You’re looking to schedule a foundation inspection or assessment and are curious about why the foundation repair contractor needs to come inside your house. Is that normal? Isn’t the slab something you see on the outside because inside it’s all covered up? Why do they need to come in?
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we’ve assessed thousands of home foundations since 1985. We know that as a homeowner, you have worries and questions and want to understand what’s happening to your foundation. The best way to thoroughly inspect a foundation is both inside and outside and we can tell you why.
In this article, we explain the general foundation assessment process and the reasons it’s conducted by entering the home. We also review best inspection practices and the benefits to the homeowner, as well as how we do things here at Anchor. Let’s take an *inside look* at the ins and outs of a foundation inspection now!
A Typical Foundation Inspection Process
First, let’s review what *should* happen at a minimum at *most* foundation inspections. I say should because you just never know what other contractors are doing. I can only assume that most companies do at least these basic things during the inspection process (and if they’re not, that’s a red flag).
- Visually inspect the exterior of the home for signs of foundation issues
- Visually inspect the interior of the home for signs of foundation issues
- Measure and/or gather other numerical data (data varies by contractor)
- Confirm that a foundation issue exists that is repairable
- Offer an estimated price for repairs (if applicable)
So, if a foundation repair contractor does the bare minimum, they should still come into your home for a visual inspection. This procedure is pretty standard and normal, not unusual at all.
Opinion Alert: I’d like to address the idea of “confirming that a foundation issue exists” really quickly.
Every foundation inspection should not automatically result in the need for repairs. Some contractors take advantage of homeowner fear and could say that a problem exists when it might not. You want to make sure that you’re getting an honest opinion on the condition of your home. Just be aware that not every contractor operates with the same level of integrity.
Check out this article for more info – Foundation Repair Contractors: Avoiding 4 Top Problems of Hiring One.
Reasons for Interior Inspection During a Foundation Assessment
So why is going into the house an essential part of the foundation assessment? Well, here are a few reasons that interior inspection is important:
- Ensures that all signs of foundation settlement are identified first-hand,
- Helps to identify what areas of the home are settling and need support,
- Reveals signs of interior foundation settlement (if present),
- Locates key problem points the homeowner wants to solve,
- Assists with pier placement by viewing the layout of the home,
- Identifies load-bearing walls and other structural elements, and
- Allows for the contractor to draw a floorplan diagram and develop a repair plan.
Inspecting the home’s interior is often more revealing than the exterior part of the inspection. There are a lot more true, misleading, and confusing signs of foundation problems that appear inside the home rather than on the outside. Those signs tell the story of where the home has moved and how much.
A repair plan diagram is developed to show the homeowner how many piers or pilings need to be placed under the foundation and where. The number of supports is the main contributing factor that determines the final cost of the foundation repairs, and you want that number to be accurate.
In other words, it would be pretty hard to make a reasonable repair estimate without looking inside the house!
Homeowner Benefits of Thorough Interior Foundation Inspections
The more thorough your foundation inspection is, the more accurate your pricing estimate will be. As a homeowner, you want to know the correct price from the beginning without surprises. When it comes to large, expensive home repairs, there’s nothing worse than price creep.
In addition to getting the most accurate price possible, here are some other ways that a thorough interior inspection can benefit the homeowner:
- Your home gets checked for things you could have missed,
- You have the opportunity to point out specific issues that concern you the most,
- You are reminded of signs you forgot to mention and questions you forgot to ask, and
- You have time to get to know the foundation repair contractor to find out if they are a good match for repairing your home.
How Anchor Conducts the In-Home Foundation Assessment
Some contractors will only spend 15 minutes at your home conducting a foundation inspection. Every company will have *their way* of doing things, but here’s the Anchor Way:
- Approximately 2 hours of dedicated time to you and your home,
- Thorough interior and exterior inspection with measurements,
- Discussion on your top needs and concerns about your home,
- Development of an accurate repair plan diagram with your guaranteed price,
- Every. Question. Answered.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we’re willing to put in the effort to make sure you’re comfortable with and understand what’s happening to your home. That starts with a thorough and impartial assessment of your foundation and important time spent with you. Full disclosure: we do charge of our inspections.
Find out why we charge for our assessment service AND how you can get out of paying for it here: Why Does Anchor Foundation Repair Charge for Inspections?
