When calling in to schedule an inspection, or if you’re using our online scheduler, you may be wondering why we ask for the type of foundation that the home is built on. The main reasons are cost and length of the inspection appointment.
3 main types of foundations that we encounter:
- Concrete slab
- Crawlspace
- Stilt Foundation
The inspection of a concrete slab will be a visual inspection with the assistance of a zip level for digital measurements. The inspector will inspect the perimeter of the slab for deficiencies and also look for evidence of foundation issues while inspecting the walls and ceilings in the home. The zip level is used to check for discrepancies in height and sloping of the slab.
How does the type of foundation affect the cost of the inspection?
Homes built on pier and beam or block and beam foundations will often have a crawlspace under the home. Crawlspaces can be a bit more challenging as the inspector will attempt to enter the crawlspace to inspect underneath the home. However, the access must be large enough and there must be enough clearance for the inspector. We must take the inspector’s safety into account as well as the time that this will likely add to the length of the inspection appointment. If the inspector is unable to access the crawlspace and is limited to inspecting the perimeter of the foundation, they will notify our scheduling team and the cost of the inspection will be adjusted accordingly.
While stilt foundations will not be as labor intensive as a crawlspace, they do take longer than the inspection of a concrete slab. The inspector will examine the pilings for signs of wood rot and they will take time to visually inspect the foundation system underneath the home. This inspection takes longer because as you can imagine, the construction of the stilt foundation has more details that are visually accessible to the inspector than a concrete slab.
Our inspectors have extensive knowledge on all of these types of foundations. As with other major systems that are inspected, they may make the recommendation to have a foundation further evaluated by a specialist if they feel it is needed.