Zip Level Foundation Measurement

An upgraded add-on to your home inspection: floor elevation readings taken across the home with a ZipLevel, so you have numbers to go with our visual evaluation of the foundation.

ZipLevel reference base and handheld readout connected by a yellow hose on a light oak floor
ZipLevel reference base and readout set up for a floor survey

What a Zip Level Does

A ZipLevel is a hydrostatic altimeter. A reference base is set at a fixed point in the home and connected to a handheld readout by a fluid-filled hose. As we move the readout from point to point, it shows the elevation of each spot relative to that reference.

We take readings at many points across the slab, room by room, and record the differences. Together they map the high and low spots in the floors, which can help identify patterns associated with foundation movement.

ZipLevel reference base set along a wall on dark hardwood with the yellow hose running to the readout
The reference base stays put while the readout moves from point to point
ZipLevel reference base on slate tile with the yellow hose running across the living and kitchen area
The hose lets us take readings across open living and kitchen areas
ZipLevel handheld readout showing 0.00 at a survey point on gray tile
A reading of 0.00: this point is level with the reference
ZipLevel handheld readout showing -0.54 inches, a point lower than the reference, on a dark wood floor
A negative reading means this spot sits lower than the reference point

Why It Helps Buyers

What It Can’t Tell You

No slab is perfectly level when it is poured, so a single survey cannot show how much a foundation has moved over time. A Zip Level survey is not an engineering evaluation. If the readings or our visual findings suggest movement, we will recommend evaluation by a structural engineer.

Sample Floor Elevation Maps

After the survey, the readings are laid out on a simple outline of the floor plan. The black numbers along the walls are room dimensions in feet. The numbers inside the outline are floor elevations in inches above or below the reference point, which reads 0.0. A negative number means that spot is lower than the reference; a positive number means it is higher.

Highlighted numbers in orange or red mark the larger differences on that map. They show where a closer look by a structural engineer or foundation company may be worthwhile; they are not a verdict on their own.

Sample Zip Level floor elevation map with room dimensions in feet and readings from -0.7 to 0.0 inches relative to the 0.0 reference point
Small differences across the home, from -.7 to 0.0
Sample Zip Level floor elevation map with about 40 readings, all within roughly plus or minus 0.6 inches of the 0.0 reference point
A thorough survey with about 40 readings, all within roughly ±.6
Sample Zip Level floor elevation map with orange readings from -1.5 to -2.8 inches along one side of the home
Orange readings from -1.5 to -2.8 along one side of the home
Sample Zip Level floor elevation map with red readings from -1.5 to -2.0 inches at several perimeter areas
Red readings from -1.5 to -2.0 at several perimeter areas

Pricing and Ordering

Zip Level foundation measurement is an upgraded add-on to a full home inspection for $175. It is an optional upgrade, not part of the standard structural evaluation. See all add-ons on our pricing page. It can also be ordered on its own as a single-component inspection; mention it when you schedule or request a quote. It pairs naturally with our structural systems inspection.

Common Questions

Is the Zip Level survey included in a home inspection?

No. It is an upgraded add-on for $175, not part of the standard structural evaluation. Our standard inspection includes a visual evaluation of the foundation.

Can I order a Zip Level survey without a full inspection?

Yes. It can be ordered as a single-component inspection. Call or request a quote to set it up.

Does the survey tell me whether the foundation needs repair?

No. It measures relative floor elevations. Decisions about repair should come from a structural engineer, and the readings give them useful data to start with.

Who should I share the results with?

Many buyers share them with a structural engineer or a foundation repair company when getting further opinions during their option period.

Schedule Your Inspection

Add a Zip Level survey when you book online, or call (817) 454-1066 or email info@dragonflyinspections.com.

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