Foundation Inspection in Mansfield, TX
An independent engineer's written report on your foundation.
HGS Engineering, PLLC (Texas Firm #21268) does structural engineer foundation inspections for homeowners in Mansfield, Texas. The report that comes back carries the seal of Heath Salmon, PE. No repair is sold with it. Mansfield is the newest housing market of the eleven cities on this site, with a median build year of 2004, and 72% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Reviewed by Heath Salmon, PE, October 16, 2026. Figures pulled October 16, 2026.
Mansfield by the Numbers
| Population, ACS 2019 to 2023 | 75,398 |
|---|---|
| Housing units | 25,978 |
| Median year homes were built | 2004 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 2,121 (8%) |
| Homes built before 1960 | 560 (2.2%) |
| Manufactured homes | 858 (3.3%) |
| Owner-occupied share of occupied homes | 72% |
| 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 |
| Tarrant County soils rated high or very high shrink-swell | 54.2% |
| Measure | Mansfield | Rank | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing units | 25,978 | 7 of 11 | Fort Worth 365,229 |
| Median year built (1 = oldest) | 2004 | 11 of 11 | Cleburne 1981 |
| Share built before 1980 | 8% | 11 of 11 | Cleburne 48% |
| Manufactured home share | 3.3% | 1 of 11 | Mansfield 3.3% |
| Owner-occupied share | 72% | 1 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.
How Does a 2004 Median Year Change the Mansfield Question?
The Census puts 92% of Mansfield's 25,978 homes at 1980 or later and only 2,121 before then. The median build year is four years later than the next newest city on this site, so the foundation questions here are about early settlement and drainage on fresh grading.
Homeownership is the highest of the eleven cities, 17,954 of the occupied homes or 72%. An owner living in a house they bought new asks the engineer whether a crack is cosmetic, and the report answers by describing the crack, where it sits on the house and whether it relates to the foundation.
858 manufactured homes are counted in Mansfield, 3.3% of housing. That is the highest share of any city on this site, which may surprise a reader who thinks of the city as newer subdivisions.
Why Does Downspout Placement Matter Where October Brings 4.72 Inches?
Mansfield shares the Arlington Municipal Airport record with Arlington: 36.2 inches of rain a year, October wettest at 4.72 inches and August driest at 1.68. New neighborhoods have little mature landscaping to buffer that swing, so a downspout that dumps beside the slab matters more than it would on an older, shaded lot.
Mansfield Lots on Tarrant County Clay: What the Soil Survey Says
Mansfield falls under Tarrant County in the USDA survey: 54.2 percent of rated acres are high or very high in shrink-swell, with Sanger (54,050 acres), Crosstell (31,042 acres) and Frio (20,152 acres) the three largest high-rated soils. New grading over clay of that kind makes drainage a standard part of the report.
A Mansfield house built around 2004 is roughly two decades old. The county drought record since October 12, 2021 shows some land in severe drought in 74 of 262 weeks, 43 of them in 2022. Any settlement in a house this new is settlement in its first cycles, and the report records where it stands.
County detail, with the named soils and the weekly drought record: Tarrant County soil and drought data.
What Does an Engineer Check on a House This New?
The visit on a newer house is shorter on history and longer on grading, gutters, downspout discharge and the first signs of movement. The report lists drainage items apart from structural findings, so a builder asked to fix a grading problem does not receive a report that blames the slab.
Because the firm does no repairs, it can write that a newer house needs nothing. That is a legitimate finding and the report states it in plain words.
Mansfield's 25,978 homes house 75,398 people, and the 23,857 built since 1980 are nearly the whole stock. Send the property address, and any documents you hold on the house, with the inspection request. The report then records what is on the ground on the day of the visit.
“Heath was very knowledgeable and saved us thousands over what foundation companies were recommending. We will refer him to friends and family as well as use him for our future needs.”
Michelle Guzman, Google review. Reviewer location not stated.
What Does a New-Home Owner in Mansfield Get Written Down?
For a house this new the record also serves as a baseline: the conditions as observed on the day of the visit and the drainage around the house. The firm quotes no repair, since it does none. See the foundation inspection page or use the request form.
More From HGS Engineering
- Foundation Inspection: Foundation repair inspections by a licensed engineer.
- Structural Design: Single-family, multi-family and commercial: foundations, framing, retaining walls and plot plans.
- Retaining Walls: Retaining wall design and evaluation.
- Also in Tarrant County: Arlington, TX
- Also in Tarrant County: Fort Worth, TX
- Also in Tarrant County: Grapevine, TX
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does a structural engineer foundation inspection in Mansfield, TX?
HGS Engineering, PLLC, Texas Firm #21268. Heath Salmon, PE, makes the visit and signs the report, and the firm does no repair work.
Do new Mansfield homes need a foundation inspection?
Census data puts the median Mansfield home at 2004. A new house can still show settlement or drainage trouble, and a dated engineer's report helps if a builder or warranty claim comes up.
What is the difference from a builder's warranty inspection?
A builder's inspection comes from the party that built the house. The HGS report comes from an engineer who is paid for the report only.
Does the report cover drainage?
Yes. Drainage conditions affecting the foundation are listed separately from structural findings.
How do I request a visit?
Email the address and what you noticed. The firm confirms scope, quote and availability by email.
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.
Send us your details and we will provide a price quote and availability.