Foundation Inspection in Cleburne, TX
An independent engineer's written report on your foundation.
HGS Engineering, PLLC (Texas Firm #21268) is the engineering firm that does foundation inspections for homeowners in Cleburne, Texas. Heath Salmon, PE inspects residential foundations across North Texas, Cleburne and Johnson County included. He visits the property, records the conditions observed, and delivers a written report. The firm does not repair foundations, so the report is the whole product.
Reviewed by Heath Salmon, PE, October 16, 2026. Figures pulled October 16, 2026.
Cleburne by the Numbers
| Population, ACS 2019 to 2023 | 32,966 |
|---|---|
| Housing units | 12,232 |
| Median year homes were built | 1981 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 5,892 (48%) |
| Homes built before 1960 | 2,398 (19.6%) |
| Manufactured homes | 330 (2.7%) |
| Owner-occupied share of occupied homes | 59% |
| NOAA station used | Arlington Municipal Airport |
| Normal annual rainfall, 1991 to 2020 | 36.2 in |
| Wettest and driest month | October 4.72 in, August 1.68 in |
| Average July high and January low | 95.9 and 36.6 degrees F |
| Johnson County soils rated high or very high shrink-swell | 59.6% |
| Measure | Cleburne | Rank | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 12,232 | 11 of 11 | Fort Worth 365,229 |
| Median year built (1 = oldest) | 1981 | 1 of 11 | Cleburne 1981 |
| Share built before 1980 | 48% | 1 of 11 | Cleburne 48% |
| Manufactured home share | 2.7% | 4 of 11 | Mansfield 3.3% |
| Owner-occupied share | 59% | 4 of 11 | Mansfield 72% |
Method: Census counts are estimates with published margins of error; weather is the 1991 to 2020 normal at Arlington Municipal Airport.
What Do the Census Numbers Say About Homes in Cleburne?
Cleburne has the oldest housing of the eleven cities on this site. The Census median build year is 1981, and 5,892 of its 12,232 homes, 48%, were built before 1980. 2,398 homes, 19.6%, predate 1960.
The survey also counts 330 manufactured homes, 2.7% of housing units, and 6,624 owner-occupied households, 59% of those occupied.
What Does the Weather Record Add?
Cleburne has a municipal airport, but NOAA publishes no 1991 to 2020 normals for it, so the nearest station with published normals is Arlington Municipal Airport. That station is not in Cleburne, and its figures are a regional record: 36.2 inches of rain a year, October the wettest month at 4.72 inches and August the driest at 1.68.
What Does the Johnson County Soil Survey Say About a Cleburne Lot?
The USDA soil survey rates 59.6 percent of the rated acres in Johnson County high or very high in shrink-swell, and 21.9 percent are in the very high class. Crosstell (59,554 acres), Heiden (53,841 acres) and Sanger (37,196 acres) lead the high-rated soils. Clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry is what moves a slab, and in this county it covers most of the mapped ground.
Cleburne also has the oldest housing on this site, so those houses have lived through the county's dry spells for decades. The Drought Monitor shows some of Johnson County in severe drought or worse in 70 of 262 weeks since October 12, 2021, 47 of them in 2022, and 27 weeks with half or more of the county in extreme drought or worse. The report records what this house shows after that history.
County detail, with the named soils and the weekly drought record: Johnson County soil and drought data.
What Does Johnson County Add?
The firm takes inspection requests for homes in Cleburne and elsewhere in Johnson County. Send the property address through the inspection request form and it confirms availability for that address.
What About Soil Movement Around Cleburne?
HGS Engineering states in its own agreements and limitations that area soils are conducive to movement, expansion and contraction, which may move a foundation even after repairs. The same clause recommends consistent perimeter soil moisture. The inspection report ties that general statement to your house by recording what moved and what the drainage around it is doing.
How Do I Request an Inspection in Cleburne?
Use the inspection request form and include the property address. The firm answers by email, since HGS Engineering takes requests by email only, and confirms scope, quote and availability for that address. To see everything an inspection includes, read the full foundation inspection service page.
More From HGS Engineering
- Foundation Inspection: Foundation repair inspections by a licensed engineer.
- HUD Certification: HUD foundation certification for manufactured homes.
- Structural Design: Single-family, multi-family and commercial: foundations, framing, retaining walls and plot plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does a structural engineer foundation inspection in Cleburne, TX?
HGS Engineering, PLLC (Texas Firm #21268) does. Heath Salmon, PE, inspects residential foundations across North Texas from the firm's Arlington office, including homes in Cleburne and Johnson County. HGS does not perform or sell foundation repairs, so the written report is the only thing the firm delivers.
Does HGS Engineering serve Johnson County as well as Cleburne?
HGS Engineering's inspection service area is North Texas, and the firm takes inspection requests for homes in Cleburne and elsewhere in Johnson County. Send the property address through the inspection request form and the firm confirms availability for that address.
What does the foundation inspection report cover?
The written report documents the conditions observed at the time of the visit, any permitting requirements that would apply to indicated repair work, and drainage conditions that may be affecting the foundation. Recommendations are stated plainly and are not tied to a repair estimate or a specific contractor.
How much does a foundation inspection in Cleburne cost?
HGS Engineering does not publish a fixed inspection fee. The fee depends on the size of the structure, the foundation type and the number of structures on the property, so the firm quotes on request once it has the address and scope.
Is an engineer's inspection the same as a free inspection from a repair company?
No. A repair company inspects in order to sell repair work. HGS Engineering is an independent engineering firm that does not perform repairs, so the report records what the engineer observed and leaves the choice of contractor, or no repair at all, with the property owner.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 5-year table-based summary filePopulation, housing units, year built, tenure and manufactured home counts in the table (tables B01003, B25001, B25003, B25024, B25034, B25035).
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020 monthlyRainfall and temperature normals for the nearest station with a published record.
- Texas Board of Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors, Engineering Firm RegistrationThe firm registration number and the licensed engineer seal.
- Texas Section, American Society of Civil Engineers, Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations, Version 3Foundation evaluation practice, drainage away from the foundation and North Texas soil movement.
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