Solid, strong foundations is very important in New Zealand. Ask a property surveyor to check the foundations thoroughly. If it has pole foundations the bearers must be fastened to the piles to prevent the house from slipping.

There are several different types of foundations for homes, depending on design.  It’s important to check these thoroughly to avoid any expensive repair work.

Concrete slab

These foundations are common on level sections but on hilly and sloped sites you will find quite a number of homes on timber (stumps) piles or poles.

Pile foundations

Sagging pile foundations (timber, brick or concrete stumps) will result in an uneven floor, which is easy to detect – check for sticking doors or windows, or gaps between doors and frames. It can be a major job to replace the old piles, as they must be replaced one by one, or the whole house lifted to replace all the piles. It is essential to get professionals to carry out this work.

Most older homes are on piles, with bearers (beams) spanning the piles and carrying the weight of the house.  From the 1970s, subfloor bracing was made mandatory, to provide better support in strong winds and earthquakes. Your property inspector can tell you if there is any risk in an older home, so that you can make an informed decision.

Also, ask your property inspector to check that there are sufficient vents to provide air circulation under the house, to eliminate the risk of buying a home with rotting piles.

Pole foundations

Engineers usually design the pole foundation structure, under city council by-laws and building regulations. It’s advisable to ask a structural engineer to provide a report on the soundness of a pole foundation.