Your home’s foundation is its support beam – when that is compromised, the rest follows. At Kansas City Foundation Repair Solutions, we know that foundation inspections can be daunting. Strangers coming in to inspect your home may give you the jitters, but these kinds of inspections are what keep your home valuable and secure.
A professional foundation inspection thoroughly examines your home’s structural integrity. Our experts utilize state-of-the-art equipment and methods in the inspection process. They accurately take exterior measurements with specialized equipment while they examine your home’s floor elevations with utmost care.
The inspection team documents all evidence of damage that they encounter, carefully making thorough notes of what they find. As part of the overall inspection, they carefully check crawl space and basement conditions to leave no possible problems behind when performing an inspection.
Imagine a foundation inspection as a check-up for your home. Like regular medical check-ups prevent severe disease, foundation inspections can catch problems before they escalate into full-blown structural issues.
Ready to get your house to stand the test of time? We’ll guide you through what you can expect from a foundation inspection with our professional team at Kansas City Foundation Repair Solutions.
What to Expect During a Foundation Inspection
A foundation specialist starts your inspection by conducting a comprehensive home exterior assessment. Using instruments such as a walking wheel, tape measure, and laser tape measure, they measure the exterior perimeter of your property with exactness.
Documenting Visible Signs
Your specialist carefully documents all visible signs of foundation issues through detailed photographs. They focus particularly on any cracks present in the walls and various foundation irregularities. In the process, they also closely inspect other structural issues that could suggest potential foundation problems. These visual records are extremely valuable as evidence of your foundation’s condition in its present state and indicate the optimal approach for the repair of it.
These measurements and photos contribute to creating a scaled CAD diagram – a detailed visual representation of your home that helps you understand the proposed repair plan.
Floor Elevation Assessment
The specialist uses a zip level altimeter to measure floor elevations throughout your home. This sophisticated device works by measuring vertical pressure between proprietary fluids sealed in its cord – similar to an electronic water level.
The Measurement Process:
- Identifying the most level part of your home as the zero benchmark
- Setting up the base unit at this point
- Taking measurements near exterior walls in each room
- Recording elevation variations across your home
For raised foundations, our specialist will perform a thorough crawl space examination to assess various elements beneath your home. They carefully inspect the support posts and foundation pads while evaluating the general crawl space condition. This comprehensive examination helps identify any structural weaknesses or damage that may affect your home’s foundation stability.
The specialist needs access to all rooms and exterior walls, though they can work around furniture and household items. They’ll mark affected areas on the CAD drawing and document findings with additional photographs for a comprehensive assessment.
Common Signs Indicating the Need for an Inspection
Your home gives off subtle signs when there are foundation problems. If you catch these warning signs early, you can avoid costly repairs later.
Key indicators of foundation problems include:
- Sloping or Uneven Floors: A noticeable tilt or dip in your flooring surfaces
- Drywall Cracks: Particularly around doorways, windows, or ceiling joints
- Leaning Chimneys: Any visible tilt or separation from the main structure
- Door and Window Issues: Difficulty in opening, closing, or windows that stick
These signs don’t always mean you have severe foundation damage, but a professional should look at them. Foundation problems rarely fix themselves – they usually get worse over time, leading to bigger and more costly repairs.
A free inspection from a qualified foundation specialist can determine whether these symptoms indicate serious structural issues. Prompt response prevents small problems from escalating into gigantic structural issues that may compromise the safety and worth of your house.
The Length and Result of an Inspection
A typical foundation inspection takes sixty to ninety minutes to complete. After inspecting your house carefully, our professional takes complete measurements of the exterior using walking wheels and laser tape measures. The process continues with precise floor elevation readings taken with specialized altimeter equipment.
Every room is then thoroughly examined, and, for houses with high foundation levels, extensive crawl space inspections are done. During the inspections, our experts identify key sections with extensive pictures to leave with a comprehensive picture of your foundation.
The results of your inspection are summarized in a detailed repair plan. Although some conditions enable our experts to make instant recommendations on site, you will usually have a detailed report within 24 hours of inspection.
Your Repair Plan Details
A comprehensive repair schedule will be made available that will feature a surveyed CAD plan of your home, along with accurate records of issue areas we’ve identified. Our professionals will document concise recommendations for necessary repairs, following what they have seen. The schedule also entails extensive photographic evidence to allow you to view and understand the current state of your foundation in order to help you better envision and appreciate what needs to be repaired.
Important: We will confirm your email address so that your detailed report will be in your inbox as soon as your inspection is complete.
This report is your guide document on how to know the work scope needed and help you make decisions pertaining to your foundation repairs.
Preparing for Your Foundation Inspection
Make your foundation inspection faster and more convenient with a clean, organized home. Read these steps on how to prepare your property:
Clear Access Points
- Remove items blocking exterior walls
- Create clear pathways to all rooms
- Ensure windows are accessible
- Move furniture away from walls where possible
Crawl Space Preparation
- Check that crawl space entries are unobstructed
- Remove stored items near access points
- Ensure adequate lighting is available
- Clear any debris around foundation walls
Additional Steps
- Document any areas of concern you’ve noticed
- Keep pets secured during the inspection
- Make sure all rooms are unlocked and accessible
- Remove valuable or fragile items from areas being inspected
Your foundation specialist will need to take measurements close to exterior walls and access various parts of your home. An open path enables them to conduct proper evaluations with their equipment, such as walking wheels, laser tape measures, and altimeters.
Remember: The less complicated it is for professionals to move around various parts of your house, the greater and more comprehensive your inspection will be.
Understanding the Repair Process After Inspection
Following your foundation inspection, you will receive a full repair plan via email. The informative report will feature a scaled CAD drawing of your home and written notes from the inspection. It will also give detailed repair suggestions specifically tailored to correct any defect revealed through the assessment.
Your repair strategy turns complex technical results into simple, straightforward answers. The CAD map is a visual chart that highlights problem areas and suggested solutions, defining the scope of work you need to know.
The repair guides focus on structural aspects with solutions to sloping floors and leaning chimneys, door and window sticking repairs at the entry points, as well as concrete cracks and drywall damage surface repair solutions. All repair designs are adjusted to the specific needs of your house for long-term stability.
Your repair plan converts intricate technical information into short, actionable answers. The CAD map functions as a visual road map that directs the user to impacted areas and proposed repairs – making it more intuitive to comprehend the amount of labor.
The repair recommendations address structural issues with solutions for problems like sloping floors and leaning chimneys, access point repairs for sticking windows and doors, and surface damage fixes for concrete cracks and drywall damage. Each repair plan is carefully designed to meet your home’s specific needs and ensure long-term stability.
Your repair plan transforms complex technical findings into clear, actionable solutions. The CAD diagram serves as a visual guide, highlighting affected areas and proposed fixes – making it easier for you to understand the scope of work needed.
The repair recommendations address:
- Structural Issues: Solutions for problems like sloping floors, leaning chimneys
- Access Points: Repairs for sticking windows and doors
- Surface Damage: Fixes for concrete cracks and drywall damage
We tailor every repair project to restore your home’s structural integrity while keeping costs in mind. Your foundation expert collaborates with our office staff and engineers to deliver solutions based on your home’s unique needs.
The sooner you fix issues with your foundation, the less challenging and expensive repairs will be. Foundation issues generally worsen over time, leading to more costly repairs and additional damage if neglected.
Select Level Up Foundation Repair
Your foundation is what keeps your house stable, secure, and worth money. Having a professional foundation inspection done gives you the peace of mind that you deserve, so they can find problems before they become costly repairs.
Don’t wait until you notice serious signs of foundation damage. Contact us now to safeguard your investment. Level Up Foundation Repair and Excavation’s experienced technicians are ready to give you a comprehensive examination and tailored solutions for your foundation requirements.
Ready to schedule your free foundation inspection? Call us at (816) 230-0101 or visit our website. With our proven expertise in foundation repair and maintenance, we can help you secure your home’s foundation and ensure your family’s safety.
