You do not need to be a home inspector or experienced builder to buy a house. However, when you do become a homeowner having some knowledge of the property and property regulations can be helpful. We are going to briefly discuss one of those regulations, the grading of the property.
Let’s first talk about what grading is. Put simply, when a home is constructed there needs to be a certain amount of slope or grade surrounding the building’s foundations. The reason for this is so that water will run away from the building instead of pooling and collecting around its base. When water gathers around a building’s foundation, it can create a range of problems, some of which could end up being rather costly.
Now that you know the importance of grading around a building, the next question you will need to know is, how much grading (or slope) should there be around a property? Although it is best to check the building codes for your specific location, most organizations agree that there need to be about 6 inches of slope for the first 10 feet around the house. This way you would have about a 5 percent grade. Do not be alarmed if the property has more of a grade than this, though, as that may even work out better.
As you can see, it can be helpful to have a rough idea of building codes and regulations. This can be even more helpful when it comes to choosing the right house to buy.
Recent Comments