then base your offer on those.