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• How to Recognize Foundation Defects of Omission - things that were omitted that later lead to foundation damage, cracks, settlement, movement, leaks
• Visual inspection of foundations
• Types of foundation damage
• Photographs of foundation damage patterns

This document describes Missing foundation footings and other foulups - How to Recognize Foundation Defects of Omission - things that were omitted that later lead to foundation damage, cracks, settlement, movement, leaks and other problems. Detecting omissions, such as leaving out a foundation footing is an important step in learning how to recognize and diagnose various types of foundation failure or damage, such as foundation cracks, masonry foundation crack patterns, and moving, leaning, bulging, or bowing building foundation walls. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

4. FOUNDATION DEFECTS OF OMISSION - Identify Foundation Defects of Omission, things that were left out or forgotten during foundation construction

Construction defects of omission refers to leaving out or removing necessary structural components. It is considerably more difficult for a building inspector to learn to observe the absence of a component than to notice defects involving a component which is present.

• Missing footings (may or may not be a defect depending on design and soil conditions)
• Missing supporting columns such as a basement Lally column, where an owner has removed the column to open up a basement space being remodeled for use as living area
• Omitted steel reinforcement - footings missing re-bar or other required steel rods (not visibly detectable after construction)
• Omitted steel reinforcement - walls missing steel reinforcing wire or re-bar (possibly visibly detectable after construction if cracks permit view into wall structure)
• Missing piers beneath interior or exterior posts (may be visible as post settlement)
• Missing control joints in poured concrete slabs, concrete floors where random shrinkage cracks appear
• Missing expansion joints in large or long brick masonry walls both in structural brick walls and in brick veneer walls, where thermal expansion cracking occurs
• Missing expansion joints/materials around windows or doors in poured concrete or brick masonry walls may appear as damaged or inoperable windows or doors.
• Failure to compact the soil under a foundation footing or under a poured concrete slab which has been placed on backfill

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FOUNDATION DIAGNOSIS Chapter Index

To continue reading this building foundation inspection, diagnosis, and repair guide, use links to the document chapters at left or below. Links shown in green font indicate where you are in this document.

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Technical Content Reviewers for Foundation Crack and Movement Damage Evaluation, Diagnosis, & Reporting

• Daniel Friedman - ASHI (1986-2006) - author of this website and article, building failures researcher.
• "Concrete Slab Finishes and the Use of the F-number System", Matthew Stuart, P.E., S.E., F.ASCE, online course at www.pdhonline.org/courses/s130/s130.htm
• Sal Alfano - Editor, Journal of Light Construction*
• Thanks to Alan Carson, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for technical critique and some of the foundation inspection photographs cited in these articles
• Terry Carson - ASHI
• Mark Cramer - ASHI
• JD Grewell, ASHI
• Duncan Hannay - ASHI, P.E. *
• Bob Klewitz, M.S.C.E., P.E. - ASHI
• Ken Kruger, P.E., AIA - ASHI
• Aaron Kuertz aaronk@appliedtechnologies.com, with Applied Technologies regarding polyurethane foam sealant as other foundation crack repair product - 05/30/2007
• Bob Peterson, Magnum Piering - 800-771-7437 - FL*
• Arlene Puentes, ASHI, October Home Inspections - (845) 216-7833 - Kingston NY
• Greg Robi, Magnum Piering - 800-822-7437 - National*
• Dave Rathbun, P.E. - Geotech Engineering - 904-622-2424 FL*
• Ed Seaquist, P.E., SIE Assoc. - 301-269-1450 - National
• Dave Wickersheimer, P.E. R.A. - IL*
• *These reviewers have not returned comment 6/95

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