Fillable checklist

Foundation Inspection Checklist: Crawl Space and Slab (Free Printable PDF)

Fillable visual foundation inspection for a US house: grade, crawl, basement, and slab. Print blank or save a filled PDF.

Inspections Fillable form · 8 sections · 52 checks Download filled or blank PDF and CSV Cross-checked against IRC, ASHI SOP, InterNACHI SOP, and EPA · Last verified Sep 1, 2026

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Fill this on screen, then download a PDF or CSV. Download a blank copy to complete by hand. Answers stay in this tab only. The next visitor sees a blank form. This is a visual foundation inspection of a US house: exterior grade and drainage, visible cracks and displacement, moisture, crawl-space piers and vents, basement walls and sump if present, and slab-on-grade edges. Mark N/A on stations the house does not have.

  • 8 sections
  • 52 checks
  • Blank for each visitor

Form details

Property

This is a visual template, not a licensed structural-engineer report and not a municipal code inspection. Adopted residential codes vary by state and city. InterNACHI and ASHI require stating the foundation type and the crawl-space access location and method.

9 fields
Property

InterNACHI 3.3 and ASHI section 3 ask you to describe the foundation type. Mark whole stations N/A if that house type is not present.

InterNACHI 3.3 and ASHI 3.1.D: state where you entered or viewed the crawl or basement. Write N/A on a slab-only house with no under-floor space.

ASHI 2026 text: inspectors are not required to enter a crawl with less than 30 inches of vertical and 30 inches of horizontal clearance, or an opening smaller than 18 by 24 inches. InterNACHI: do not enter if it is not readily accessible or looks unsafe. Record the method even when you stay out.

Dry, raining, or recent heavy rain. Moisture marks after a dry week are not the same as a wet-day seepage.

Inspection station

Site grade and drainage

Walk the soil, paving, gutters, and downspouts. Do not mark Pass or Fail from a slope percentage unless you actually measured it. IRC R401.3 is a model-code grade. ENERGY STAR and EPA use nearby but not identical numbers.

9 items
Site grade and drainage

Finished grade slopes away from foundation walls

IRC R401.3: lots shall drain surface water away from foundation walls, and the grade shall fall not fewer than 6 inches within the first 10 feet. ENERGY STAR and DOE BASC ask for at least 0.5 inch per foot for 10 feet. EPA remodeling text uses 1/2 to 1 inch per linear foot. Those are not one Pass/Fail pair. Mark Defect if water clearly runs toward the wall. Use Notes if you measured.

Finished grade slopes away from foundation walls: OK, Defect, or N/A

No low spots or standing water against the foundation

Look after rain or at stained soil, algae, and silt lines. EPA: do not let foundations stay wet. A settled backfill trench next to the wall is a common trap.

No low spots or standing water against the foundation: OK, Defect, or N/A

Drains or swales carry water away where a 10-foot fall is blocked

IRC R401.3 exception: where lot lines, walls, or other barriers prevent 6 inches of fall in 10 feet, drains or swales shall ensure drainage away from the structure. Mark N/A if a full 10-foot fall exists on every side.

Drains or swales carry water away where a 10-foot fall is blocked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Walks, patios, and driveways near the house slope away or have a drain

IRC R401.3: impervious surfaces within 10 feet of the foundation shall be sloped not less than 2 percent away from the building (about 1/4 inch per foot). EPA remodeling uses the same 1/4 inch per foot on driveways, sidewalks, and patios. Mark Defect if a slab dumps water at the wall.

Walks, patios, and driveways near the house slope away or have a drain: OK, Defect, or N/A

Gutters present, attached, and not overflowing at the wall

InterNACHI 3.1 inspects gutters and downspouts. EPA: basement water often comes from missing gutters or flow toward the house. Mark N/A if the house has no gutter system and roof water still clears the foundation.

Gutters present, attached, and not overflowing at the wall: OK, Defect, or N/A

Downspouts discharge away from the foundation

EPA remodeling: send downspout water away, discharging at least a few feet from the foundation. EPA Indoor airPLUS (new construction) asks sump and similar drainage to discharge at least 5 feet out or into an approved system. IRC does not state a downspout length. Do not invent a 5-foot Pass/Fail. Mark Defect if the outlet dumps at the wall.

Downspouts discharge away from the foundation: OK, Defect, or N/A

Splash blocks or extensions keep roof water off the backfill

A short elbow that ends in the settled trench next to the wall is a defect even if a gutter is present. Mark N/A if there are no gutters.

Splash blocks or extensions keep roof water off the backfill: OK, Defect, or N/A

Soil, mulch, and plantings not piled against siding or holding water at the wall

InterNACHI 3.2 and ASHI 4.1: inspect vegetation and grading where they may wet the structure. High mulch against wood siding is also a wood-to-soil issue on the exterior station.

Soil, mulch, and plantings not piled against siding or holding water at the wall: OK, Defect, or N/A

Retaining walls or steep slopes not directing water or soil at the house

InterNACHI and ASHI include retaining walls that can affect the building. Mark N/A if none are near the foundation. This is not a geotechnical review.

Retaining walls or steep slopes not directing water or soil at the house: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Exterior foundation walls

Walk every visible face: concrete, CMU, brick, stone, or wood. Describe cracks. Do not assign a crack-width Pass/Fail. InterNACHI is not required to judge structural adequacy. ASHI is not required to inspect footings.

9 items
Exterior foundation walls

Visible foundation wall type identified on all sides you can see

Concrete, concrete masonry, brick, stone, or wood. InterNACHI 3.3 and ASHI 3.1 ask you to describe the foundation. Note covered faces (stucco, finish grade, or decks) in Notes.

Visible foundation wall type identified on all sides you can see: OK, Defect, or N/A

No bowing, leaning, or offset of visible foundation walls

Look along the wall for a belly, a step at a crack, or a corner that has moved. InterNACHI requires reporting indications of possible foundation movement. This is visual only, not an engineer calculation.

No bowing, leaning, or offset of visible foundation walls: OK, Defect, or N/A

Cracks described: hairline, vertical, stair-step, or horizontal

Stair-step in masonry and long horizontal cracks in poured walls matter more than a single hairline shrinkage crack. No inspection SOP states a crack-width Pass/Fail. Write location, pattern, and whether the edges are offset in Notes.

Cracks described: hairline, vertical, stair-step, or horizontal: OK, Defect, or N/A

Concrete, brick, or mortar not heavily spalled or missing where water can enter

Look for loose faces, open joints, and honeycombing at grade. Cosmetic weathering without an open path can stay OK with a note.

Concrete, brick, or mortar not heavily spalled or missing where water can enter: OK, Defect, or N/A

Top of the foundation is above adjacent finished grade

IRC R404.1.6: concrete and masonry foundation walls shall extend above adjacent finished grade not less than 4 inches where masonry veneer is used and not less than 6 inches elsewhere. Soil or mulch covering the wall top is a defect. Do not treat those inches as a licensed inspection fail if local amendments differ.

Top of the foundation is above adjacent finished grade: OK, Defect, or N/A

Exterior wood siding, sheathing, or wall framing clear of soil

IRC R317 (WABO 2012 detail): untreated wood siding, sheathing, and wall framing need 6 inches to ground, or 2 inches above a patio, step, or similar slab. Less than that requires preservative-treated or naturally durable wood. Mark Defect for soil or mulch against untreated wood.

Exterior wood siding, sheathing, or wall framing clear of soil: OK, Defect, or N/A

No wood in contact with or near soil at the exterior

InterNACHI 3.3 requires reporting wood in contact with or near soil. Include lattice, stair stringers, and form boards left against the wall. Posts on soil belong here only if they are house structure, not a detached fence.

No wood in contact with or near soil at the exterior: OK, Defect, or N/A

Previous patches, steel, or parging noted and not failing

Old crack injection, sistered steel, or new parging is not automatically a defect. Mark Defect if the repair has reopened or rusted through. Describe what you see.

Previous patches, steel, or parging noted and not failing: OK, Defect, or N/A

House-to-addition or porch junctions show no large separation

A wide gap, a dropped porch, or a pulled ledger at the foundation line is a movement sign. Mark N/A if there is no addition or attached porch on a foundation.

House-to-addition or porch junctions show no large separation: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Crawl space

Mark every line N/A if the house has no crawl space. Do not reuse basement or slab lines here. Record access location and method in Property even if you do not enter.

11 items
Crawl space

Crawl access opening present and not blocked

IRC R408.4: floor access not smaller than 18 by 24 inches; perimeter-wall access not less than 16 by 24 inches. Wall access below grade needs an areaway of the same size and shall not sit under a door. InterNACHI and ASHI are not required to enter a blocked, unsafe, or undersized space. Write the opening size in Notes if you measured it.

Crawl access opening present and not blocked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Crawl entered, or reason for viewing from the opening only is recorded

ASHI 2026 text: not required to enter with less than 30 inches vertical and 30 inches horizontal clearance, or an opening smaller than 18 by 24 inches. The still-current ASHI text until that date used 24 inches of vertical clearance and 16 by 24 inches. InterNACHI: do not enter if it is unsafe or not readily accessible. Mark N/A only if there is no crawl.

Crawl entered, or reason for viewing from the opening only is recorded: OK, Defect, or N/A

Foundation vents present, open to the crawl, and not buried or blocked

IRC R408.2 (vented crawl): not less than 1 square foot of net vent area per 150 square feet of under-floor area, with one opening within 3 feet of each external corner. Coverings: least dimension not more than 1/4 inch. Mark N/A on an unvented crawl built to R408.3 (sealed vapor retarder plus mechanical exhaust, conditioned air, or a dehumidifier). Do not invent a vent-count Pass/Fail unless you measured net-free area.

Foundation vents present, open to the crawl, and not buried or blocked: OK, Defect, or N/A

Dirt floor has a ground cover (plastic or Class I vapor retarder) if the earth is exposed

EPA: put a plastic cover over dirt in crawl spaces. EPA remodeling: 6-mil poly, edges overlapped at least 12 inches. IRC R408.3 (unvented): continuous Class I retarder, joints overlapped 6 inches and sealed, edges at least 6 inches up the stem wall. Those overlap numbers are not the same. Report missing, torn, or rolled-up cover. Mark N/A on a concrete crawl floor.

Dirt floor has a ground cover (plastic or Class I vapor retarder) if the earth is exposed: OK, Defect, or N/A

No standing water, active seepage, or wet soil in the crawl

InterNACHI 3.3: report active water penetration. EPA: stop seepage into crawl spaces quickly. IRC R408.6: if groundwater can rise within 6 inches of the finished floor or the site does not drain, raise interior grade or provide an approved drain. Damp earth after a storm is a note, not a hidden code fail.

No standing water, active seepage, or wet soil in the crawl: OK, Defect, or N/A

Piers, posts, and columns bearing, reasonably plumb, and not decayed at the base

ASHI 3.1 includes columns and piers. Look for a post off its pad, a crushed shim, or wood sitting in soil. InterNACHI is not required to size or span-check the support system.

Piers, posts, and columns bearing, reasonably plumb, and not decayed at the base: OK, Defect, or N/A

Beams and girders bearing at ends and not heavily decayed or split

ASHI lists beams and girders under floor structure. Check bearing pockets and midspan supports you can reach. Do not calculate span.

Beams and girders bearing at ends and not heavily decayed or split: OK, Defect, or N/A

Mudsill or rim visible from the crawl: in place and not decayed

IRC R317: untreated wood framing on an exterior foundation wall needs 8 inches to exposed ground, or it must be treated or naturally durable. Joists closer than 18 inches, or girders closer than 12 inches, to exposed ground also need treated or durable wood. Report decay, insect galleries, or a missing plate where you expected one.

Mudsill or rim visible from the crawl: in place and not decayed: OK, Defect, or N/A

No wood-to-soil contact under the floor (form boards, debris, or settled grade)

InterNACHI: report wood in contact with or near soil. IRC R408.5: remove vegetation, organic material, and leftover wood forms from the under-floor grade. A joist in dirt is a defect even if vents are open.

No wood-to-soil contact under the floor (form boards, debris, or settled grade): OK, Defect, or N/A

Anchor bolts or straps visible at the mudsill, with nuts present if bolts are used

IRC R403.1.6 and AWC: typical model is 1/2-inch bolts, not more than 6 feet on center, at least two per plate, one within 12 inches (and not closer than seven bolt diameters) of each plate end, embedded at least 7 inches, nut and washer tight. InterNACHI 3.3.IV: inspectors are not required to identify size, spacing, or adequacy of foundation bolting. Mark N/A if the plate is hidden. Do not fail a house from one missing bolt you could not fully see.

Anchor bolts or straps visible at the mudsill, with nuts present if bolts are used: OK, Defect, or N/A

Crawl sump or interior drain, if present: cover in place, no sewage or standing flood

Mark N/A if none. InterNACHI is not required to operate a sump with an inaccessible float. EPA Indoor airPLUS (new work) asks sump discharge at least 5 feet from the foundation or into an approved system. That is not a visual Pass/Fail for an existing house.

Crawl sump or interior drain, if present: cover in place, no sewage or standing flood: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Basement

Mark every line N/A if the house has no basement. Do not repeat crawl vents, dirt-floor covers, or slab-edge lines here. Stored items may hide walls; InterNACHI is not required to move them.

11 items
Basement

Basement access usable; walls and floor not fully blocked from view

ASHI 4.1 includes basement exterior doors in the access list. Note finished rooms, storage, or insulation that hide the foundation. InterNACHI is not required to move stored items.

Basement access usable; walls and floor not fully blocked from view: OK, Defect, or N/A

Basement walls not bowed, leaning, or laterally displaced

Sight along unfinished walls. A horizontal crack with inward movement is more serious than a vertical shrinkage crack. This is not an engineered wall analysis.

Basement walls not bowed, leaning, or laterally displaced: OK, Defect, or N/A

Basement wall cracks described (vertical, stair-step, horizontal)

Same rule as the exterior: no SOP crack-width Pass/Fail. Write location and whether the crack is wet or offset. Hairline map cracking in a poured wall can stay OK with a note.

Basement wall cracks described (vertical, stair-step, horizontal): OK, Defect, or N/A

No active water penetration, damp walls, or wet floor

InterNACHI 3.3: report active water penetration. EPA: water can seep through basement floors; dry wet areas within 48 hours. Look at corners, the cove, and around windows. Old dry stains after a known repair can be a note rather than Defect if the wall is dry today.

No active water penetration, damp walls, or wet floor: OK, Defect, or N/A

No widespread efflorescence or salt crust on basement masonry or concrete

White powder is mineral left when water moves through the wall. Light, old deposits on an otherwise dry wall can be noted. Active, damp, or recurring crust is a moisture defect.

No widespread efflorescence or salt crust on basement masonry or concrete: OK, Defect, or N/A

Basement floor slab: no heave, wide open cracks, or standing water

Look at the slab you can see. Do not pull carpet. A control joint is not a defect by itself.

Basement floor slab: no heave, wide open cracks, or standing water: OK, Defect, or N/A

Sump pit, if present: liner intact, cover in place, no sewage in the pit

Mark N/A if there is no sump. InterNACHI is not required to operate a pump with an inaccessible float. Do not open a sealed sewage ejector here; that is a plumbing item.

Sump pit, if present: liner intact, cover in place, no sewage in the pit: OK, Defect, or N/A

Sump pump with an accessible float operates, if a pump is present

Lift the float only if it is reachable and safe. Mark N/A if there is no pump, or the float is boxed in. Discharge piping should leave the house; EPA Indoor airPLUS (new work) uses at least 5 feet from the foundation. Do not invent that distance as a fail on an older house.

Sump pump with an accessible float operates, if a pump is present: OK, Defect, or N/A

Window wells, if present: drain open, not holding water against the wall

Mark N/A if there are no wells. Standing water in a well wets the window and the wall. Covers help debris but are not an IRC Pass/Fail on this form.

Window wells, if present: drain open, not holding water against the wall: OK, Defect, or N/A

Wood furring, plates, or stairs not decayed from wall or floor moisture

IRC R317: wood furring on the interior of below-grade masonry or concrete needs an approved vapor retarder between wood and wall, unless the wood is otherwise protected. InterNACHI: report wood near soil or wet masonry. Mark N/A on a fully unfinished concrete basement with no wood.

Wood furring, plates, or stairs not decayed from wall or floor moisture: OK, Defect, or N/A

Sill or plate anchors visible on unfinished basement walls, if the plate can be seen

Same IRC R403.1.6 model as the crawl. InterNACHI does not require judging bolt spacing or adequacy. Mark N/A if the rim is covered by finish or insulation.

Sill or plate anchors visible on unfinished basement walls, if the plate can be seen: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Slab-on-grade

Mark every line N/A if the house has no slab-on-grade area. Do not repeat crawl vents or basement wall bowing here. Most of a living-area slab is hidden; use the garage, porches, and visible edges.

7 items
Slab-on-grade

Visible slab edges and garage slab inspected

Walk the perimeter and any attached garage. InterNACHI and ASHI do not require removing floor coverings. Note what you could not see.

Visible slab edges and garage slab inspected: OK, Defect, or N/A

Visible slab cracks described; no large vertical offset at the crack

Shrinkage cracks are common. A crack with a trip-height offset, or one that is wet, is a defect. No SOP states a width that fails a visual inspection.

Visible slab cracks described; no large vertical offset at the crack: OK, Defect, or N/A

No damp slab edge, musty carpet on concrete, or cupping wood at the slab

EPA: carpet on concrete can hold moisture. Look at garage corners, the living-area edge if exposed, and wood floors that cup at exterior walls. Do not pull glued flooring.

No damp slab edge, musty carpet on concrete, or cupping wood at the slab: OK, Defect, or N/A

Visible sole plate on the slab: in place, not decayed, capillary break or treated wood if you can see it

IRC R317: sills and sleepers on a slab in contact with the ground need treated or naturally durable wood, or an impervious moisture barrier under the plate. EPA Indoor airPLUS asks for a capillary break under new sill plates. Mark N/A if no plate is visible.

Visible sole plate on the slab: in place, not decayed, capillary break or treated wood if you can see it: OK, Defect, or N/A

Anchor bolts or straps visible at slab sole plates (often in the garage)

IRC R403.1.6: wood sole plates at exterior walls on monolithic slabs are anchored with 1/2-inch bolts at not more than 6 feet on center, or approved straps. InterNACHI is not required to verify spacing or adequacy. Mark N/A if finish hides the plate.

Anchor bolts or straps visible at slab sole plates (often in the garage): OK, Defect, or N/A

Control joints and the house-to-driveway joint do not hold water against the wall

A low garage apron or driveway joint that ponds at the plate is a drainage defect on the slab, not a crawl item.

Control joints and the house-to-driveway joint do not hold water against the wall: OK, Defect, or N/A

No obvious slab heave or settlement that has opened the wall-to-slab joint

Look at the garage floor-to-wall joint and any exposed living-area edge. Interior door and floor signs belong on the next station, not here.

No obvious slab heave or settlement that has opened the wall-to-slab joint: OK, Defect, or N/A

Inspection station

Interior movement signs

These lines apply to every house type. They are clues, not a structural calculation. InterNACHI 3.3 requires reporting indications of possible foundation movement such as sheetrock cracks, brick cracks, out-of-square door frames, and unlevel floors.

5 items
Interior movement signs

Doors and frames operate without new binding that suggests settlement

A door that sticks after a wet season, or a frame that is out of square, is a reportable sign. Seasonal wood swell alone can be a note. Mark several rooms, not one closet.

Doors and frames operate without new binding that suggests settlement: OK, Defect, or N/A

Floors in the rooms walked do not show an obvious slope or bounce at a support

Walk main rooms and hallways. InterNACHI lists unlevel floors as a movement indication. Do not invent a slope Pass/Fail (no SOP states inches per foot for this visual form).

Floors in the rooms walked do not show an obvious slope or bounce at a support: OK, Defect, or N/A

Drywall or plaster: no stair-step or opening cracks at windows and corners

Hairline finish cracks are common. Stair-step cracks over openings, or cracks that have been patched and reopened, belong in Notes as movement signs.

Drywall or plaster: no stair-step or opening cracks at windows and corners: OK, Defect, or N/A

Brick or masonry veneer cracks that line up with foundation movement

InterNACHI lists brick cracks among movement indications. Mark N/A on a house with no masonry veneer. Match what you saw on the exterior station.

Brick or masonry veneer cracks that line up with foundation movement: OK, Defect, or N/A

No cut, notched, or bored floor framing that looks like a structural or safety concern

InterNACHI 3.3: report cutting, notching, or boring that may present a structural or safety concern. Typical place: a crawl or basement joist under a bath or HVAC opening. Mark N/A if no framing is visible.

No cut, notched, or bored floor framing that looks like a structural or safety concern: OK, Defect, or N/A

Form details

Findings and sign-off

List every Defect line here. This worksheet is not a licensed inspection report, not a structural-engineer letter, and not an official code inspection.

5 fields
Findings and sign-off

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References

  1. InterNACHI Home Inspection Standards of Practice, section 3.2 Exterior and 3.3 Basement, Foundation, Crawl Space and Structure
  2. ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections, section 3 Structure and section 4 Exterior (2026 approved text)
  3. ASHI Standard of Practice (current page and implementation note)
  4. International Residential Code, Chapter 4 Foundations (R401.3 drainage, R403.1.6 anchorage, R404.1.6 height above grade, R405 drains, R406 dampproofing, R408 under-floor space)
  5. International Residential Code, R403.1.6 Foundation Anchorage
  6. American Wood Council, IRC sill-plate and sole-plate anchorage FAQ (R403.1.6)
  7. Washington Association of Building Officials, IRC R317 Protection Against Decay (wood-to-soil clearances)
  8. DOE Building America Solution Center, Final Grade Slopes Away from Foundation (IRC and ENERGY STAR grade)
  9. InterNACHI, Inspecting Foundation Drainage (IRC R405 and R401.3)
  10. InterNACHI, Inspecting Under-Floor Crawl Spaces (IRC R408 vents, access, vapor retarder)
  11. EPA, What are the main ways to control moisture in your home?
  12. EPA Mold Course Chapter 9, Prevention (keep foundations dry, dry wet areas within 48 hours)
  13. EPA, Addressing Indoor Environmental Concerns During Remodeling (grade, downspouts, 6-mil crawl cover)
  14. EPA Indoor airPLUS Version 1 Rev. 5, site and foundation drainage (sump discharge)

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These checklists are provided for general reference only. Always verify the steps against local codes, a licensed inspector or a qualified contractor before relying on them, especially for safety-critical work.