Foundation Inspections

Know exactly where your foundation stands with detailed inspections and elevation surveys from licensed experts (Lic. #1092628) serving Southern California.

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Licensed & Insured

Licensed (Lic. #1092628), bonded, and fully insured professionals you can trust.

Detailed Reports

Elevation surveys, photos, and clear findings — not vague guesses.

Honest Assessments

Straight answers and only the repairs you actually need.

Professional Foundation Inspections

An inspection tells you what is really happening under your home — whether you are buying, selling, or watching a crack you are not sure about. Hollywood Contractor Corp is a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1092628) inspecting foundations across Los Angeles County. We check the visible foundation, the crawl space or slab, the drainage around the perimeter, and the signs inside the house: floor elevations, door and window alignment, and cracking patterns — then give you a written report with photos. A large share of our inspections end with us telling the homeowner that nothing needs doing, which is rather the point. You get the facts before you spend anything. See all our foundation repair services.

Inspector checking a sloping floor with a laser level and tape measure

When to Get a Foundation Inspection

Some situations make a foundation inspection well worth it. If any of these apply, it’s a smart time to have us take a look.

Buying or selling a home
New or growing cracks in walls or the slab
Uneven, sloping, or bouncy floors
Doors and windows that suddenly stick
After a significant earthquake
Before a major remodel or addition

What Our Foundation Inspection Covers

A real inspection looks at the whole picture — the foundation, the floors, and the conditions around your home that affect them.

Foundation walls, slab, and visible footings
A floor-to-floor elevation survey
Cracks, movement, and settlement patterns
Drainage and grading around the home
Crawl-space supports and moisture
Doors, windows, and interior symptoms

Inspector examining a foundation wall and taking notes on a tablet

A finished foundation inspection report and diagram on a clipboard

Your Foundation Inspection Report

You walk away with a clear, written report — not a sales pitch. Everything is documented so you know exactly where you stand.

Clear findings in plain language
Photos of any problem areas
A severity assessment for each issue
Recommended repairs, if any are needed
A transparent cost estimate
No pressure and no obligation

What We Check During a Foundation Inspection

A thorough inspection covers far more than a quick look at the concrete. Here’s what we evaluate on every foundation inspection.

Floor elevation survey — we measure relative floor heights to map how much the foundation has moved.
Foundation cracks — we assess the type, width, and direction of every crack.
Wall & structural movement — we check for leaning, bowing, and separation.

Drainage & grading — we look at how water moves around the foundation.
Crawl space & moisture — we inspect supports, posts, and signs of rot.
Doors & windows — we note sticking and gaps that reveal movement.

Our Foundation Inspection Process

A clear, predictable process means no surprises — just an honest, documented picture of your foundation.

Schedule Your Visit

Pick a time that works and we’ll come to you.

On-Site Inspection

We examine the foundation, floors, drainage, and crawl space.

Elevation Survey

We measure floor heights to map any settlement precisely.

Detailed Report

You get a clear written report with photos and recommendations.

Why Homeowners Choose Hollywood Contractor Corp

When you need answers about your foundation, you want an inspector who measures carefully, documents everything, and tells you the truth — even when the answer is “you’re fine.” Here’s what sets our inspections apart.

Licensed, bonded & insured (Lic. #1092628)
Detailed elevation surveys, not eyeballing
Clear written reports with photos
Honest, no-pressure recommendations

Decades of LA foundation experience
Local experts who know LA soil and codes
We can also handle any repairs you need
Hundreds of completed LA-area projects

How Much Does Foundation Inspection Cost?

Most foundation inspections for homeowners considering repair are free. Paid inspections apply where you need formal documentation.

Scope of work	Typical LA range	What it covers
Homeowner assessment	Free	Full visual inspection with findings explained on site and a written quote if work is needed.
Real-estate / pre-purchase	$350 – $800	Detailed written report with photos, suitable for negotiation during escrow.
Elevation survey	$300 – $700	Measured floor elevations across the home, mapped and documented.
Engineer’s report	$800 – $2,500	A licensed structural engineer’s stamped report, where one is required.
Insurance documentation	$400 – $1,000	Photographed, written findings prepared for an insurance claim.

If you simply want to know whether the crack you are looking at is a problem, that inspection costs nothing. Paid reports exist for when a third party — a buyer, an insurer, a lender — needs formal documentation.

When Is an Inspection Worth It?

An inspection is cheap relative to what it can reveal — but it is not always necessary. Here is a straight guide.

Get one now

Buying or selling a home
Cracks that have grown in the last year
Doors or windows that have started sticking
After significant seismic activity
Floors that have begun to slope or bounce
Standing water against the foundation

Probably can wait

Hairline cracks unchanged for years
A recent inspection with no findings
Cosmetic drywall cracks with no other symptoms
A newly built home under warranty
No change since you bought the property

If nothing has changed, monitoring is usually the sensible answer — and we will say so.

What an Inspection Covers

A proper inspection looks at the structure, what is under it, and what is happening around it — not just the visible cracks.

Option	Best for	Expected life	Relative cost
Visual foundation survey	All properties	Baseline	Included
Crawl space or slab check	Raised or slab foundations	Baseline	Included
Floor elevation measurement	Suspected settlement or slope	Quantified data	Included/paid
Drainage & grading review	Any water-related concern	Preventative	Included
Written photo report	Escrow, insurance, records	Documentation	Paid

The attic, the crawl space, and the perimeter soil tell you more than the cracks do. An inspection that only looks at cracks from inside the house is not an inspection.

What to Expect During the Project

A residential foundation inspection takes about 45 to 90 minutes. You get the findings before we leave.

Stage	Typical timing	What happens
Exterior walk	15–20 min	Perimeter foundation, grading, drainage, and visible cracking.
Interior assessment	15–20 min	Floor slope, door and window alignment, and cracking patterns inside.
Crawl space or slab	20–30 min	Supports, beams, moisture, and any evidence of movement underneath.
Findings discussion	10–15 min	We walk you through what we found, in plain language, on site.
Written report	1–3 days	Photos and findings documented where a written report was requested.

A significant share of our inspections conclude that nothing needs doing. That is a legitimate outcome, and you should be suspicious of any inspector who never reaches it.

How to Choose a Contractor

Foundation inspection work is largely invisible once it is finished, which is exactly why standards vary so widely. A few things reliably separate a proper job from an expensive patch.

Good signs

An active CSLB licence you can verify online
A written, itemised, fixed-price scope
They explain the cause, not just the fix
Realistic timelines rather than optimistic ones
A workmanship warranty in writing
They enter the crawl space or examine the slab properly
They are willing to tell you nothing is wrong

Warning signs

A quote given without a proper site visit
Pressure to sign today for a discount
Large cash deposits up front
The same solution proposed for every home
Vague allowances instead of fixed pricing
An inspection that always concludes major repair is needed

Hollywood Contractor Corp holds CSLB licence #1092628 — verify it, and any contractor you are considering, with the California State License Board.

Foundation Inspection FAQs

How much does a foundation inspection cost?

For most homeowners considering repairs, we offer a free on-site foundation inspection and quote. More involved engineering-level evaluations or detailed reports for a real estate transaction may carry a fee, which we’ll quote upfront. Either way, you’ll know the cost before we begin.

What does a foundation inspection include?

Our inspection covers the foundation walls and slab, a floor elevation survey, every visible crack, drainage and grading around the home, the crawl space and its supports, and interior symptoms like sticking doors and wall cracks. You receive a written report with photos and clear recommendations.

How long does a foundation inspection take?

Most residential foundation inspections take about one to two hours on site, depending on the size of the home and whether there’s a crawl space. We take the time to measure and document properly rather than rushing.

Do I need a foundation inspection before buying or selling a home?

It’s highly recommended. For buyers, an inspection reveals any hidden foundation issues before you commit. For sellers, documenting a sound foundation — or repairing and disclosing known issues — protects your sale price and builds buyer confidence.

When will I get my inspection report?

In most cases we review the key findings with you on site, and you receive the written report with photos shortly after. We’ll let you know the exact turnaround when we schedule your visit.

Should I get my foundation inspected after an earthquake?

Yes. Even moderate earthquakes can shift foundations and open new cracks. A post-earthquake inspection catches movement early, before it becomes a larger and more expensive structural problem.

Do you also do the repairs, or just inspections?

Both. We provide honest inspections and, if repairs are needed, we can handle them — from crack repair and leveling to piers and drainage. There’s no obligation, and if your foundation is sound we’ll tell you so.

How often should I have my foundation inspected?

For most homes, every few years is plenty — or any time you notice new cracks, sticking doors, or uneven floors, after a major earthquake, or before a remodel. Older homes and those on expansive clay soil benefit from more regular checks.

What Our Customers Say

Don’t just take our word for it — here’s what homeowners say about working with Hollywood Contractor Corp.

Want Peace of Mind About Your Foundation?

Schedule a foundation inspection today. We’ll measure, document, and explain exactly where your foundation stands — with no pressure and no obligation.

Call (818) 264-1955