Call and describe what you see
Describe the cracks, the sticking doors or the sloping floor, and roughly when you first noticed them. Photos of the outside walls help a lot.
How Foundation Repair Works
From the first phone call to the final walk-through, here is what actually happens when an independent provider looks at an Arlington foundation, and what you should expect to be given at each stage.
- Referral Service
- Slab & Pier and Beam
- Residential & Commercial
From First Call to Final Walk-Through
Ask for an inspection
If a provider is available, they confirm the address and a time and ask for clear access to the outside walls, the crawl space hatch if there is one and any room with visible damage.
Read the findings and the quote
Ask for the floor measurements, the likely cause and a written scope. If piers are recommended, the quote should say where they go, how many and what type.
Work, then a final walk-through
Access points are backfilled and the site cleaned up, and you walk the house with the crew to see the finished levels and what to watch afterward.
Before the Appointment
Nothing needs preparing beyond access. Unlock side gates, move bins and furniture away from the outside walls, clear whatever is stacked on the crawl space hatch, and make sure the crew can walk the full perimeter. If you have photos of the cracks from a year or two ago, find them. A comparison over time is worth more than any single reading.
Do not patch cracks, caulk gaps or fill hollows under the slab in the week before an inspection. It hides the evidence and makes the measurements harder to interpret. And please do not try jacking anything yourself; lifting a house is done in small increments with the load properly supported at every stage.
Read what a foundation inspection covers, browse the full list of services, check the common questions or find your town in the service areas.
What You Should Be Given in Writing
The measurements
The floor elevation readings, so you have a dated record to compare against next year, whether or not you do any work now.
A marked plan
If piers are proposed, a drawing showing each position, the type and how depth will be determined on the day.
Any warranty terms
What is covered, for how long, what would void it and whether it transfers to a buyer. Ask for it before you sign, not after.
Call about a foundation inspection in Arlington
Start with the measurements. Everything else follows from those.