Guide
How to Photograph a Foundation Crack for a Useful Enquiry
Which foundation crack photos should I send, and what can they actually show?
Take a room-wide context photo, a full-length view of the crack and a close-up with a ruler placed beside it. Record the date, wall location, any water and whether anything has changed. Photographs help explain what you see; they cannot confirm a cause, structural safety or the repair needed.
We are a referral service, not a contractor. There is currently no confirmed contractor partner. Your request reaches our enquiry team, not a booked contractor.
Published by Calgary Foundation Pros. Last updated October 13, 2026. This is general guidance for Calgary homeowners, not an engineering assessment of any specific property, and it is not a substitute for a professional engineer where one is warranted.
A tightly cropped crack photo often omits the information that makes an enquiry useful: where the crack is, what material surrounds it and whether water is present. A small, labelled set is more useful than dozens of disconnected images.
This guide is a documentation workflow for Calgary homeowners. It is separate from long-term crack monitoring and from deciding whether a crack is serious. Do not delay professional help for a rapidly changing condition while trying to complete the checklist.
Before taking photos
Only photograph from a place you can safely access. Do not remove finishes, reach behind appliances, climb into excavation or enter standing water to improve a shot. Hidden areas can be described as inaccessible; an incomplete record is preferable to creating another hazard.
Use ordinary room lighting and steady, well-focused images. Avoid filters, portrait blur and artificial image enhancement that can erase detail. Keep original files so dates and the unedited view remain available.
- Write the observation date and a simple location label, such as basement north wall beside the window.
- Remove personal documents from the frame; avoid people, security equipment and identifying valuables.
- Do not include a street address in the photo. The enquiry only needs a postal code.
The three-photo set
| Photo | What to include | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Context | Wall, nearby window or corner, and floor junction | Locates the crack and adjacent features |
| Full length | Visible beginning and end of the crack | Records its direction and path |
| Close-up | Sharp view with a millimetre ruler beside the opening | Provides scale at one visible location |
Capture direction and approximate location
Describe the crack as vertical, horizontal, diagonal or following masonry joints if that is what is visible. These are observations rather than diagnoses. A photograph may distort angles when the camera is tilted, so include a straight wall edge or other fixed reference where possible.
Note whether it is in a poured wall, block wall, basement floor, exposed footing or an interior finish. If the material is uncertain, say so. A drywall crack above a door and a concrete wall crack below a window are different observations even when they look similar in a close-up.
Show displacement without claiming a measurement
If one side appears offset, take a second angle that makes the offset visible. Describe it as apparent displacement, not proof that the wall is moving. Do not press on loose material or remove pieces to make the crack easier to see.
A ruler gives scale in the photograph only when it is near the same plane as the crack. Perspective, shadows and uneven surfaces can mislead. Leave precise movement and structural measurements to an appropriate professional.
Record water and timing separately
If moisture is visible, include a wider photo showing its apparent entry point and a close view of the wet area. Record whether it followed rain, snowmelt, plumbing use or an unknown event. Distinguish water you saw entering from a stain that was already there.
For a repeat event, keep a short dated log: weather, location, approximate affected area and what changed. Do not assume that every damp patch is a foundation leak; tracing the source remains part of the assessment.
Prepare the enquiry and keep your originals
You can send the enquiry without photographs. Calgary Foundation Pros provides free enquiry intake and currently has no confirmed contractor partner. Uploading images does not book an inspection or guarantee a diagnosis, quote, callback or referral.
- Select the clearest context, full-length and close-up images.
- Add a brief description of location, first observation and any change.
- State whether water is active, intermittent or absent.
- Mention earlier repairs and whether supporting documents exist.
- Use JPEG, PNG or WebP; our form accepts up to five files of 2 MB each.
- Keep originals and notes even if you resize copies for uploading.
Questions people actually ask
Can someone tell whether my foundation is safe from a photo?
No. Photos document visible features but do not show loads, hidden construction, soil conditions or the full extent of movement. An appropriate professional may need an on-site assessment, measurements and further investigation.
Should I fill the crack before photographing it?
Document the visible condition before cosmetic work where it is safe to do so. A surface patch may hide useful context. Ask the assessing professional what should remain visible and avoid attempting structural repair yourself.
Do I need to upload photos to request a review?
No. Photos are optional. A clear description, postal code, urgency and contact details can start an enquiry.
Want someone to look at your specific case?
Document your concern with a description, postal code and optional private photos. Your free preliminary review request reaches our enquiry team; it does not book a contractor or provide a diagnosis.
We are a referral service, not a contractor. There is currently no confirmed contractor partner. Your request reaches our enquiry team, not a booked contractor.