How should a home foundation assessment or inspection be conducted? What are the best practices and why? As a homeowner, you’re wondering what the point of these inspections is supposed to be and what it all means for you. It seems like there are many ways these are being done and by different kinds of people, so . . . what’s the best way??
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we’ve conducted foundation inspections with every foundation repair project we’ve done for the past 40+ years. We can see how homeowners get turned around in this process with every foundation inspector doing things differently. We are here to shed some honest light on the best way to assess a foundation when it needs to be fixed.
In this article, we will review the point, purpose, and general process of a foundation inspection. We will also discuss the best way for a foundation repair contractor to thoroughly evaluate the condition of your home’s foundation when it needs repair.
What IS a Foundation Inspection?
A foundation inspection involves some sort of qualified professional looking at your home’s foundation and inspecting it for flaws or problems. In some cases, the professional simply looks over your home and documents things or determines if there is an issue. In other cases, they look at how to repair a problem and how much it costs to fix.
What a foundation inspection IS depends on which “qualified professional” is present – which makes things a little confusing for the everyday homeowner. The professional’s title and expertise determine what they will cover or offer at an inspection.
- If that qualified professional is a home inspector, they point out potential foundation deficiencies and possibly other signs around your home they think might be related issues. Then they may suggest that you contact a structural engineer or foundation repair contractor for further assessment.
- If that qualified professional is a structural engineer, they take measurements, document conditions, and draw up schematics showing the current state of your foundation. They will likely offer an impartial and mathematical opinion if your foundation is determined to be insufficient and in need of repairs, but they don’t do repairs or estimate costs.
- If that qualified professional is a foundation repair contractor, they look over the home to determine if a foundation issue is present, develop a repair plan, and give you a cost for fixing the home.
All these professionals have slightly different goals for their particular variety of foundation inspections. Here’s an article that goes more in-depth on the roles of these professionals. But for the rest of this article, we hone in on the foundation repair contractor and their method of foundation inspection.
What Is the Purpose of a Home Foundation Inspection?
People don’t just get foundation inspections for fun. There’s always a big reason behind wanting or needing to get a foundation assessed – it’s usually because someone suspects there might be an issue or problem.
When it comes to foundation repair contractors, they inspect the foundation with the intent of fixing it and giving you a quote or estimate for those repairs. The purpose of a home foundation inspection (when a foundation repair company is conducting it) is three-fold:
- To determine or verify if there is indeed a problem with your home’s foundation,
- To develop a repair plan to fix the problem, and
- To offer an estimated repair price.
What is the Point of a Foundation Assessment?
There is a slight difference between the purpose and the point of a foundation inspection. As a homeowner, what does a foundation assessment really mean for you? Well, the most obvious point is . . . you ultimately want to get your home fixed and need to know how much that costs.
Perhaps an underlying point of a foundation assessment is to help you decide if you want a particular company working for you. After all, you’re the customer and it’s your home. You have the right to choose who you pay to do a job for you.
So it’s not *just* about costs or even the ability to do the repairs, is it? It’s about your trust and confidence in a contractor, as well as relationship-building on both sides. Just remember that there is more than one point to having the contractor come out to your home for the assessment.
General Steps of a Foundation Inspection
Once your appointment is scheduled, a foundation repair contractor will come to your home. Here’s what you can generally expect during a typical foundation inspection.
Since every foundation repair company has a unique approach, this overview is kept simple to apply to any company. Regardless of a company’s specific methods or additional services, a thorough inspection should at least include the following key steps:
- Evaluating the Interior and Exterior of the Home to Spot Problems
- Discussion and Q&A
- Developing a Repair Plan and Cost Estimate
If you want to dive a bit deeper into the details of the process, check out this article for more: The Fast Guide to Home Foundation Inspections – Purpose, Process, Cost.
Best Practices in Foundation Assessments
Now, the moment you have been waiting for . . . the best way to do foundation assessments. In our opinion, best practices for foundation inspections include steps that occur during the visit as well as deliverables you get at the end.
As the assessment visit is conducted, a contractor should optimally complete the following:
- Visual inspection of the entire home,
- Confirmation of a foundation issue that can be repaired,
- Measurement of linear feet of walls,
- Discussion of your timelines, needs, and biggest concerns, and
- Ample time for homeowner education and questions.
And then either at the end of the home visit or shortly thereafter you should receive:
- A written repair plan that includes a clear scope of work,
- An accurate diagram showing foundation support locations, and
- A transparent total repair cost.
Best Practices During the Foundation Inspection
Let’s talk in a bit more detail about the things that should happen while a foundation inspection is underway at your home. You know . . . since that’s the main topic of this article . . .
Visual Inspection of the Entire Home
A foundation repair contractor should not just look around the outside of your slab and that’s it. The inspection needs to cover your whole house: inside, outside, and in all rooms including an attached garage. Inspection of all vertical and horizontal surfaces is important, it’s not just about that flat piece of concrete under your floors.
Many signs of foundation settlement appear inside the home on walls, around interior windows and doors, and even on interior finishes and built-ins. Hence, an inspection needs to include the full interior to accurately identify all areas of the home that need repair.
The contractor should look inside, and you should grant them access. It’s not unusual.
Confirmation of a Foundation Issue
You need an honest opinion on the condition of your home. This includes the idea that you don’t actually have a foundation issue that needs repairs or perhaps that you don’t need repairs *right now* but could in the future.
You want to know *for sure* that you have a problem. You don’t want someone coming to take your money to do work that you don’t need. A foundation repair contractor should be able to confirm that an issue is present that needs repair, but should also be willing to let you know that repairs aren’t needed.
If we’re being honest, there are some people out there who just want to make money and will take advantage of unknowing homeowners. Be sure that you trust the opinion of the repair contractor looking at your home.
How to know if your contractor is trustworthy: online reviews, word of mouth, and your own gut instincts. Check here for more strategies to use when choosing a contractor of any kind.
Measurement of Linear Feet
You want an accurate quote for repairs. Pricing for foundation repairs is built upon the number of affected linear feet, so you want that number to be as precise as possible. There should be some measuring of wall lengths involved, perhaps with a tape measure, laser, or even one of those little wheel thingies.
Admittedly, after anyone has priced foundation repair jobs for a while, contractors can likely measure linear feet just as well with their eyeballs or walking steps and a little estimation. BUT, it’s nice to see when people are using actual tools to do the measuring . . . know what I mean?
What’s NOT necessary for a foundation repair assessment is elevation data obtained using a “zip-level” type device. These measurement tools are highly touted and deemed essential by some contractors, but we say that’s *highly debatable*. Check out this article for our in-depth opinion on this new-fangled tool.
Discussion of Your Timelines, Needs, and Biggest Concerns
Time should be taken to talk to a homeowner about what worries them about their home and what problems they hope to solve. The simple act of listening to homeowner concerns is important. It’s not just about fixing a house, it’s also about taking care of the owner.
A foundation repair contractor should be interested in what you have to say. Sure, they might be a foundation repair expert and know a lot about fixing foundations. But, YOU are the top expert about your home. You’re the one who lives there and sees how any developing foundation issues have changed and evolved over time.
Heck, even if it’s an act and they don’t really care, I say it’s best practice to talk with homeowners about their needs. Here’s an article that helps you think about what needs you have (aside from the need to get repairs): How to Pick a Foundation Repair Company: Your Top Needs in 7 Questions.
Ample Time Given for Education and Questions
If a foundation repair contractor spends 15 minutes at your home and doesn’t seem to have time for you, that’s a red flag.
The foundation repair contractor should be asking you questions and you surely have a bunch of questions for them. No one wants to be rushed when you’re looking at spending thousands of dollars on home repairs.
On top of that, homeowners are often diving into a subject they know nothing about. Who in the world just knows stuff about foundation problems and foundation repairs unless they have to?? No one, that’s who.
Most homeowners want to understand what is happening with their homes. A contractor should take the time to offer easy-to-understand explanations and avoid industry jargon. The right foundation contractor can take an overwhelming topic like foundation repair and make it less frightening with a little education and time for understanding.
Ideal Deliverables from a Foundation Inspection
What you get at the end of an inspection is important, but it’s not the main focus of this article. So I’m going to be brief here. You should get something formal in writing after your inspection, not just a sketch on a blank piece of paper with a price scribbled on it.
A proper repair plan should include a description of the work that the foundation repair contractor will do aka the scope of work. Details explaining the repair method and underpinning specifications are nice to see as well. A to-scale diagram showing where repairs will be performed should also be part of the information you receive. It’s helpful to know exactly where work is going to be done as it may spur more questions.
The total cost of foundation repairs should be clear and transparent. By transparent, I mean, you can somewhat see how they arrived at the total by line items and/or needed quantities.
Want to know more about any of these optimal deliverables? Check one of these out:
What Is a Foundation Repair Plan? What It Tells You & Why To Care
How To Estimate Your Slab Foundation Repair Costs (Tutorial)
Do You Know Who Does an Ideal Foundation Assessment?
Now that you know the best way to conduct a home foundation inspection, you probably want to find someone to do that for you, huh? If you live in Bryan, College Station, or surrounding Brazos Valley communities like Brenham, Madisonville, or Navasota, we can come out and perform the perfect foundation assessment in person.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we offer fair and impartial assessments, empowering education, and a fully transparent repair process. After 40+ years in business, we want you to know as much about foundation repair as we do and we’ve got no secrets to hide from homeowners.
Ready to get a foundation assessment from Anchor now? Our online contact form is available 24/7. When you can’t sleep because you’re worried about your foundation, you can fill out your inspection request at 2 a.m if that’s the time you have.
We only work on weekdays BTW but you can get the process started at your convenience!