Chapter 2 — Further Reading and Resources

Books

1. "Renovating Old Houses" by George Nash (Taunton Press) Nash devotes extensive chapters to foundations in older homes — stone rubble, poured concrete, and concrete block — with specific attention to the failure modes of each and realistic repair strategies. His coverage of crawlspace and basement moisture management is particularly strong. Essential reading for owners of pre-1960 homes.

2. "Building Science Basics" — available as free PDFs from the Building Science Corporation (buildingscience.com) Building Science Corporation, founded by Joseph Lstiburek, is the primary research institution for residential building science in North America. Their "Building Science Digests" on crawlspace moisture management, basement waterproofing, and foundation thermal performance are authoritative and freely available. The BSI series on crawlspaces (search "BSI-009 No More Wet Crawlspaces") is directly applicable to this chapter.

3. "Practical Engineering for the Homeowner" — any edition published by the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) The ASCE produces homeowner-oriented materials on structural engineering topics. Their resources on foundation assessment for non-engineers are useful for building your evaluation vocabulary before a professional consultation.

Online Resources

4. USDA Web Soil Survey — websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov Enter your property address and access soil classification, drainage characteristics, and engineering properties for your specific site. Free, authoritative, run by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Every homeowner in a soil-sensitive area (expansive clay, high water table, former fill land) should know their soil type.

5. Building Science Corporation — buildingscience.com Joe Lstiburek and his colleagues at BSC have produced probably the most accessible and rigorous library of building science education materials available anywhere. Their articles on moisture dynamics, crawlspace encapsulation, and basement wall assemblies are directly applicable to this chapter. Particularly recommended: their "Builder's Guide" series organized by climate zone.

6. Structure Tech Home Inspections Blog — structuretech.com/blog Reuben Saltzman, a Minneapolis-area home inspector, writes an unusually technical and honest blog about residential inspection findings. His coverage of foundation cracks (he's photographed hundreds of them with context) is one of the best free resources available for homeowners learning to read foundation conditions. His posts specifically on the difference between structural and cosmetic cracks are bookmarkable.

Video Resources

7. "Crawlspace Encapsulation Step-by-Step" — Build Show Network Matt Risinger and guests have produced several episodes on crawlspace moisture management and encapsulation. The visual format helps enormously in understanding the installation of vapor barriers, seam taping, and pipe penetration details. Search his channel (YouTube: @BuildShowNetwork) for "crawlspace encapsulation."

8. "Understanding Foundation Problems" — Foundation Supportworks Educational Content Foundation Supportworks, a foundation repair contractor network, produces educational videos explaining different foundation failure modes in accessible terms. Be aware that they sell repair products, so approach their cost recommendations with some skepticism — but their explanation of how horizontal cracks, helical piers, and wall anchors work is technically accurate and well-illustrated. Available on YouTube.

Technical References

9. International Residential Code — Section R401–R408 (Foundation Requirements) The IRC dedicates a full section (R400s) to foundation requirements: footing size and depth by soil type, concrete strength requirements, drainage requirements, waterproofing requirements, and prescriptive foundation wall construction tables. Section R408 specifically addresses under-floor space (crawlspace) ventilation and vapor retarders. Available free at up.codes/viewer/irc.

10. "Guide for Evaluating Foundation Cracks" — American Concrete Institute (ACI 224) The American Concrete Institute publishes technical guidance on evaluating cracks in concrete structures. ACI 224 covers crack classification, causes, and evaluation criteria. It is written for engineers but is accessible to motivated homeowners who want the technical basis for the crack-evaluation guidance in this chapter. Available through libraries or ACI directly at concrete.org.

Regional and Local Resources

11. Your State Geological Survey Every state has a geological survey department that publishes maps and reports on soil conditions, bedrock depth, known areas of unstable fill, and historical land use. If you're buying in an area with known geologic issues (karst topography, former industrial sites, coastal fill land, landslide zones), your state geological survey's publications are free and invaluable. Search "[your state] geological survey."

12. Your Local Building Department — Permit Records When a foundation repair or waterproofing system requires a permit (as significant structural repairs typically do), the permit record documents the work that was done, the contractor who did it, and whether the final inspection passed. Before buying a home with any known foundation history, request the full permit file from the building department. This is public record in virtually every U.S. jurisdiction.

A Note on Finding Structural Engineers

The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of ASCE maintains a directory of structural engineers at structuralmag.org and through their member directory. AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) maintains a similar directory focused on steel-building specialists. For residential work, the most reliable referral is from a trusted home inspector, a real estate attorney, or a neighbor who has used a specific engineer.

Distinguish structural engineers (PE — Professional Engineer with structural specialization, or SE — Structural Engineer in states that have a separate SE license) from other engineering titles. For foundation assessment and repair specification, you want a structural PE or SE, not a civil engineer focused on roads or a geotechnical engineer (though a geotech may also be needed in complex soil situations).