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How to Inspect Your Property for Early Signs of Concrete Settlement
September 5, 20266 min read
A ten-minute walk around your Spokane home twice a year can catch settlement issues before they become expensive. Here's exactly what to look at — and what to write down.
Most concrete problems Spokane homeowners eventually pay to fix would have been much cheaper to catch early. A ten-minute walk around the property twice a year is usually enough.
When to Inspect
- Spring — after snowmelt, when winter damage is easiest to see. Pair with our spring concrete inspection checklist.
- Fall — before the first freeze, so you can address issues before winter locks them in. Pair with our fall maintenance checklist.
What to Bring
- Phone with camera (for year-over-year comparison photos)
- A ruler or tape measure
- A clipboard or notes app
- A garden hose (optional — to test drainage patterns)
The Walk-Around
1. Driveway
Look for offsets at the garage apron and control joints. Note any pooling near the house — see water pooling on driveway.
2. Front walk and steps
Look for vertical differences over ¼ inch — potential trip hazards (how to spot trip hazards).
3. Downspouts
Follow the water. Where does each downspout discharge? Any water landing near a slab is a warning sign — see downspouts and slab settlement.
4. Patio and pool deck
Look for slabs pulling away from the house or dropping at joints.
5. Garage floor
Check for cracks that widen year over year and for spots that hold water when the car drips.
6. Control joints and sealants
Any missing or degraded sealant should be flagged for reseal — see what are expansion joints and why do they matter?.
Write It Down
Photograph and date-stamp every problem area. Year-over-year comparisons are the single best way to tell whether something is moving or stable.
If anything is changing, request a free professional evaluation — early intervention is almost always cheaper than late.
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Lift it — don't replace it.
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