Foundation Inspection Services in St. Albert
A large share of St. Albert's houses went up in the 1960s and 70s, which means most of the basements I look at here are fifty years into their working life — long enough for the ground, the trees and the original drainage to have had their say. I come, I look, I write it down — 45 to 90 minutes on site, then a report inside 48 hours with a photo against every finding. I don't quote or carry out repair work on any property I inspect.
Why St. Albert Basements Read Differently
St. Albert grew up around the Sturgeon River, and the town's shape still follows it. Lots in Braeside, Grandin and Lacombe Park sit on rolling ground rather than the flat prairie you get further south, so grading, retaining walls and where the water actually goes matter more here than they do in a newer, flatter subdivision.
On a typical St. Albert inspection the things that come up most are:
- Mature trees close to the house — fifty-year-old spruce and poplar draw a lot of moisture out of clay soil in a dry summer
- Grading that has settled flat — original slope away from the wall often disappears over decades of landscaping and re-sodding
- Original weeping tile on 1960s and 70s homes that has never been inspected or replaced
- Finished basements from renovations that cover the walls I most need to see — I'll tell you exactly what I could and couldn't access
St. Albert Neighbourhoods I Serve
Anywhere in St. Albert. A modest travel fee may apply outside Edmonton — I'll confirm the exact price before you book.
What I Do on a St. Albert Inspection
Outside, With the Trees in Mind
- Perimeter walkaround and grade check
- Tree and shrub proximity to the wall
- Downspouts, splash blocks, window wells
- Parging and frost damage at grade
Inside the Basement
- Crack mapping wall by wall
- Floor level readings across the slab
- Older beam and post bearing points
- Staining, efflorescence, past water entry
What You Receive
- Written summary in plain language
- Photos matched to each finding
- What to monitor vs. what to act on
- Written report within 48 hours
What this is, and isn't. This is an observational inspection: I record what is visible and accessible on the day and tell you what concerns me. I am not a professional engineer, and I don't issue engineering reports or certifications. If something I find needs an engineer, I'll say so in the report rather than guess.
St. Albert Foundation Inspection Questions
There's a big spruce three metres from my basement wall. Is that a problem?
Not automatically. Large trees pull moisture out of clay soil, and in a dry summer that can shrink the ground under a footing. What matters is whether the house is showing movement that lines up with where the tree is. I look at the two together instead of blaming the tree on sight.
My house was built in 1972. Should I expect bad news?
Usually not. Most homes of that vintage in St. Albert have settled into their permanent shape decades ago, and the cracks you can see are old and stable. What I'm actually checking is whether anything is still moving — that's a different question from whether anything is cracked.
What does it cost, and is there a charge to come out to St. Albert?
$129 for a condo or townhouse, $179 for a single family home, $249 for a large or complex one. A modest travel fee may apply outside Edmonton — I'll confirm the exact total before you book, so nothing changes on the day.
What do I actually get for the fee that a quick look doesn't give me?
Time and a document. I'm in the house for 45 to 90 minutes: floor levels measured room to room, every crack mapped and described, grade and downspouts checked on all four sides. Within 48 hours you get that in writing, with a photo against each finding and a plain monitor / act / escalate call on every one — a record you can hand to a lawyer, an insurer, a buyer or a contractor. A fifteen-minute walkthrough doesn't produce any of that.
Do you do the repairs if I need them?
I don't quote or carry out repair work on any property I inspect. If work is needed, you take the report and get your own quotes — and having written findings with photos means you can put the same document in front of two or three contractors and compare like for like.
Schedule Your St. Albert Foundation Inspection
45-90 minutes on site • Photo-documented report in 48 hours • Typically same-week availability
$129 condo/townhouse • $179 single family • $249 large or complex. A modest travel fee may apply outside Edmonton — I'll confirm the exact price before you book.
