We are in the process of buying a home that was built in 1900 and when inspecting the basement I noticed if I push on the mortar that holds the stone foundation together it falls like sand or crumbling. What is the best way to fix this? Is this a costly, time consuming job? And should this hinder us in buying the home?
Answer:
Much will depend on the thickness of the foundation walls. I've seen such crumbling where the wall is so thick it doesn't mean much but I've also seen the other side of this situation. A local, credible pre-purchase home inspector should be able to help you.
Courtesy of Ren Molnar, Construction Consultant at HomeFocus.com. I can also be reached at (613) 748-3003 and Home Focus phone-in is broadcast live 8 to 10 A.M. (Ottawa, Ont. time) on Saturdays on www.cfra.com.
