Many structural or foundation engineers are uncomfortable having anyone besides themselves examine a home’s foundation if they are being asked to seal the report, recommendations, and plans. Because of this, when I was CEO of my company, Arizona Foundation Solutions, we developed an onsite foundation inspection process. Our engineer-trained  technicians could follow this process to eliminate errors. Below is a summary of how that process works. 

A Competent Onsite Foundation Inspection Process Requires Trained Technicians 

Our engineers at AZFS had expressed similar concerns as those mentioned above. This compelled us to develop methods to document the onsite conditions by employing technicians who are trained and overseen by the engineers themselves. 

The engineers were concerned about the X factor. This is the thing that is really important, and uniquely specific to a particular home that could easily be missed by a less knowledgeable set of eyes. As a result, after 10 years of experiencing the pain of those missed items, we included a requirement for procedures to cover and that each to be documented because Items that could be similar.

Consistency is Key

In training our technicians, the most important factor in our onsite foundation inspection process was consistency, as well as verification when identifying site conditions. Exactly how you go about getting that consistency and verification may vary because of regional soil differences and construction practices. But by following a process and with quality training, those differences can be factored in to avoid inconsistency, mistakes, or errors by the technicians.

The Foundations of Our Process

Wanting to streamline the onsite inspection process, we built software, hosted in the cloud. This was specifically for the purpose of collecting the data. Once the data was collected, the next challenge was accurately and efficiently getting the data from the technician to the engineer. 

Of course, we wanted the technicians out in the field helping as many customers as they could, spending all their time and focus on accurately documenting each building’s unique situation. The software provided a fast and efficient way to get the data collected by the technicians in the site inspection process to the engineers. Even better, it was in a format the engineers would be comfortable with. It greatly increased the confidence of the Engineer of Record by ensuring certain onsite facts were documented and nothing was skipped in the onsite foundation inspection process.

Extensive Training Built Trust for Our Engineers 

To train a technician, we put together a complete training manual for the onsite foundation inspection process that guided new employees through  4-6 weeks of training. This ensured that the sealing engineer would accurately receive everything they needed to provide their conclusions on the property to the customer, as well as their recommendations, repair plans (if needed), and specifications. On occasion, additional trips to gather additional data may be required if the EOR feels it is needed.

The First Steps in the Process

I’m going to use our site surveying process as an example of the steps taken by the technician. To eliminate potential for error we set out a very specific set of actions for the technician to follow in our onsite foundation process, almost like a recipe. 

1. The technician starts by sharing this process with the customer before the inspection even begins and inquires about the history of repairs and things like plumbing leaks. 
2. They then proceed to survey the entire structure and collect data on the size and condition of the building. The data collected includes drawing a scaled blueprint of the building, measuring the elevations of the foundation elements, and documenting signs of stress and other locations of interest through photos. 

Why Is This Part of the Onsite Foundation Inspection Process?

Our engineers felt much more comfortable processing photographic evidence, as the margin for error was much smaller than relying solely on the customers’ testimonials. It lets the engineers know exactly what they are dealing with, such as the type of construction used.  This data collection process is described in greater detail in the paragraphs below. 

A Brief Summary of the Technician’s Procedures in the Onsite Foundation Inspection Process

Part of the onsite foundation inspection process involved using a laser measuring tool. We would first take the interior measurements and draw up the blueprint of the bottom floor(s) of the building before fitting corners to outside jogs, etc. (it’s more accurate than starting from the outside). We then factored in doors, windows, and other similar items. 

Documenting anything that may impact the repairs of the foundation was a final step; including:

• Counters 
• Planter boxes
• Trees
• Closets
• Plumbing locations like sinks, bathtubs, and toilets

Again, Photographic Evidence is Paramount

These parts of the onsite foundation inspection process were then all documented with photos: 

• Check for rebar in the stem wall using a small pacometer (used later, to span calculations for permitting).
• Document attic access truss/rafter (to understand interior bearing walls).
• Document location of sewer cleanouts (to understand paths water might take to get beneath the foundation).
• Probe to find depth of footing (also probe at additions).
• Document the PT vs. conventional foundation type.
• Document monolithic vs. separate exterior slabs on PT foundations.

After this portion of the onsite foundation inspection process, the technician would set up a special water level called a manometer.

Starting at the front door for consistency, they  would then begin taking readings every 5-7 feet in both directions. Adjustments for floor coverings must be made. To increase the survey accuracy, if any adjacent locations in our 7-foot grid had a variance of more than .7 inches, the technician would take a reading at an additional point between them for accuracy.

The Onsite Foundation Inspection Process Continues…

Other parts of the onsite foundation inspection process that are always done to exacting standards: 

• Include a reading in garage stem walls and/or ceiling (the floor cannot be read since it slopes for drainage). We made sure to make  the garage the last room to examine.  
• Using specific icons noted on the plan (as identified in the legend) for various signs of stress.
• Take photos throughout the house in clockwise fashion. Both inside and out. Ensure that all signs of stress are photographed and numbered to match on floor plan. Also ensure they match up to noted signs on floor plan. 
• Make sure the plan is oriented with north at the top. Also use a compass pointed at magnetic north in the garage. Include exterior flatwork, pavers, A/C units, pool equipment and any other obstructions.

There is Even More to the Process

There are a number of additional procedures during the onsite foundation inspection process that need to be addressed, of course. This is only a sample of instructions for a slab-on-grade inspection. Basements, crawl spaces and other foundation types have their own set of procedures. The official documents are many pages long with many procedural steps, some of which are repetitive. 

I hope this was a helpful summary and overview of the onsite foundation inspection process we created. Using the extensive training we provided our technicians to help ensure accuracy and efficiency. In the end this work was worth it because it saved our customers headaches and money. My goal is that others will learn and do the same.

Look for my follow up blog, coming soon. In it I’ll cover additional data gathered offsite. You can also learn more in my book, Foundation Repair Secrets, available now on Amazon.