Leaking Block Foundation

[Adam Ramsey]

Hi All,

I'm looking at a house that has a block foundation. It's an older home, 1930's, and the block looks in rough shape (probably just from being old). However, there are noticeable cracks and there has been water leaking in for many years. It's a house being sold by a trust so they don't know how serious it is. One of the trustees use to live there 15 years ago and remembered water coming in.

This property is in Wisconsin and old foundations with cracks are not uncommon but I have no experience with block foundations.

If I write on the offer I plan to have a contingency to get the foundation checked out to make sure there are no issues. 

Hopefully it is just a matter of making sure the gutters are clean and landscaping is good to reduce the water coming in. I'm hoping it's a matter of cleaning it up and sealing cracks were needed. I did not notice any bowing in the walls or major settling in the home. There might be some water that comes in and it just is what it is. Does anyone have past experience with fixing leaky block foundations? Also, anything to look out for on them that I may have missed?

[Scott Schultz]

From your description, it wouldnt bother me much, but without seeing it you are best getting an expert in.  Is the re a sump pit? if not you can always cut one in to relieve pressure, we have done that in the past, and as you said gutters and downspouts, as well as grading. step cracking is from settling, and it may or may not be an issue, horizontal cracks may be due to bowing, (common in clay soil areas) and can be stabilized with I-beams if not too severe.  People freak out about foundations, because thats what they were taught, but in reality its not that big of a deal depending what the deal looks like,  its only money, and you can fix it with a check written to a contractor. good luck