The structural integrity of your home rests – literally – on the stability of its foundation. That makes foundation trouble serious business. Unfortunately, foundation repair in Kansas City isn’t cheap. In some cases, repairing a foundation can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and your insurance probably won’t cover the repair cost unless a natural disaster causes the problem. To make sure that your foundation stays stable, contact our Kansas City foundation inspection company.
Catch Foundation Problems Early, Spend Less on Repairs
Fortunately, foundation problems still in their early stages are less expensive to repair. That means you can save money by proactively scheduling routine foundation inspections and foundation repair estimates with our Kansas City contractors. That will help you spot foundation issues early before they turn into big problems that will cost you a lot of money to fix.
What is a Foundation Inspection?
A home foundation inspection is when an experienced, licensed foundation repair contractor inspects your home’s foundation to make sure it’s structurally sound. When you hire KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair, our team of experts will look inside and outside your home for signs of foundation issues.
When Do You Need A Foundation Inspection?
You need to have your home’s foundation inspected if you’ve spotted:
- Wall cracks. These could be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
- Stair step cracks in brick or masonry
- Floor cracks, especially wall-to-wall floor cracks
- Bowed basement wall
- Wet basement
- Problems with doors and windows
- Sloped floor
- Gaps between the crown molding or baseboard and the wall
- Gaps between the walls and the floor or ceiling
- Torn or wrinkled wallpaper
- Rotated walls
- A chimney or porch that’s pulling away from the house
You also need a foundation inspection after an earthquake, a flood, or other natural disasters. A foundation inspection is also necessary if you’re buying or selling a home. If you’re buying a home, you’ll know if any repairs are necessary, and you’ll be able to figure that amount into your offer. If you’re selling a home, a foundation inspection could show the buyer that the home is sound.
Two Types of Foundation Inspections
We provide two distinct foundation inspection options tailored to the level of insight you need about your foundation’s condition. If you’re noticing clear signs of foundation problems, our complimentary foundation inspection is likely the best fit. However, if you’re unsure about potential issues and prefer a comprehensive assessment of your foundation’s health, our Benchmark Foundation Inspection is the ideal choice. Below, we’ve detailed the key differences between these two inspection services.
Document the Health of Your Home’s Foundation With a KC Waterproofing Benchmark Report
A KC Waterproofing Benchmark Report is an in-depth, detailed foundation inspection that allows you to document the health of your home’s foundation at the time of inspection. A KC Waterproofing Benchmark Report allows you to compare the results of future foundation inspections to the Benchmark Report to know if your home is experiencing settlement and how much.
You Will Save Money on Repair Costs Because Our Benchmark Report Helps You Catch Foundation Problems Early
A Benchmark Report allows the proactive homeowner to monitor what’s happening with their foundation and, if necessary, take steps to prevent minor foundation issues from turning into big problems that are expensive to repair. Our foundation inspection company in Kansas City across KS and MO recommends a Benchmark Report for all new homeowners because it allows you to take a “snapshot” of your foundation’s health. You’ll know exactly where things stand at the time of the report.
What’s included in a Benchmark Report?
Our foundation Benchmark Report includes:
- A topographical map of your home (See the images below)
- A floor elevation survey (We include wall measurements as well for an extra fee.)
- Photos
- A post-inspection report, along with any repair recommendations and estimates, if necessary
- Discount on future repairs with KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair
- Priority service for all Benchmark Report customers
A KC Waterproofing Benchmark Report foundation inspection typically takes 2-3 hours depending on the size of the home and will vary somewhat depending on the type of foundation. Below are screenshots from an actual Benchmark Report. Here’s a breakdown: We completed the first Benchmark Report for this customer on November 12, 2020, using 21 data points to document foundation settlement. The red areas indicate more severe settlement.
On November 12, 2020, we found 3.3 inches of settlement in the area located in the upper left on the topographical map (Survey 1). When we went back to the property over a year later, on December 28, 2021 (Survey 2), we found that the ground in that area had lifted (possibly due to increased rainfall), and now there was only 2.70 inches of settlement.
The purple map indicates the difference between the data points on 11/12/20 and those taken a little over a year later on 12/28/21 . A Benchmark Report enables homeowners to monitor what’s happening and to spot seasonal changes with their foundation. This helps them make the right decision on when to repair and what to repair.
