Foundation
Check the foundation and slabs for cracks, leaks or moisture
Every year, in May.
What to do
Walk the basement perimeter with a light, and look at the exposed foundation outside.
Why it matters
Structural defects are covered for ten years on this house, but only if they are not made worse by neglect. A crack recorded with a date is worth far more than a memory of one.
What to look for
- Cracks wider than about 3 mm, or any crack that has grown since last time — mark one with a pencil and a date
- Damp patches, staining or efflorescence on the wall, which show water is getting through
- A horizontal crack, or a wall bowing inward — this one is structural and wants an engineer, not a patch
- Water staining at the base of the wall or around window wells
- Musty smell in a finished basement with no visible cause
Where this comes from
Habitat Studio p.17 and p.30, and CMHC CE 47. Hairline shrinkage cracking is normal and expected on a new build; growth is not.
Catch it while it’s still maintenance.
Domisura keeps this schedule for your house — dated to when things went in, and reminding you when each task comes round. The record stays with the address when you sell.
Start a record for your homeGeneral guidance, not professional advice. For gas, electricity, structure or water, get a qualified trade.