Foundation Inspection Checklist for Fort Wayne Homeowners

Start outside by walking the full perimeter of your home. You're looking at the visible portion of the foundation wall, the soil grade around the house, and any concrete flatwork (driveway, sidewalk, patio) near the foundation.

Foundation wall surface: Look for cracks, spalling (surface flaking), efflorescence (white chalky deposits), or areas where the concrete or block appears to be deteriorating. Note the crack direction — vertical, horizontal, diagonal, or stair-step — and photograph anything you find.

Soil grade: The ground should slope away from your house in all directions at a rate of at least 6 inches over the first 10 feet. If the grade is flat or slopes toward the foundation, water pools against the wall during rain. This is one of the most common contributors to basement moisture problems in Fort Wayne.

Downspout discharge: Every downspout should discharge at least 6 feet from the foundation. Downspouts that drain at the foundation wall are a leading cause of localized settlement and water intrusion. Check that extensions are intact and that the discharge point drains away from the house.

Concrete flatwork: Settled sections of driveway, patio, or sidewalk adjacent to the foundation can indicate soil settlement beneath both the flatwork and the foundation. Note any sections that have settled more than 1 inch relative to adjacent slabs.

The basement gives you a direct view of the foundation walls and floor. This is where the most useful diagnostic information lives.

Walls: Scan every wall with a flashlight. You're looking for cracks, staining, efflorescence, bowing or bulging, and any evidence of past water entry (rust stains, tide lines, mold). Pay particular attention to the corners and the wall-floor joint, which are common entry points for water.

Crack types to flag immediately: Horizontal cracks running across a block or poured concrete wall are a structural concern — the wall may be bowing inward from soil pressure. Stair-step cracks in block walls indicate differential settlement. Wide diagonal cracks (more than 1/4 inch) in poured concrete walls also warrant attention.

Floor: Look for cracks in the basement floor slab and for any areas that feel uneven or hollow when you walk over them. A hollow sound (tap with your foot) can indicate a void beneath the slab.

Sump pump: If you have a sump pump, verify it's operational and that the discharge line is clear. Note how often the pump runs during a normal rainstorm — excessive cycling may indicate increasing groundwater pressure.

Window wells: Basement window wells that are not draining properly can channel water directly against the foundation wall. Check that each well has functional drainage at the bottom and that the well liner is seated against the foundation.

Foundation movement often shows up first in the living spaces above before it's visible in the basement. Walk through the main floor and upper levels looking for these symptoms.

Doors and windows: Interior doors that stick, drag, or won't latch properly are a classic sign of foundation movement. If a door that used to swing freely now binds at the top corner, the frame has racked — which means the structure above has shifted. Note which doors are affected and whether the sticking is getting worse.

Floors: Use a marble or a level to check floor slope. A slope of more than 1 inch per 10 feet is worth investigating. Floors that bounce, feel soft, or have developed a noticeable slope where they were previously level are worth noting.

Walls and ceilings: Look for cracks in drywall, especially diagonal cracks running from the corners of door and window openings. These are common in homes with settling foundations. Cracks that are wide at one end and taper to nothing are more significant than uniform hairline cracks.

Gaps: Check for gaps between the wall and floor, between built-in cabinetry and the wall, or between crown molding and the ceiling. These can indicate the structure is pulling apart.

After completing the inspection, review your notes and photos. Most homeowners find a combination of minor items (normal hairline cracks, slight floor slope, a sticky door) and nothing that requires immediate attention. The value of the checklist is knowing what's normal for your house so you can spot changes over time.

Items that warrant a professional inspection: - Any horizontal crack in a basement wall - Visible inward bowing of a wall (even slight) - Stair-step cracks in block foundations - New water entry after previously dry conditions - Doors or windows that have recently started sticking when they didn't before - Floor slope that has noticeably changed

Items that can be monitored: - Hairline vertical cracks that have been stable for years - Minor efflorescence without active water entry - Slight floor slope that has not changed

We provide free foundation inspections for all Fort Wayne and Allen County homeowners. If you're uncertain about what you found, call us. We'll come out, assess everything you've documented, and give you an honest evaluation — no obligation to hire us.