Foundation Inspection in New Braunfels, TX

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A foundation inspection in New Braunfels is either a repair company's evaluation, often offered at no charge, or a paid report from an independent Texas-licensed professional engineer. To get help, send a request with the form.

New Braunfels Foundation Co. is a referral website, not a foundation repair company. We send your request to one independent local foundation repair company. You never pay us; companies we refer you to may pay us for referrals.

Both kinds of inspection have a place. The difference is who's doing it and what you get at the end.

Contractor evaluation vs. engineer's report

	Repair company's evaluation	Independent engineer's report
Who does it	A representative of the foundation repair company	A Texas-licensed professional engineer (P.E.) you hire
Cost	Often no charge (This Old House)	About $340 to $780 (HomeAdvisor) or $200 to $400 (Thumbtack)
What you get	Usually floor measurements, a proposed pier plan and a price	A written opinion on whether the foundation has moved, the likely cause and what repair is needed
Sells repairs?	Yes	No
Best for	Getting a price for a repair you expect to need	Large jobs, home purchases, second opinions, disputes, and checking a repair afterward

HomeAdvisor notes that a structural engineer "has no vested interest in selling you a solution to your problem," which is the main reason to pay for one. HomeAdvisor suggests bringing the report to a repair company and asking what it will cost to do that fix. That also lets you compare bids for the same scope of work.

What an inspection looks at

Whoever does it, a foundation inspection usually covers:

Floor elevations. Readings taken around the house to map high and low areas.
Interior signs. Cracks in drywall and tile, doors that stick or swing, gaps at trim.
Exterior signs. Brick and mortar cracks, slab edge cracks, gaps between the soil and the slab.
Drainage. Where gutters discharge, how the soil slopes, whether water pools near the house.
Crawl space (pier and beam). Pier condition and spacing, beam and sill condition, moisture.
Plumbing history. Past leaks, and whether a plumbing test is recommended. New Braunfels companies quoted by Community Impact said hydrostatic sewer tests often find leaks under slabs.

The New Braunfels building official's warning signs are a good checklist to bring: uneven flooring, gaps between the ground and the foundation, broken tiles, and cracks in the soil, the foundation or interior walls. See the signs of foundation problems guide for more.

Engineers, titles and why it matters

Texas doesn't license foundation repair contractors statewide. The Texas Bankers Association notes there is no state-level licensing of contractors. Engineers are different: the Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors says state law bars anyone from using "engineer" as a professional title in Texas unless they hold a professional engineer's license from the Board.

If someone presents themselves as an engineer, ask for their P.E. license number and check it on the Board's website. If a repair plan is described as "engineer-designed," ask for the engineer's name and a sealed letter or drawing.

The City of New Braunfels already relies on engineers for some foundation work. Its residential addition checklist says that if an addition is larger than 500 square feet or requires a foundation repair, it needs a foundation plan sealed by a Texas professional engineer. The city's building official told Community Impact that in New Braunfels, "your foundation has to be designed by an engineer" who understands the soil conditions at the site.

When an independent engineer is worth it

The repair bid is large, or two companies disagree about what's needed.
You're buying a house with signs of movement or past repairs.
You're selling and want a clear record for buyers.
The house was repaired before and is moving again.
You want someone to confirm the work afterward. Ask whether the engineer offers a follow-up visit.

Inspections before buying a home

Before you buy a house in New Braunfels:

Ask the seller for any foundation repair records, the city permit and any warranty paperwork. The city requires a permit to repair a building, and "Foundation" is its own residential permit type.
If a warranty exists, ask whether it transfers to you and what the transfer requires.
Schedule any engineer's evaluation early enough to act on it during your option period.

What an inspection costs

Inspection	National range (checked October 2026)	Source
Repair company evaluation	Often no charge	This Old House
Structural engineer's foundation report	About $340 to $780	HomeAdvisor
Structural engineer's inspection	About $200 to $400 for a typical home	Thumbtack
Geotechnical soil report	About $500 to $3,000	This Old House

For what the repair itself costs, see the foundation repair cost guide.

Before you book

Ask what the evaluation includes and whether you get the floor measurements in writing.
Ask whether the company recommends an independent engineer, and whether it will work from one's report.
Ask whether any warranty on a resulting repair is transferable.

Related pages: slab foundation repair, house leveling, and the foundation repair FAQ.

Common questions

Is a free foundation inspection worth it?

It can be a useful first look. This Old House notes that foundation repair companies often provide free inspections. Remember that the company inspecting is also the company that would sell you the repair. For a large job, compare its findings with a second bid or an independent engineer's report.

How much does a foundation inspection cost?

National guides checked in October 2026 put a structural engineer's foundation report at about $340 to $780 (HomeAdvisor) or about $200 to $400 for a typical home (Thumbtack). A soil report from a geotechnical engineer costs more, about $500 to $3,000 (This Old House).

Should I get a foundation inspection before buying a home?

If the house shows any of the warning signs, or the seller disclosed past foundation work, yes. Ask the seller for the repair records, the permit and any warranty paperwork, and consider an independent engineer's evaluation before your option period ends.

Can a foundation repair salesperson call themselves an engineer?

Not in Texas unless they hold a professional engineer license. The Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors says state law bars using "engineer" as a professional title without a license from the Board. Ask for the license number and look it up on the Board's website.

Sources (9)

Last updated 2026-10-23