Rock vs clay
Piers stop at shallow limestone on some west-side lots and run deeper in eastern clay.
01What gets measured
An inspector or contractor records floor elevations room by room, notes crack patterns inside and out, checks doors and windows for racking, and looks at the soil, grading and gutters around the house. On raised homes they crawl under the floor to look at pads, beams and moisture.
02Contractor evaluation or engineer report
A contractor evaluation is often low cost and leads to a repair proposal. A licensed structural engineer's report is independent of any sale and is what lenders, buyers and insurers trust most. For a real estate deal or a large repair, the engineer's report is worth the fee.
03After the inspection
If repair is needed, the findings point to slab foundation repair, raised floor work or simply drainage correction.