Foundations
Document width, orientation, moisture and change; inspect drainage, grading, frost, excavation and soils.
Structure and soils
A crack is not a diagnosis: read the movement around it
Width, orientation, change, displacement, water and deformation matter more than a single photo.
Important: A growing crack, displacement, deformation or bulging wall deserves professional evaluation even when the crack looks small.
Crawlspaces and supports
Inspect moisture, wood, posts, beams and bearings before covering with insulation or finishes.
Soils and frost
Durable repair addresses the movement mechanism, not just the visible crack.
Retaining walls and erosion
Watch tilt, bulging, drainage, soil loss and scour.
Underpinning
Underpinning, piles and excavation below foundations require design for the building and soil.
Intervention level
Green — homeowner
- Photos with ruler/date
- Check grading/drainage
- Track change
Yellow — caution
- Measure level/movement
- Inspect retaining wall
- Investigate supports
Red — professional / stop
- Rapidly growing crack
- Displacement/bulging
- Underpinning/excavation affecting stability
Official sources
Related path
Continue with the right tools
These links connect this page to the next useful checks and decisions without repeating the full content.
Plan a complete construction projectConnect feasibility, design, permits, concealed work, commissioning and closeout.Open →Check permit triggersPrepare the questions and documents to confirm with the local authority.Open →Check a contractorDocument licence, insurance, scope, payments, changes and warranties.Open →Update a construction costEscalate a historical cost using comparable index values.Open →Prepare pre-delivery reviewRecord documents, enclosure, systems, finishes and deficiencies before closeout.Open →
Tools related to this issue
Special check related to this project
V14
Systems to check before closing the work
V14 connects envelope, air, fire, structure, water and code instead of treating each project in isolation.
V15
Remaining system checks not to miss
V15 covers issues that can block a project, cause a loss or become expensive once concealed.
V16
Advanced diagnostics to cross-check
V16 connects water, soil, climate, safety, materials and seasonal use to existing projects.
V17
Specialized systems to cross-check
V17 completes gas, soil, water, fire, climate and structural interfaces.
V18
Specialized diagnostics to verify
V18 connects systems that become costly or regulated when a primary project triggers them.
V19
Edge systems to integrate into the project
V19 covers interfaces that become important when multiple home systems interact.
Legacy conditions and resilience systems
Check these before enclosing, excavating, modernizing or automating an existing system.
Advanced systems and special cases
Checks that change sequencing, risk or which professionals must be coordinated.
Hidden systems and critical interfaces
These checks target costly problems that often appear only after opening assemblies, conversions or changes of use.
Deep retrofit and envelope interfaces
Measure, sequence, drain, dry and verify interfaces before concealing work.
Building interfaces to diagnose before enclosure or replacement
These tools connect structure, water, air, frost, wind and mechanical systems so repairs do not hide the cause.
Hidden details to verify before repair or enclosure
These diagnostics separate simple maintenance from measurement-first and conditions where structure, fire or services require professional review.
V27
Project risks and overlooked interfaces
V27 connects payment, water, envelope, ventilation and jobsite details that often create costly surprises.
V28
Finish and service details to verify
V28 connects small details that become costly once finishes are closed.
V33
Invisible constraints before work
V33 checks electrical, legal, environmental and climate constraints that can block a project before demolition starts.
V34
Use, excavation and construction constraints
V34 connects use permits, soil, excavation, neighbouring structures and public-space logistics before hard-to-reverse work.
Hidden V50 interfaces
Checkpoints before an irreversible step
V41 helps stop at the right moment before placement, fabrication, ordering, concealment or installation.
- Before concrete placement: irreversible checkpoint
- Layout and elevation benchmark before foundation
- Product substitution: equivalent does not mean identical
- Shop drawings and submittals before fabrication
- Hidden conditions discovered after demolition
- Flatness, level, plumb and square before finishes
- Construction material storage and protection
- Material receiving before installation
- Roof deck after tear-off: inspect before membrane
- Owner-supplied materials: who is responsible for what?
Specialized systems not to overlook
V42 covers legacy, energy and envelope systems that can change the method or required professional.
- Legacy steam heating and cast-iron radiators
- MERV/HEPA air filtration without choking the system
- Legacy sewer lateral: camera, material and trenchless rehabilitation
- Copper pitting and pinhole leaks
- Door-to-door renovation sales: contract, 10 days and current prohibitions
- Electrification: actually decommission gas service
- Window security bars and egress
- Off-grid home and microgrid: energy, storage and islanding
- Building-integrated photovoltaics and solar shingles
- Foundation: dampproofing is not waterproofing
- Chimney flue liner and relining