So in summary:
-We have an example that if you screw up drainage, it doesn't matter if it's wood or concrete, you are screwed.
-Wood kills resale, despite it possibly being a well built wood foundation. Well, good news. You are buying a house on the resale market. That means more savings to you if it is well built. Buildings depreciate anyway, so even if you sell down the road, you'll take less of a hit than the last guy
-We have an example of a wood foundation that survived the flood with no issues
I think a very good inspection is the most important part. Possibly a partially destructive inspection (pulling fasteners, digging down to check membranes). I do agree that it is easier to screw up a wood foundation, and there is less expertise kicking around in that field.
My concrete foundation had all sorts of problems, and it is common place to build a wood foundation on the inside to mitigate this. If you talk to any of the foundation repair companies in town, they may be able to do an inspection for you, as they know exactly what to look for.
|