Foundation Inspection: What Every Homeowner Should Know
When you hear the word "foundation," you probably picture a big concrete slab underneath your house. In reality, it’s the part of the building that keeps everything upright. If the foundation starts to move or crack, the whole house can suffer. That’s why a quick, regular foundation inspection can save you time, money, and a lot of stress.
How to Do a Quick DIY Inspection
First, grab a flashlight, a ruler or a millimetre gauge, and a notebook. Walk around the exterior of your home and look for any new cracks in the walls, especially near the corners or windows. Measure the width of each crack – a crack under 1 mm is usually harmless, but anything wider than 3 mm could mean trouble.
Next, check the interior. Look at the base of door frames, kitchen cabinets, and bathroom walls. If doors start sticking or cabinets wobble, that’s a sign the foundation may be moving. Also, keep an eye on any sloping or uneven floors; a water‑filled level can help you spot a slope of more than 2 mm per metre.
Don’t forget the crawl space or basement. Look for moisture stains, mould, or any bulging in the walls. Water is the enemy of a solid foundation, so a damp spot often means a leak that could weaken the concrete over time.
When to Call a Structural Engineer
Even if you’re handy, some issues need a professional eye. If you find a crack wider than 5 mm, if the crack is running vertically through a load‑bearing wall, or if the building is settling more than a few centimetres, call a structural engineer right away. They’ll use specialised tools like laser levels and may recommend underpinning or other repairs.
Another red flag is sudden, loud cracks that sound like they’re coming from inside the walls. That could indicate a serious shift in the foundation’s load distribution. In such cases, delaying a professional assessment can lead to costly repairs later on.
If you have a mortgage, your lender might require a formal foundation report before they’ll approve a loan. Having a credible engineer’s report on hand can speed up the process and give you peace of mind.
Regular inspections don’t have to be a chore. Set a reminder to check your foundation twice a year – once in winter, once in summer. The cooler months often reveal moisture problems, while the hotter months can highlight movement caused by soil expansion.
For more detail on specific crack sizes, read our guide “Foundation Crack Size: When Is It Serious?” It breaks down which widths need immediate attention and which you can monitor. If you’re wondering whether repair work will actually fix the problem, our article “Does Foundation Repair Really Work?” explains the science behind common repair methods.
Bottom line: a quick visual check, a few measurements, and a note of any changes can catch foundation issues early. When in doubt, bring in a professional – it’s cheaper than waiting for a small problem to become a big disaster.
