Hole in foundation - InspectionNews

Clay E White · #1 (**permalink**) 09-25-2007, 07:02 PM

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Jerry Peck · #2 (**permalink**) 09-25-2007, 07:38 PM

How far apart are those holes?

Could be from a subterranean termite treatment.

Rick Hurst · #3 (**permalink**) 09-25-2007, 08:42 PM

Jerry,

No reputable termite tech would leave those holes open. If it was a termite treatment, they'd be patched.

I think someone forgot the weep holes completely and came back with a masonary bit and drilled them out. Totally useless.

As far as the hole in the side of the beam wall, if it was termite treatment most of the holes would be drilled at an angle and not directly horizontally as it is harder to get a bit through and the chemical to flow in the hole as such.

rick

Jerry Peck · #4 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Hurst

As far as the hole in the side of the beam wall, if it was termite treatment most of the holes would be drilled at an angle and not directly horizontally as it is harder to get a bit through and the chemical to flow in the hole as such.

Rick,

Those are the ones being discussed, not those 'so called' "weep hole" at the bottom of the bricks. At least that's what I understood and what I was talking about.

Rick Hurst · #5 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:30 AM

Jerry,

Do you think they could be the ends of the PT cables. That foundation beam wall looks as if it has a heavy parge coating on it. Maybe the holes are just where the coating didn't stick to the end of the cabling.

Just a thought.

rick

Jerry Peck · #6 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 05:44 AM

Rick,

I doubt it. With post tension cables you have an anchor cast into the concrete where the cable and its retainer wedge clamp bind up in the tapered anchor (the wedge and anchor are tapered to match each other, forcing the clamp tighter and tighter onto the cable the more the cable pulls on it - think of Chinese finger cuffs we played with as a kid, you put a finger in each end and then try to pull them out, you can't, you need someone else to release the finger cuff for you) - anyway, the cable is coated with grease (supposed to be anyway) then a cap is installed into the anchor and over the end of the cable. Then the entire void in the cap is grouted with non-shrink grout.

The hole for the anchor and cap is probably 2" or so in diameter. When a cable breaks, it pushes the cap out with it, taking out the non-shrink grout plug (fill) with it.

Those look like drilled 1/2" or 3/4" holes.

I asked about the spacing as that might give us an idea of what they are for.

Jerry McCarthy · #7 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 09:07 AM

My shot:
1. The concrete foundation stem-wall looks parged?
2. Would like to see what the holes look like from inside the crawl space?
3. Suspect they where installed for foundation crawl space drainage?
3. If so they should be screened to help keep out entry by rodents and other such life as religious vendors and RE agents!

Scott Patterson · #8 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 09:18 AM

My vote is a termite treatment. I bet that 75% of the termite treatments that I see are not patched or plugged. With this home being in LA, I bet they were drilling anywhere that they could to pump chemical into and under that home. Don't forget about the Formosans in LA, they treat homes a little different because of them.

Rick Hurst · #9 (**permalink**) 09-26-2007, 02:00 PM

Scott,

Yourself or any other inspector who observes any termite drill holes not patched ought to make a note of them on your report. I don't care if your not a Licensed Pest control operator or not. Call it out.

First of all, any termiticide on the market recommends that the drill holes be patched. If they are not patched water can enter into them and cause the chemical to break down and not be effective.

I've seen some patio's actually have upheaval from rain water draining into these openings for a long period of time and cause the soil to swell and lift the patio causing cracks.

Main thing is that label states they (holes) should be patched. The most important rule they teach in Pest control is FOLLOW THE LABEL DIRECTIONS.

rick