Slab Foundations

[Curtis Petty]

I had a customer to call on a new home wanting me to perform a inspecting to tell him if the foundation was level because his pool table would not level in the basement!I told him that sometime it is impossible to have a perfectly level slab foundation in certain area of the floor.I have seen many home in my area that are new and the slab is un-even,not level.In the future how would I address this issue?The method used on several home were 2x4 10' boards with a level,another method i was allowed to perform to show a customer was pouring a small amount of water in the unfinished basement and the water ran to a area a puddle.This is a serious issue one would be concern over.I try not to perform the methods because it raises alot of foundation concerns.My fellow inspector is this something you ever check?

[malban]

Unless the floor is so out of level that it perceptible when walked, it is beyond our scope to evaluate. Special equipment is availalble to check the floors, but is usually owned and employed by trained specialists.

A Google search will reveal more that you would ever need to know.

[sspradling]

Curtis,
Do you think a laser level would work for this? They are getting pretty inexpensive.
Stu

[jsiegfried]

Charge a little more for the service and use this http://edo1.vci.net/waterlevel/foundations.htm

Check E-bay for digital water levels.

[phinsperger]

Well that's a lot larger and more expensive than my marble

[sspradling]

Paul,
Did you just find that? I'm asking, because I think I've lost mine.
Stu

[jsiegfried]

How does your marble work on homes with raised/grade beam/mobile home foundations that have carpeted floors?

[lewens]

Use a bigger marble, something about the size of a baseball.

[Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI]

Originally Posted by jsiegfried

Charge a little more for the service and use this http://edo1.vci.net/waterlevel/foundations.htm

Check E-bay for digital water levels.

I have seen this product and how it works in Vegas ITA convention and this product is amazing.

Mario

[jlybolt]

Curtis, I would defer this type of inspection to a foundation specialist or engineer. Here in Central Texas we have expansive soils and it is common for foundations to move around. My opinion is by performing such tasks as poring a bucket of water is not accurate. If the client is concerned he should have a level two evaluation of the slab performed be a specialist or engineer which includes elevation measurements. I personally have a water level as shown on a previous post. I love it. I do use it on occassion to verify my findings but I always let the customer know that I am not a structural engineer and that I do not perforn elevation analysis. My measurements should only be used as a guide. Furthermore foundations can be poured out of level thus a rolling ball is not always such a great idea. Just inform the customer of the situation and get the monkey of your back. Just my two cents.

[Bruce A. King]

Originally Posted by cpetty

I had a customer to call on a new home wanting me to perform a inspecting to tell him if the foundation was level because his pool table would not level in the basement!

A pool table will level just fine on a crappy slab, its called shimming.

If it requires several inches of shims then it is obviously a very bad slab and he does not need anyone to tell him what he already knows.

I would stay far away from this client.

[Robert J. OConnor]

Originally Posted by jsiegfried

Charge a little more for the service and use this http://edo1.vci.net/waterlevel/foundations.htm

Hmmmm ... and what standards or basis for evaluating those measurements would you apply?

Can put you on a slippery slope, and then you are also not performing essentially a "visual" inspection using "normal operating controls and tools"

Be very careful anytime you are beyond/outside the SOP

JMO & 2-nickels ...