Your Complete Annual Foundation Inspection Checklist
Catching foundation problems early is key to undertaking successful repairs and fewer expenses. All homeowners can do a yearly inspection to gauge the state of their home’s foundation and call foundation repair services if necessary.
If you are a first-time homeowner or have never done a foundation inspection, here is your complete checklist of what to look for.
- Be Aware of Any Cracks
You probably already know this one, but let’s review it anyway. Check for cracks forming near the foundation and the walls. Don’t forget to check window and door frames, either. Cracks that appear around doors and windows can also be indicative of a problem with the foundation. Finally, check the ceiling for any cracks or damage.
- Examine Your Doors and Windows
Beyond checking for fractured walls around doors and windows, it’s also essential to look for other signs of foundation problems that tend to manifest as door or window issues. In other words, do you struggle to open or close them? Do they fail to fit properly in their frames? Are they leaning in any way? These are strong signs of a bad foundation.
- Assess Your Crawlspace
Once inside your crawlspace, look at the floor beams and joists. They should look healthy, straight, and strong. Any beam or joist that buckles, rots, smells, sags, warps, or looks wrong needs a professional assessment. Also, look around for signs of moisture damage or water discoloration. This is also a bad sign.
- Look at the Floors
Walk through your home and carefully analyze the floors. Look for warning signs such as warped or uneven floors, cracked tiles, and separation areas where the floor and walls meet. You can also place a tennis ball on the floor, and if it starts to roll in a direction, it’s a surefire sign that the floor is tilting from foundation issues.
- Check Drywall
Drywall is a good place to check if the foundation is healthy. Some of the clearest signs appear on drywall, and they include corner cracks, seam cracks, nail-popping cracks, and tape cracks.
- Look for Damaged Plumbing
Damaged plumbing that leaks water is a great threat to the integrity of your foundation. While doing your annual check, give your home’s plumbing a thorough once-over or hire a professional to assess the system. Any issues, especially leaks, should be dealt with as soon as possible.
- Inspect the Foundation
Walk along the foundation and look closely at its appearance. Does it look the same? Or are there cracks and signs of discoloration? Any change in appearance should be noted and mentioned to a professional.
- Check for a Musty Smell
When you inspect every room, always check for any smells that shouldn’t be there (especially a musty odor). This could be a sign that excessive moisture and mold are taking hold somewhere and probably already damaging the structure and foundation of the home.
- Look at the Roof
When something goes wrong with the foundation, the roof can throw you several hints. A cracked or damaged chimney can mean that there is already a serious problem with the foundation, like a shift or tilt. Look for roof tiles or materials that are out of place, cracked, damaged, or missing. The gutter should also be in its proper position. If the gutter is starting to separate from the roof or appears damaged, it might be linked to the foundation.
- Consider the Attic
The attic should show no signs of water damage, warped flooring/beams, cracks, decay, and no open electrical splices. The entire space should have a normal appearance and smell.