Spring & Fall Foundation Checklist
for Midwest Homeowners
A 15-minute walkthrough, twice a year, that catches problems before they become expensive. No tools required.
Catching Foundation Problems Early Saves Thousands
Most foundation damage does not happen overnight. It builds slowly over months and years — a crack widens a little each season, water finds a new path into the basement, the soil shifts a fraction of an inch further from the wall. By the time homeowners notice something obvious like a door that won't close or a visible bow in a basement wall, the repair bill is already significantly larger than it needed to be.
This checklist gives you a structured 15-minute walkthrough to do twice a year: once in spring after freeze-thaw cycles end, and once in fall before winter sets in. It covers every inspection point that matters — exterior grading, foundation walls, drainage, interior signs, and crawlspace conditions. It applies to homes across both the Kansas City metro and Des Moines metro, where expansive clay soils and harsh seasonal swings make foundations particularly vulnerable.
You do not need any specialized tools. You do not need any construction experience. You just need 15 minutes, a flashlight, and this page. If something looks wrong, you will know what to do about it.
Know Where to Look
This top-down view shows every inspection point around and inside a typical Midwest home. Walk the exterior first, then head inside.
Spring Checklist: After the Thaw
Spring is the most critical time to inspect your foundation. All winter long, the freeze-thaw cycle has been pushing and pulling at the soil around your home. Expanding ice lenses lift footings. Contracting soil opens gaps for water. When the snow melts, all that moisture needs somewhere to go — and if your grading, drainage, or waterproofing has any weakness at all, it will find it. Walk the exterior first, then head inside.
Exterior Walk-Around
Start at your front door and walk the entire perimeter of your home. Move slowly. Look at the ground, the foundation walls, and where other structures meet the foundation. This is where most problems first become visible, and it is also where the simplest preventive fixes — like re-grading soil or extending a downspout — can save you thousands in future foundation repair costs.
Interior Walk-Through
After you have walked the exterior, head inside. Start in the basement or lowest level and work your way through every room that sits on or near the foundation. Bring a flashlight — even finished basements can reveal clues if you know where to look. If your home has a crawlspace, check that last.
Fall Checklist: Before the Freeze
Fall is your last window to address problems before the ground freezes and the cycle starts again. Summer heat and drought can cause clay soil to shrink away from foundation walls, creating gaps that will fill with water and ice over winter. The goal of your fall inspection is to close vulnerabilities, document current conditions, and make sure your home's drainage and waterproofing systems are ready for the worst months of the year.
What to Do If You Find Something
Not everything you find during a walkthrough is an emergency. The key is knowing the difference between something to monitor, something to schedule, and something to act on right away. Here is how to triage your findings:
Monitor
Hairline cracks in poured concrete, minor efflorescence, small grading issues. Document with photos, measure crack widths, and check again in six months. These are common and usually cosmetic, but they can progress.
Schedule an Inspection
Cracks wider than 1/8 inch, doors or windows sticking, recurring water stains, marble rolls on basement floor, musty odors, settled concrete. These suggest active foundation or moisture issues. Schedule a free inspection within the next few weeks.
Call Now
Horizontal cracks in block walls, visible bowing or bulging walls, rapidly widening cracks, standing water in crawlspace, sump pump failure during rain. These are structural emergencies. Call (816) 656-6835 (KC) or (515) 444-9234 (DSM) immediately.
For a deeper dive into identifying and interpreting foundation cracks specifically, see our Foundation Crack Guide. It covers every type of crack — diagonal, horizontal, stair-step, vertical — what each one means, and when each one requires professional attention.
Common Foundation Crack Patterns & Severity
Frequently Asked Questions
Twice a year is the minimum — once in spring after freeze-thaw cycles end, and once in fall before the ground freezes again. If you notice sudden changes like new cracks, sticking doors, or water in your basement after a heavy rain, do a walkthrough immediately regardless of the season.
Hairline cracks (less than 1/16 inch) in poured concrete are usually cosmetic and caused by normal curing shrinkage. Cracks wider than 1/8 inch, horizontal cracks in block walls, or stair-step cracks in brick or block are signs of structural movement and should be evaluated by a professional. Any crack that is actively growing — even if it is still small — deserves attention.
This checklist is designed for homeowners to do themselves with no special tools. You are looking for visible warning signs, not making diagnoses. If your walkthrough turns up anything in the "concerning" or "urgent" category, that is when you bring in a professional for a proper structural inspection. Our inspections are always free.
Yes. Both metros share similar Midwest climate patterns — freeze-thaw cycles, heavy spring rainfall, hot summers, and expansive clay soils. The inspection points are the same whether your home sits on Johnson County clay or Des Moines glacial till. The only difference is timing: Des Moines typically has a later spring thaw and earlier fall freeze than Kansas City, so adjust your schedule by two to three weeks.
No special tools required. A flashlight for the basement and crawlspace, a tape measure or ruler to measure crack widths, a marble or small ball for the floor test, a bucket of water to test the sump pump, and a phone camera to document what you find. The entire walkthrough takes about 15 minutes.
Found Something on Your Checklist?
Schedule a Free Inspection.
A free inspection takes 45 minutes. We look at everything, explain what we find in plain English, and give you a written estimate. No pressure, no obligation.