Freehold Home Unfinished Basement - Unfinished Walls

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Condition: FH 1.1: Efflorescence (Typically a White Powder Film) Is Present on Concrete or Masonry Foundation Surfaces
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.1
Performance: Efflorescence can occur on concrete and masonry foundation surfaces.
Warranty: None
Action: The builder is not required to take any action.

Condition: FH 1.2: Interior Concrete Surfaces are Powdery
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.2
Warranty Year(s): One Year
Performance: Concrete surfaces shall be sufficiently hard to prevent powdering which results in exposure of the aggregate.
Warranty: One-Year - Work and Materials · Surface deterioration due to owner-applied substances is excluded from the statutory warranty.
Action: Where powdering occurs exposing the aggregate the concrete surface shall be repaired to provide a hardened surface.

Condition: FH 1.6: No reinforcement in basement concrete slab
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.6
Warranty Year(s): One Year
Performance: Unless the slab is specifically intended and designed to be a structural slab, reinforcing or mesh is not required.
Warranty: One-Year - Work and Materials. Seven-Year - Major Structural Defect
Action: Where a structural slab is not reinforced as required by the design, repairs shall be made; otherwise no action is required.

Condition: FH 1.7: Concrete Block Foundation Wall is Cracked
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.7
Warranty Year(s): One Year
Performance: Cracks resulting from normal shrinkage are acceptable; cracks in excess of 2 mm in width are not acceptable.
Warranty: One-Year - Work and Materials. · Cracks resulting from normal shrinkage of materials caused by drying after construction are excluded from the statutory warranty.
Action: Cracks in excess of the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Condition: FH 1.9: Exposed Cast-In-Place Concrete Foundation Wall Has Holes In Surface
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.9
Warranty Year(s): One Year
Performance: The exterior portion of foundation walls exposed to view above grade shall have no holes (including “honeycombing”) larger than 50 mm in diameter or 25 mm deep.
Warranty: One-Year – Work and Materials
Action: Walls with holes exceeding the acceptable condition shall be repaired.

Condition: FH 1.10: Cast-In-Place Concrete Foundation Wall is Cracked
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.10
Warranty Year(s): One Year
Performance: Cracks resulting from normal shrinkage are acceptable; cracks in excess of 6 mm in width are not acceptable.
Warranty: One-Year - Work and Materials. · Cracks resulting from normal shrinkage of materials caused by drying after construction are excluded from the statutory warranty.

Condition: FH 1.12: Basement Wall or Floor is Damp
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.12
Performance: Dampness on wall or floor surfaces caused by capillary transport or condensation of water vapour may occur. Only actual water penetration through an opening in the wall or floor may be covered by the statutory warranty.
Warranty: None. · Damage caused by dampness or condensation due to failure by the homeowner to maintain adequate ventilation is excluded from the statutory warranty.
Action: No action by the builder is required.

Condition: FH 1.13: Foundation Wall Leaks
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.13
Warranty Year(s): Two Year
Performance: Foundation walls shall allow no water penetration.
Warranty: Two-Year - Basement Water Penetration. Water leakage resulting from improper maintenance, exterior grade alterations made by the homeowner, an act of God or failure of municipal services or other utilities is excluded from the statutory warranty. Secondary damage to property or any personal injury resulting from the water penetration is also excluded from the statutory warranty.
Action: Defects resulting in water penetration through the basement or foundation shall be repaired.

Condition: FH 1.19: Radon Exceeds Acceptable Levels
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 1.19
Warranty Year(s): One Year
Performance: Radon levels in a home shall not exceed 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3).
Warranty: One-Year – Workmanship & Materials Two-Year – Ontario Building Code Health and Safety Violations Seven-Year – Major Structural Defect • A complete list of “CONDITIONS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY” is on p.15 of the Guidelines.
Action: Where long-term test results indicate that radon levels in a home exceed 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3) and are the result of a Building Code violation or a defect in work or materials supplied by the builder, repairs shall be made.

Condition: FH 2.1: Wood Joist, Beam Or Post Is Split, Checked Or Cupped
Article Type: Freehold
Article Number: 2.1
Warranty Year(s): One Year
Performance: Performance/Condition:Load-bearing wood framing members that have splits checks, or are cupped due to normal drying are acceptable if the beams and posts have been sized according to the Building Code and no structural deficiency exists. Where wood beams or posts are also intended to be decorative, splits and checks resulting from normal shrinkage are acceptable.
Warranty: One-Year - Work and Materials. Seven-Year - Major Structural Defect. · Splits checks, and cupping resulting from normal shrinkage caused by drying after construction are excluded from the statutory warranty.
Action: Splits and checks not meeting the acceptable performance shall be repaired

Remarks

Efflorescence is the formation of a typically white crystalline deposit on the surface of concrete or masonry foundation surfaces when moisture evaporates from the surface. Efflorescence can be removed using a stiff bristle brush and water. See Also: 4.17 EFFLORESCENCE (TYPICALLY A WHITE POWDERY FILM) IS PRESENT ON MASONRY EXTERIOR FINISHES

Remarks

Some dusting of the concrete surface may normally occur; however, where the aggregate becomes exposed the condition is considered excessive. The colour and texture of a repaired area may not match the surrounding concrete.

Remarks

Concrete slabs in basements shall conform to the Building Code. Reinforcing of concrete slabs is not usually necessary unless unusual design or construction conditions are encountered. See Also: 14.3 NO REINFORCEMENT IN GARAGE SLAB.

Remarks

Where crack width exceeds the acceptable condition, or where lateral or vertical movement is evident, further investigation may be required. The colour and texture of a repaired area may not match the surrounding concrete. See Also: 1.10 CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE FOUNDATION WALL IS CRACKED. 1.13 FOUNDATION WALL LEAKS

Remarks

It is impossible to completely eliminate all surface voids. At the builder’s discretion a brush coat may be applied. The colour and texture of a repaired area may not match the surrounding concrete. See item 1.15 “Brush coating on above grade poured concrete foundation wall is falling off”

Remarks

Concrete walls naturally crack during curing due to shrinkage. Where lateral or vertical movement is evident, further investigation may be required. The colour and texture of a repaired area may not match the surrounding concrete. See Also: 1.7 CONCRETE BLOCK FOUNDATION WALL IS CRACKED

Remarks

Condensation can occur during peak seasonal weather patterns. The homeowner should immediately reduce the moisture levels to prevent harm to property. Dampness can be reduced by using a dehumidifier or by increasing the amount of ventilation to the area. See Also: 1.13 FOUNDATION WALL LEAKS 1.14 WATER LEAKAGE THROUGH BASEMENT FLOOR SLAB

Remarks

Only actual trickling water leakage is warranted; dampness or condensation is not considered a warranted condition. The homeowner must take immediate steps to prevent damage to their property and report any losses to their home insurance provider. See Appendix A5 “How to Conduct a Water Test” for more information. See Also: 1.7 CONCRETE BLOCK FOUNDATION WALL IS CRACKED 1.10 CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE FOUNDATION WALL IS CRACKED 1.12 BASEMENT WALL OR FLOOR IS DAMP

Remarks

Radon is an invisible, odourless and tasteless radioactive gas commonly found in soil. Differences in air pressure between the interior of the home and the surrounding soil can draw air and gases, including radon, from the soil into the home through below-grade openings such as cracks in foundation walls and floor slabs; construction joints; gaps around service pipes, support posts, floor drains, sumps; or cavities within masonry walls and hollow metal columns. According to Health Canada, long-term exposure to high levels of radon has been associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer. When radon is trapped in enclosed spaces, it can accumulate to harmful concentration levels. Health Canada recommends that indoor radon levels not exceed 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (Bq/m3). Soil gas control requirements are outlined in the Building Code and detailed in its Supplementary Standard SB-9, “Requirements for Soil Gas Control.” A warranty claim for radon shall include the results of a long-term test (91 days or more). Tests shall be conducted in the lowest level of the home. Testing shall be completed using an approved do-it-yourself radon test kit or by hiring a certified radon mitigation professional. For a list of approved devices and certified professionals, please see Health Canada’s national initiative “Take Action on Radon.” Radon is an environmentally harmful substance and, depending on the radon levels within the home, it may qualify as an emergency situation. For information about the warranty process for emergency situations, please visit Tarion’s website. For additional information about radon, please visit Health Canada’s website. Notes Words in italics are defined in the “TERMINOLOGY” section on page 19. This article was added to the CPG on May 24, 2024, and reflects Tarion’s process, which has been in effect since 2013.

Remarks

Wood beams and posts are timbers that are solid-sawn and at least 114 mm (41/2") in their smallest dimension. Some characteristics of drying wood, such as splitting and checking, are beyond the control of the builder and cannot be prevented. Splitting and checking may be an aesthetic issue rather than a structural problem. See Also: 14.23 TWISTING OF OPEN-END BEAMS

Freehold Home Unfinished Basement - Unfinished Walls

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