Safety first. If you see a wall moving, a ceiling sagging with water, cracks that open quickly, or water near electrical outlets or panels, leave the area and call emergency services, your utility company or a licensed professional right away.
General information only
The guides on this site explain common foundation, crawl space, basement water, damp and water-damage problems in general terms. They can help you decide how worried to be and what to ask a professional. They cannot tell you what is happening in your specific home, because that depends on the structure, soil, history and conditions that only an on-site inspection can assess.
No professional relationship
Reading this site, or contacting us, does not create an engineer-client or any other professional relationship. Our engineer doesn't review individual homes, photos or reports sent to us, and nothing on the site is a professional opinion about your property.
When to call a professional
Contact a licensed structural engineer, home inspector or qualified contractor in your area if any guide gives a "Call an engineer" verdict, if a problem is getting worse, or if you are unsure. For problems involving gas, electricity, asbestos or serious mold growth, use a specialist licensed for that work.
Cost ranges are estimates
Cost tables show typical ranges based on published data and real quotes. Your price can be higher or lower depending on your region, access, soil, the extent of the damage and the contractor. Always get written quotes before agreeing to work.
Standards and local rules
Building codes, permits and standards differ by country, state, province and city, and they change over time. Our guides refer to common standards such as the IRC, BRE Digest 251 and AS 2870, but your local building authority sets the rules that apply to your home.
DIY work
Where a guide describes a do-it-yourself step, follow the product instructions and basic safety practice, and stop if the job turns out to be bigger than described. You are responsible for any work you carry out.
Links and products
Some pages link to other websites or to products. We aren't responsible for the content of other sites. Product links are labeled, and we may earn a commission if you buy through them; see our advertising disclosure and terms of use for details.
Limitation of liability
We work hard to keep every guide accurate and current, but we can't guarantee that all information is complete or error-free. To the fullest extent the law allows, FoundationAnswers is not liable for any loss or damage that results from relying on information on this site.
For general guidance on foundations, damp and water damage, start from our homepage.