Des Moines Home Inspection: Foundation Terms Explained

Basement notes show up in almost every Central Iowa home inspection, because almost every house here has one. These are the terms you're likely to see and what they usually mean. Your inspector saw the house and is the best guide to your report; a foundation contractor or structural engineer can follow up on anything serious.

Walls and cracks

Shrinkage crack — A thin vertical crack in a poured wall from the concrete curing. Common; seal it if it leaks.

Horizontal crack — A crack running along a block wall, often from soil and frost pressure. Worth a prompt look. See bowing wall repair.

Deflection / bowing — The wall has moved inward from straight. The amount of movement decides the repair.

Step cracking — Cracks following mortar joints in block, often at corners, from settling or pressure.

Water

Efflorescence — White mineral deposits left where water moved through the wall and dried.

Seepage at the cove joint — Water entering where the floor meets the wall, the most common basement leak. See basement waterproofing.

Sump pit / sump pump — The pit and pump that collect and remove water from drain tile. Ask if it has a backup.

Negative grade — Soil sloping toward the house, sending water to the wall.

Other notes

Settled support post — A basement post that has sunk into the floor, often with a sagging beam above. See house leveling.

Window well without cover — An open well that fills with rain and snow.

How serious is it?

• Monitor: hairline shrinkage cracks, light efflorescence, minor grading.
• Fix soon: short downspouts, open window wells, a sump pump with no backup.
• Before closing: horizontal cracks, bowing walls, active leaks, sunken posts.

Iowa's clay-rich soils swell when wet and shrink in drought, which is why many Des Moines-area reports mention wall movement, so ask your inspector which notes need a specialist.

For inspectors and agents

You're welcome to link this page for clients. Related: reading a crack in your basement wall · frost and bowing basement walls · foundation inspections