Pursuant to your request, Meridian Engineering Group visited the residence at 1527 Friar Ln in Kirkwood, Missouri, on Monday, July 13, 2026, to inspect cracks in the foundation — including one below a window at the northeast corner flagged by the city inspector — and to recommend repairs. Our inspection was visual in nature and limited to accessible areas.

Description of Structure

The residence is a single-story, wood-framed, south-facing ranch built in 1954 on a full-height concrete foundation. First-floor joists span north–south, bearing on the north and south foundation walls and a central east–west steel beam carried by beam pockets in the east and west walls and three interior steel columns.

Observed Cracking

1. A ½-inch vertical crack was observed in the foundation wall below a window at the northeast corner — the location flagged by the city inspector. (Photo 1)
2. The east foundation wall exhibits ⅛″–¼″ vertical cracks emanating from the beam pocket and the ductwork penetration. (Photo 2)
3. The basement slab is cracked along the length of the north wall and slopes toward it, and the exterior patio slab has pulled away from the house — consistent with settlement of the north wall, which has drawn the north ends of the east and west walls with it. (Photo 3)
4. Minor hairline cracks at the south wall and window corners are shrinkage-related and are not of structural concern.

Recommendations

1. Install hydraulically-driven steel piers beneath the entire north foundation wall and the north ends of the east and west walls, spaced 6–8 ft on center, to lift and stabilize the wall footings.
2. Remove existing sealant and epoxy-inject and re-seal all structural cracks, including the vertical crack in the south wall.
3. Monitor the minor settlement along the south wall; no piering is required at this time.