have a three level house in the south suburbs of chicago. the house was built on marsh land in the late 70's . when we moved into the house the previous owner remodeled the lower level removing the garage and opening it up meaning taking out the inner house wall. we have lived here for 3 years and have noticed a couple cracks in the foundation and drywall cracks inside the home , no water however but i am on a slight incline . the park seems to flood majorly when it rains . can i build a new wall, should i have a foundation specialist look at it??
House cracking inside and out
foundationrepair
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Best Answer
The location of the drywall cracks would be important relative to the removed wall and the foundation cracking. Structural walls are often removed in remodels but with a load bearing beam of some type spanning the new open space and transferring the load to either side. That is one good reason to look at permits with the county or city to see if there was a permit for the remodel. It would help you figure out if that is part of the problem.
Foundation cracking is likely a separate issue. Two quick things to do is talk to neighbors with houses of similar ages and also inquire with any general contractors or remodelers who have experience in the area. They usually become familiar with the nuances of building codes over the years and can be a great source of information.
In the end though, this will just be information that will help you understand the issues better. You will still need to find a structural engineer, civil engineer or (Im not sure if this applies to your state) an architect any of which must have a state license to actually be of use if you need plans for any structural work.