Standard Foundation Inspections

(aka: checking the thing that holds your house up)

Let’s be honest—foundation inspections don’t exactly scream exciting. Nobody wakes up and says, “You know what I’m craving today? A deep dive into concrete and soil movement.”

But here’s the thing: your foundation is literally doing the heavy lifting, and a standard foundation inspection can save you a lot of money, stress, and surprise panic later.

So let’s break it down in plain English.

What is a standard foundation inspection?

A standard foundation inspection is a visual, non-invasive check of your home’s foundation and structural elements. The inspector is basically looking for signs that your house is moving in ways it shouldn’t.

This usually includes:

  • The foundation itself (slab, crawl space, or basement)
  • Interior and exterior walls
  • Floors, ceilings, doors, and windows
  • Visible cracks, separation, or unevenness
  • No drilling. No tearing up floors. No scary equipment. Just trained eyes and experience.

Why people get them (and why you probably should too)

Most people don’t get a foundation inspection for fun. They get one because something feels… off.

Common reasons:

  • Cracks in walls or ceilings that weren’t there before
  • Doors or windows sticking, slamming, or refusing to close
  • Sloping or bouncy floors
  • Gaps between walls and ceilings
  • You’re buying or selling a home
  • You just want peace of mind (very underrated)

Foundations can shift for totally normal reasons—soil movement, moisture changes, drainage issues—but catching problems early is the difference between a small fix and a five-figure repair.

What inspectors are actually looking for

Despite the name, inspectors aren’t just staring at concrete all day.

They’re looking for patterns:

  • Are cracks vertical, horizontal, or stair-step?
  • Are multiple areas showing movement or just one?
  • Do the interior symptoms match what’s happening outside?
  • Is the movement active or old and stable?
  • Not all cracks are bad. Some are purely cosmetic. A good inspector will tell you the difference instead of immediately yelling “FOUNDATION FAILURE” and running for the hills.

What a standard inspection does not include

This part matters!

A standard foundation inspection usually does not:

  • Include engineering calculations
  • Provide repair plans
  • Guarantee future performance
  • Replace a structural engineer’s report (if one is needed)

Think of it as a smart screening, not a full medical workup. If something serious pops up, the inspector may recommend an engineer for deeper analysis.

How long it takes and what you get

Most inspections take about 1–2 hours, depending on the size of the house and access.

Afterward, you’ll typically receive:

  • A written report
  • Photos of observed issues
  • A summary of findings
  • Recommendations (monitor, repair, or further evaluation)

This report is gold if you’re negotiating a home purchase or planning next steps.

The biggest myth: “If I look, I’ll have to fix it”

A lot of homeowners avoid inspections because they’re afraid of what they’ll find.

Here’s the reality:

  • Knowing doesn’t force you to fix anything
  • Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away
  • Small issues are way cheaper than big surprises
  • An inspection gives you options, not obligations.

Bottom line

A standard foundation inspection is one of those boring-but-brilliant moves that responsible homeowners make. It’s not flashy. It won’t make your house prettier. But it will tell you whether the most important part of your home is doing its job.