The #1 Mistake New Construction Buyers Make: Skipping the Foundation Elevation Survey

Howdy,

Most people assume a brand-new slab is automatically “perfect.” Brand-new home. Brand-new foundation. No worries… right?

In reality, some new construction foundations are poured already out of tolerance on day one. In the home above, our elevation survey found the left side of the house was roughly 2 inches higher than the middle of the slab — a serious structural red flag that a basic “walk-only” inspection would have completely missed.

That’s why I tell new construction buyers this:

What is a foundation elevation survey?

A foundation elevation survey is a set of floor height readings taken throughout the home using a precision instrument (we use a ZipLevel). Those numbers are plotted on a sketch of the floor plan to show how flat — or how out of level — the slab really is.

Instead of “it feels okay,” you get hard data:

• How many inches high or low each area is compared to a benchmark.
• Where the slab crowns, dips, or leans.
• Whether the foundation appears to be within typical tolerances for a new build.

3 reasons skipping this on new construction is a huge mistake

1. It catches bad slabs the day they’re poured

In the video above, the new foundation was already about 2 inches out of level. That’s not “normal settling.” That’s a slab that was poured out of tolerance.

Without an elevation survey, that home would have closed, furniture would have moved in, and small cracks would’ve been blamed on “just Houston clay.” Meanwhile, the real issue — the way the slab was poured — would go undocumented.

2. It creates a baseline for your 10-year structural warranty

A new construction foundation isn’t just about how it looks today — it’s about how it behaves over time. When we take elevation readings at final inspection and again at the builder warranty inspection, we can overlay the numbers and see what actually moved.

In the home above, the builder warranty inspection showed both visible damage and measurable movement compared to the original readings. That’s powerful leverage for a warranty claim — and for getting repairs done on the builder’s dime instead of yours.

3. It makes your inspection report actually usable later

Most new construction reports read like this: “No significant foundation concerns observed.” That may be true visually, but it doesn’t tell you how the slab was poured — or how it changes over time.

When you have an elevation survey:

• An engineer can review real numbers instead of guessing from photos.
• You can prove changes, not just “feel” them.
• Your inspection becomes a baseline document, not just a snapshot in time.

So why don’t most inspectors do foundation elevation surveys?

Short answer: it’s extra work — and most inspectors aren’t set up for it.

• They don’t own or know how to use the equipment. ZipLevels and detailed floor sketches aren’t part of the minimum TREC Standards of Practice, so many inspectors never learn them.
• It takes more time. Some inspectors are in and out of a new build in under an hour. We often spend more time on new construction than resale because it’s a brand-new product that needs real quality control.
• They’re worried about “foundation jargon” killing deals. Not every agent wants a detailed foundation analysis on a shiny new home, even though that’s exactly what protects the buyer.
• “What I don’t know can’t hurt me.” If they never measure the slab, they can’t be held to any numbers later. They simply follow the minimum SOP and move on.
• They don’t see the long-term value of a benchmark. To us, the baseline is everything. To them, it’s extra work they’re not being paid for.

How we handle new construction at Imperial Pro Inspection

New construction is not “just another inspection” for us. It’s a different animal — different standards, different expectations, and different tools.

Here’s how we approach it across Houston and Fort Bend County:

• Phase 1 – Pre-Pour: We spot-check levelness, site prep, and reinforcement before the concrete is ever placed.
• Phase 2 – Pre-Drywall: We perform a more detailed foundation elevation survey and document framing, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical rough-ins while everything is still exposed.
• Phase 3 – Final: We confirm performance, measure the slab again, and document any cosmetic or functional issues before closing.
• Builder Warranty Inspection: We return near the end of the builder warranty to re-measure and compare to the original baseline, catching early movement while the builder is still responsible.

All of this happens against the backdrop of expansive clay soils in places like Sugar Land, Richmond, Rosenberg, Katy, Missouri City, and Austin Point — some of the most active soils in Texas. If anywhere needs real numbers on new slabs, it’s here.

New construction without an elevation survey is a gamble

If you’re building or buying a new home and your inspector isn’t measuring the foundation, you’re taking a gamble you don’t need to take.

• You won’t know if the slab was poured out of level.
• You won’t have a baseline for your 10-year structural warranty.
• You won’t have numbers to give an engineer if problems show up later.

New construction inspections are already one of the best values in real estate. When you add a foundation elevation survey and follow-up measurements, that value doesn’t just protect closing day — it protects your future.

Bottom line: if your new construction inspector isn’t talking about foundation elevation surveys, you’re not getting everything you should be getting for your money.