During a home inspection an inspector will have a number of areas of the home they will evaluate and include in their report. In many home inspection reports you can find grading. Many people wonder what grading means and what does it have to do with the longevity of the home? When having a home inspected for the purpose of selling, buying or simply maintaining, Lifeline Inspection Services will share what grading means and how it can affect the home.
What is Grading in Earthworks & Landscaping?
Grading is a term used by inspectors that covers the quality of the grounds and soil that the home sits on and around the home. There are a number of different issues that a home inspector will look for when it comes to the home’s grading.
Yard Drainage Problems & Solutions
When an inspector arrives at the home they are to inspect, they will look at the entire lawn or yard to see where the water will flow. When it rains the water should always drain or flow away from the home and ideally into a drainage system. If the yard causes the water to drain towards the home, then this is a major problem. Water can stand or seep underneath the foundation of the home which can lead to a number of serious problems with the home’s longevity. If the land slopes toward the house then certain measures will need to be taken. The homeowner will need to use trenches, French drains or dig out a swale which is a wide trench that diverts water away from the home. Swales can be made from natural soil or grass which is more appealing than concrete trenches.
High Soil Line Around House Foundation
Another issue with the grading that a home inspector looks for is if the grading is right next to the foundation of the home. In some cases the grading around the home is too high. This can happen when flower beds are too high and are next to the foundation of the home. When the grading is too high there is a potential risk of improper weep holes or termite activity. Weep holes are more common in brick homes. In a brick home the bottom brick will have either 1 or 1/2 inch gap between the bricks which provides air flow to dry out the inner walls of the brick. If the grading is too high water can enter through these weep holes as can termites which compromises the entire home. The ground and the foundation of the home require the right amount of space to prevent water or pest damage. When inspecting the home, the home inspector will look to see if the grading is too high for this reason.
Buyer, Seller Pre-Inspection & Maintenance Home Inspections in Griffin, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Newnan, Zebulon, Thomaston, Douglasville & Metro Atlanta, GA
The property’s grading is an essential element to the home’s overall health. When the grading slopes toward the home directing water to flow to the house instead of away from the home this is a problem. The opposite problem is having the grading to high, as again it can allow pests or water to enter into the home causing major damages. The grading is part of every home inspection report and is important to the longevity of the home. For quality home inspections, contact Lifeline Inspection Services today.
