Question:
“I saw a house that I liked, but the driveway has a lot of cracks in it. Does that mean that the house has settlement problems?”
Answer:
Maybe. Maybe not.
Driveway slabs are almost always poured at a different time than the house slab. And they typically aren’t as thick, aren’t reinforced with metal “rebar” as a house slab, nor have the quality of workmanship of house slab.
But if you’re seeing a lot of cracks, especially with gaps over a quarter inch and/or the crack is offset (meaning one side is raised higher than the other), that COULD be signs of settlement.
Also be aware that many homes have minor settlement that happened some time ago and do not cause any problems to speak of. The greater concern is ongoing movement.
My best advice is to have a structural engineer inspect the home. Such reports typically cost $500 to $1000, depending on the size of the home.
[NOTE: I am not a contractor or a structural engineer. Please verify the statements above with an appropriate professional.]