Start with conditions, not a product
An evaluation on Charleston's soft ground has to look past the visible crack to what the pluff mud beneath the pier or slab has been doing for years, which is exactly the part a driveway-level glance misses.
Build a complete scope
- What was measured, and whether the ground is original or filled marsh
- Whether the structure is historic masonry, a raised pier house, or slab
- Whether the scale of work triggers floodplain elevation requirements
- Whether preservation review applies to anything that becomes visible
- Access on a constrained lot, restoration afterward, and warranty terms
Charleston evaluation context
Because so much of the low-lying city sits on fill or reclaimed marsh, an evaluation here often needs to trace back what the original ground looked like before anything was built on it.