The foundation inspection for new construction offered by Buyer’s Inspection Service will give you peace of mind. It is designed to evaluate not only the foundation but other critical components of the build at a very specific phase. Many of these components will only be visible to inspect for a limited time before they are covered by concrete or back-fill soil as the construction moves forward.
This Inspection is performed prior to back filling soil after the concrete forms have been removed. The Inspector will want to see the sewer and drain lines.
When To Schedule Your Inspection
It is best to inspect when the most of the components are installed and readily visible to inspect. This is after the plumbing and drains are installed but before the slab is poured and before the foundation is back-filled. Foundation inspections may still be conducted before or after completion of these component installations, however, doing so will limit the scope of the inspection as some items may not be readily accessible.
It is best to give us a heads up a few weeks before the foundation will be needed and give us a tentative date, then a few days before it’s ready call us and let us know it’s nearly ready. In some cases there may only be a one or two day between when it’s ready and when the slab is poured, so we have to fit you in our schedule.
Foundation Types
In our area, we typically have three foundation types: Slab, Crawlspace and Basement. The items inspected will be only those applicable to your home’s design and structure. For example, a basement or crawlspace foundation will have components not present in a slab foundation. Each inspection will be specific to the foundation type of your build.
What We Inspect
We inspect all installed and readily visible components for a variety of conditions concerning material and/or installation defects. Below is a list of some items we may inspect if applicable, present and visible at the time of the inspection.
Site Conditions, Excavation, Concrete Footings, Poured Concrete Walls, Concrete and Block Piers, Block Walls, Anchor Bolts, Water Proofing, Perimeter Drains, Interior Drains, Sump Basket, Water Lines, Structural Steel, Gravel Base, Vapor Barrier, Rigid Insulation, Reinforcement Steel
