American Dream Property Inspection Service is committed to Serving all San Diego County - Derek A. Porter is a San Diego Certified (CREIA) California Real Estate Inspection Association Inspector

American Dream Property Inspection Service

Property Inspection Service

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San Diego Home Inspection, San Diego Condo Inspections, San Diego Townhome Inspection, San Diego Residential Inspection, San Diego New Home Inspections, Conducting Home Inspections Throughout San Diego County and Surrounding areas, home inspection in san diego ca, california home inspection, san diego property inspection, san diego pool inspection, san diego spa inspections, home inspection in san diego area, san diego home inspection, creia home inspector, home inspections creia san diego home inspector, home inspections creia san diego San Diego Home Inspection, San Diego Condo Inspections, San Diego Townhome, American Dream Property Inspection Service

Your San Diego Home Inspection, San Diego Condo Inspection, San Diego Townhome Inspection, San Diego Residential Inspection, San Diego New Home Inspection Source. Conducting Home Inspections Throughout San Diego County and Surrounding areas, San Diego Home Inspector American Dream's  Certified CREIA Inspector (California Real Estate Inspection Association) Derek A. Porter has performed inspections on a total of over 1 BILLION DOLLARS in Real Estate Inspections and is known as one of the most knowledgeable inspectors in the World.

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Agua Caliente 92086, Alamorio 92227, Allied Gardens 92120, Alpine 91901, Alta Vista 92114, Ballena, 92065, Bankhead Springs 91934, Banner 92036, Bard 92283, Barona Mesa 92065, Barrett Junction 91917, Barrio Logan 92113, Bay Park 92110, Bear Valley 92027, Birch Hill 92060, Blossom Valley 92021, Bonita 91902, Bonsall 92003, Borrego Springs 92004, Bostonia 92021, Boulder Oaks 91962, Boulevard 91905, Broadway Heights 92114, Buckman Springs 91962, Buena 92083, Cameron Corners 91906, Camp Pendelton 92055, Compo 91906, Canebrake 92036, Canyon City 91906, Carlsbad 92008, Carmel Mountain Ranch 92128, Carmel Valley 92130, Casa De Oro 91977, Castle Park 91911, Centre City 92101, Chollas Creek 92105, Chula Vista 91910, City Heights 92105, Clairemont 92117, Combs Camp 92004, Coronado 92118, Cottonwood 92019, Crest 92021, Crown Point 92109, Cuyamaca 92036, De Luz 92028, Dehesa 92019, Del Cerro 92120, Del Dios 92029, Del Mar 92014, Descanso 91916, Desert Lodge 92004, Dulzura 91917, Eagles Nest 92086, East Elliott 92145, East Lake 91913, Eastlake Greens 91915, Echo Dell 91916, Eden Gardens 92075, El Cajon 92020, Emerald Hills 92114, Encinitas 92024, Engineer Springs 91917, Escondido 92025, Eucalyptus Hills 92040, Fairbanks Ranch 92067, Fallbrook 92028, Fernbrook 92065, Fleetridge 92106, Fletcher Hills 92020, Flinn Springs 92021, Foster 92040, Glen Oaks 91901, Glenview 92021, Golden Hill 92102, Grant Hill 92102, Grantville 92120, Green Valley Falls 92916, Grossmont 91942, Guatay 91931, Harbison Canyon 92019, Harmony Grove 92029, Harrison Park 92036, Hidden Glen 91901, Hidden Meadows 92026, Hillcrest 92103, Hulburd Grove 91916, Imperial Beach 91932, Indian Springs 91935, Irving’s Crest 92065, Jacumba 91934, Jamacha 92114 & 91935, Jamul 91935, Jesmond Dene 02026, Johnstown 92021, Julian 92036, Kearny Mesa 92111, Kensington 92116, La Costa 92009, La Jolla 92037, La Jolla Amago 92060, La Mesa 91941, La Playa 92106, La Presa 91977, Lake Henshaw 92070, Lakeside 92040, Lakeview 92040, Lemon Grove 91945, Leucadia 92024, Lincoln Acres 91950, Lincoln Park 92192, Linda Vista 92111, Little Italy 92101, Live Oak Park 92028, Live Oak Springs 91905, Logan Heights 92113, Loma Portal 92110, Lomas Santa Fe 92075, Lomita 92114, Lynwood Hills 91910, Manzanita 91905, Memorial 92113, Mesa Grande 92070, Middletown 92103, Midway 92106, Mira Mesa 92126, Miramar 92126, Miramar Ranch 92131, Mission Bay Park 92109, Mission Beach 92109, Mission Hills 92103, Mission Valley 92108, Mission Village 92123, Morena Village 91906, Moreno 92040, Morretis 92070, Mount Helix 91941, Mount Hope 92102, Mount Laguna 91948, Mount View 92113, National City 91950, Navajo 92120, Nestor 91154, Normal Heights 92116, North Bay Terraces 92114, North Encanto 92114, North Jamul 91935, North Park 92104, Oak Grove 92086, Oak Park 92105, Ocean Beach 92107, Ocean Hills 92056, Oceanside 92054, Ocotillo Wells 92004, Old Town 92110, Olivehain 92024, Otay 91911, Otay Mesa 92154, Pacific Beach 92109, Pala 92059, Pala Mesa Village 92028, Palm City 92154, Palo Verde 91901, Palomar Mountain 92060, Paradise Hills 92139, Paso Picacho 92036, Pauma Valley 92061, Peninsula 92106, Pine Hills 92036, Pine Valley 91962, Point Loma 92106, Potrero 91963, Poway 92064, Puerta La Cruz 92086, Rainbow 92028, Ramona 92065, Ranchita 92066, Rancho Bernardo 92128, Rancho Del Rey 91910, Rancho Palo Verde 91901, Rancho Penasquitos 92129, Rancho San Diego 91978, Rancho Santa Fe 92067, Rincon 92082, Rock Haven 92065, Rolando 92115, Rosemont 92065, Roseville 92106, Sabre Springs 92128, San Carlos 92119, San Diego (downtown) 92101, San Felipe 92086, San Ignacio 92086, San Luis Rey 92054, San Luis Rey Heights 92028, San Marcos 92069, San Onofre 92672, San Paqual 92025, San Ysidro 92173, Santa Ysabel 92070, Santee 92071, Scissors Crossing 92036, Scripps Miramar Ranch 92131, Serra Mesa 92123, Shady Dell 92065, Shelltown 92113, Shelter Valley Ranchos 92036, Sherman Heights 92102, Skyline 92114, Solana Beach 92075, Sorrento Hills 92130, Sorrento Mesa 92121, Sorrento Valley, 92121, South Bay Terraces 92139, South Encanto 92114, South Oceanside, 92054, South Park 92102, Southcrest 92113, Spring Valley 91977, Stockton 92102, Sunnyside 91902, Sunshine Summit 92086, Talmadge 92115, Tecate 91980, The Narrows 92004, The Willows 91901, Tierra Del Sol 91905, Tierrasanta 92124, Tijuana River Valley 92154, Torrey Pines 91014, Twin Oaks 92069, University City 92122, University Heights 92116, Uptown 92103, Valencia Park 92114, Vallecito 92036, Valley Center 92082, Via De La Valle 92014, Victoria 91901, Vista 92083, Warner Springs 92086, Whispering Pines 92036, Winter Gardens 92040, Winterwarm 92028, Witch Creek 92065, Wynola 92036.

Derek A. Porter provides the most thorough and accurate Home Inspections in  San Diego. The Home Inspections  Derek A. Porter performs in San Diego and  Condo Inspections in San Diego are filled with valuable information and Derek makes the whole experience enjoyable.  Townhome Inspection, San Diego Residential Home Inspection, San Diego New Home Inspections are performed at the highest level of diligence and ethics, Derek A. Porter has been performing Home Inspections for several years and has a diverse education in construction defect and safety analysis. Conducting Home Inspections Throughout San Diego County and Surrounding areas, give Derek A. Porter the inspection experience necessary to be your personal advocate.  I am committed to informing you and educating you during the home inspection and throughout your Real Estate Purchase. Derek A. Porter maintains more than 30 Continuation Educational Credits each year and has successfully passed numerous Inspector organizational entrance and advanced exams. Derek A. Porter also focused on understanding the Building Codes in San Diego Ca, California home inspection, San Diego property inspection, san Diego pool inspection, san Diego spa inspections, and home inspections in  the san Diego area vary from inspector to inspector; don't make the wrong choice over a few dollars. Call now 619-517-3029 or 877-247-3732 and I am certain you will be pleased. I offer a full money back warranty, if you are not completely satisfied.

 

 

THERE ARE MANY SITE FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT FOUNDATIONS

  • Area History in Foundation Damage Diagnosis: Is there evidence of a history of earthquakes, landslides, mud slides, soil settlement, sink holes, construction on fill, or buried debris on or at sites in the area?

    • Constructed on fill, or on organic/site debris used as fill or buried for disposal, risks future settlement. In some cases, burying site debris or trees, or construction over an old landfill, can result in dangerous settlement or even sudden ground openings occurring years or even decades later.

    • Constructed over or close to a ravine: Ravines, ditches, filled areas, or underground streams can result in later earth movement, slides, and foundation damage.

    • Neighborhood history; cracks in other houses in the area. If other homes in an area are observed to have settlement, leaning, or foundation damage, watch for those conditions on the property being inspected. In an area of one Northeastern U.S. city, all of the homes in a hilly neighborhood lean consistently to the right and have suffered major settlement damage.

  • Area geology in Foundation Damage Diagnosis:

    • Sink holes: sink holes can appear suddenly and be a catastrophe; they are more prevalent in certain areas of the country. Sink holes, collapsing soils, voids open suddenly after heavy rains identify by history of area; insurance is available and limited "free" Geotechnical analysis may be available from local state or county government in problem areas. A homeowner should tell insurance company if there is a sinkhole, evidence of one, or suspicion of one. For detecting evidence of sink holes in an area by visual inspection.

    • Lakes and Streams: surface drainage, water & earth loading: observe nearby lakes for evidence of the probable level of the high water table in the soils on which a building has been constructed. Is the basement below lake or stream level? In areas of Long Island, NY, some homes are constructed with a basement floor below the level of nearby waterways, and survive only by having continuously operating sump pumps.

    • Solid rock or rocky construction sites: may mean that foundation construction required blasting. Unusual cracking in a poured concrete foundation of a modular home traced to a combination of inadequate footing preparation and blasting at an adjoining site as a second house was being built.

  • Soils in Foundation Damage Diagnosis: Are there problem soils such as wet, expansive clay soils, screed, bedrock, boulders, buried debris, evidence of fill? Problems having soil characteristics as their origin can show up years later.

    • Fill: Is there evidence of construction on fill: Look at the surrounding land, its slope and shape. Look for covered tree boles

    • Expansive soils - are more serious extensive and more common in certain areas: e.g. Colorado, North & Central Florida Ocala/Gainesville, and in Canada, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Ontario & Manitoba. Expansive soils shrink and expand significantly as ground water levels vary. In some areas homeowners must install a system to maintain water in the soil below the home to prevent soil shrinkage, settlement, and building damage.

    • Tree bole is the bottom of a typical deciduous tree where the tree roots begin to leave the trunk and spread underground. Normally the bottom of a tree widens and slopes down away from the tree. If you observe a deciduous tree trunk which is simply vertical, going straight into the ground, you may have found evidence that fill has been added to a site.

  • Original and Surrounding Slopes: show the original direction of excavation-sequence used in constructing a building. For example, the foundation for a home constructed on a steep hillside will normally be constructed by excavating into the hill from the down-hill side of the foundation footprint. The excavation process cuts into the hillside and moves earth from the "uphill" side of the foundation footprint to the "downhill" side where it serves as fill. If the filled-portion of the foundation area is not adequately compacted or stabilized, a result is that building footings are constructed on virgin soils at the "uphill" portion of the home but on filled soils at the "downhill" portion of the home's footprint. It is common to find evidence of footing and foundation settlement cracking occurring over the on-fill portions of the foundation, and perhaps beginning just at the transition point where the footings moved from being poured on virgin soils to being poured on filled-soil. Observing the site shape tips-off the inspector to watch out for evidence of such movement.

  • Stepped foundation footings: are a normal practice on steep slopes. But where a site has a combination of intermittent bedrock and steep soils, differential footing settlement and movement often occurs at transition points, such as where a footing steps off of rock and onto soils. Similarly, because a house with a basement and a garage often has footings at two very different depths (8' down for the basement and 3'-4' down for the garage) differential settlement may occur between those structures.

  • Exposure of foundation to mechanical or vehicle damage: A driveway close to the foundation wall, common in older cities, exposes foundations to damage when heavy trucks such as an oil tank truck or a cement delivery truck pass close to the building to make a delivery. Horizontal earth loading cracks (in a masonry block wall) are likely to appear in a pattern similar to earth loading cracks but higher up than from simple earth loading, perhaps at the center or bottom 1/3 of the wall.

  • Water, Foundation Leaks, Wet Basements in Foundation Damage Diagnosis: Trees (their roots) and rocks which are near the foundation define areas to watch out for both root damage to a foundation and, more subtle, water entry from ground water (or roof spillage) which is directed towards the building foundation wall by a combination of these factors:

    • Poor site drainage and improper routing of surface runoff, roof runoff, or ground water are very common sources of both basement water entry and foundation damage.

    • Water follows underground passages in soils created by tree roots, digging animals, earth worms, excavations for underground utilities such as water lines and buried electrical lines. If these lead towards a foundation, particularly from an uphill slope, watch for foundation leaks inside such locations.

    • Water follows underground bedrock which slopes towards a building, and is difficult to keep out. Leaks often are observed in a basement or crawl space where bedrock is exposed and one can see the building footing sitting on (and hopefully pinned-to) bedrock or on large boulders.

    • Frost heaving (in freezing climates) - recurrent wet soil freezing, due to poor site drainage or gutter defects, tends to cause horizontal cracks in the upper 1/3 of a foundation wall, always below-grade level, and typically at or just above the natural frost line depth of the soil.

  • Nearby Roadways: may expose a building foundation (or other components) to damage from traffic-induced vibration.

Keep in mind that the home inspection and the evaluation by the home inspector is no substitute for an engineering evaluation; however will give you a good indication of whether you need an expensive engineering evaluation.

We utilize laser level transit style leveling techniques to measure the difference in elevation and signal possible changes in the floors variation. Several other techniques can also be employed to determine flooring variation.

 

Call us now to schedule an appointment:
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  • Pool & Spa Functionality & Safety Inspections
  • Mold, Lead, and other environmental consultation and testing
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One call gives you all the power you need.

Call us today!  1-877-247-3732  or (619) 517-3029.I

 

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Serving ALL of San Diego County & Surrounding Areas
Agua Caliente 92086, Alamorio 92227, Allied Gardens 92120, Alpine 91901, Alta Vista 92114, Ballena, 92065, Bankhead Springs 91934, Banner 92036, Bard 92283, Barona Mesa 92065, Barrett Junction 91917, Barrio Logan 92113, Bay Park 92110, Bear Valley 92027, Birch Hill 92060, Blossom Valley 92021, Bonita 91902, Bonsall 92003, Borrego Springs 92004, Bostonia 92021, Boulder Oaks 91962, Boulevard 91905, Broadway Heights 92114, Buckman Springs 91962, Buena 92083, Cameron Corners 91906, Camp Pendelton 92055, Compo 91906, Canebrake 92036, Canyon City 91906, Carlsbad 92008, Carmel Mountain Ranch 92128, Carmel Valley 92130, Casa De Oro 91977, Castle Park 91911, Centre City 92101, Chollas Creek 92105, Chula Vista 91910, City Heights 92105, Clairemont 92117, Combs Camp 92004, Coronado 92118, Cottonwood 92019, Crest 92021, Crown Point 92109, Cuyamaca 92036, De Luz 92028, Dehesa 92019, Del Cerro 92120, Del Dios 92029, Del Mar 92014, Descanso 91916, Desert Lodge 92004, Dulzura 91917, Eagles Nest 92086, East Elliott 92145, East Lake 91913, Eastlake Greens 91915, Echo Dell 91916, Eden Gardens 92075, El Cajon 92020, Emerald Hills 92114, Encinitas 92024, Engineer Springs 91917, Escondido 92025, Eucalyptus Hills 92040, Fairbanks Ranch 92067, Fallbrook 92028, Fernbrook 92065, Fleetridge 92106, Fletcher Hills 92020, Flinn Springs 92021, Foster 92040, Glen Oaks 91901, Glenview 92021, Golden Hill 92102, Grant Hill 92102, Grantville 92120, Green Valley Falls 92916, Grossmont 91942, Guatay 91931, Harbison Canyon 92019, Harmony Grove 92029, Harrison Park 92036, Hidden Glen 91901, Hidden Meadows 92026, Hillcrest 92103, Hulburd Grove 91916, Imperial Beach 91932, Indian Springs 91935, Irving’s Crest 92065, Jacumba 91934, Jamacha 92114 & 91935, Jamul 91935, Jesmond Dene 02026, Johnstown 92021, Julian 92036, Kearny Mesa 92111, Kensington 92116, La Costa 92009, La Jolla 92037, La Jolla Amago 92060, La Mesa 91941, La Playa 92106, La Presa 91977, Lake Henshaw 92070, Lakeside 92040, Lakeview 92040, Lemon Grove 91945, Leucadia 92024, Lincoln Acres 91950, Lincoln Park 92192, Linda Vista 92111, Little Italy 92101, Live Oak Park 92028, Live Oak Springs 91905, Logan Heights 92113, Loma Portal 92110, Lomas Santa Fe 92075, Lomita 92114, Lynwood Hills 91910, Manzanita 91905, Memorial 92113, Mesa Grande 92070, Middletown 92103, Midway 92106, Mira Mesa 92126, Miramar 92126, Miramar Ranch 92131, Mission Bay Park 92109, Mission Beach 92109, Mission Hills 92103, Mission Valley 92108, Mission Village 92123, Morena Village 91906, Moreno 92040, Morretis 92070, Mount Helix 91941, Mount Hope 92102, Mount Laguna 91948, Mount View 92113, National City 91950, Navajo 92120, Nestor 91154, Normal Heights 92116, North Bay Terraces 92114, North Encanto 92114, North Jamul 91935, North Park 92104, Oak Grove 92086, Oak Park 92105, Ocean Beach 92107, Ocean Hills 92056, Oceanside 92054, Ocotillo Wells 92004, Old Town 92110, Olivehain 92024, Otay 91911, Otay Mesa 92154, Pacific Beach 92109, Pala 92059, Pala Mesa Village 92028, Palm City 92154, Palo Verde 91901, Palomar Mountain 92060, Paradise Hills 92139, Paso Picacho 92036, Pauma Valley 92061, Peninsula 92106, Pine Hills 92036, Pine Valley 91962, Point Loma 92106, Potrero 91963, Poway 92064, Puerta La Cruz 92086, Rainbow 92028, Ramona 92065, Ranchita 92066, Rancho Bernardo 92128, Rancho Del Rey 91910, Rancho Palo Verde 91901, Rancho Penasquitos 92129, Rancho San Diego 91978, Rancho Santa Fe 92067, Rincon 92082, Rock Haven 92065, Rolando 92115, Rosemont 92065, Roseville 92106, Sabre Springs 92128, San Carlos 92119, San Diego (downtown) 92101, San Felipe 92086, San Ignacio 92086, San Luis Rey 92054, San Luis Rey Heights 92028, San Marcos 92069, San Onofre 92672, San Paqual 92025, San Ysidro 92173, Santa Ysabel 92070, Santee 92071, Scissors Crossing 92036, Scripps Miramar Ranch 92131, Serra Mesa 92123, Shady Dell 92065, Shelltown 92113, Shelter Valley Ranchos 92036, Sherman Heights 92102, Skyline 92114, Solana Beach 92075, Sorrento Hills 92130, Sorrento Mesa 92121, Sorrento Valley, 92121, South Bay Terraces 92139, South Encanto 92114, South Oceanside, 92054, South Park 92102, Southcrest 92113, Spring Valley 91977, Stockton 92102, Sunnyside 91902, Sunshine Summit 92086, Talmadge 92115, Tecate 91980, The Narrows 92004, The Willows 91901, Tierra Del Sol 91905, Tierrasanta 92124, Tijuana River Valley 92154, Torrey Pines 91014, Twin Oaks 92069, University City 92122, University Heights 92116, Uptown 92103, Valencia Park 92114, Vallecito 92036, Valley Center 92082, Via De La Valle 92014, Victoria 91901, Vista 92083, Warner Springs 92086, Whispering Pines 92036, Winter Gardens 92040, Winterwarm 92028, Witch Creek 92065, Wynola 92036.
 
 
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