Property Foundation Inspections

The three common foundation types found in the United States are basements, crawlspaces and slab-on grade.

• Basement: an area below the first floor with a minimum height of 6 foot 8 inches.  Basement foundations have foundation walls placed on footings.
• Crawlspace: a shallow and uninhabitable area, between the soil and the first floor of the home.  A crawlspace usually extends below the frost line or to a stable substrate. Crawlspaces are generally constructed with foundation walls and footings, however, piers may be used when the crawlspace is above grade.
• Slab-on-grade: a concrete floor (slab) that is poured directly at grade (ground level) and acts as the first floor sub-surface. The slab is usually supported by a continuous (spread) footing, piers or piles and grade beams.

Foundations transfer the weight or load of the house to the footings.