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Building Inspection Types
Many inspectors, based on their experience and capability will conduct many
different inspection types from commercial inspections to expert witness
testimony. Listed below are some of the most common types of inspections
typically offered by professional building inspectors.
Standard Home Inspection
This involves the inspection of existing homes for resale or maintenance
planning purposes. All home inspector associations were established to address
the requirements of this type of inspection. These inspections can be conducted
for the seller under a seller’s disclosure inspection or for the new
homeowner/investor under a buyer’s inspection and relate to condominium/ single
family home inspections and small multi-family investment buildings.
New Construction - Residential Inspections
This type involves the inspection of new homes under construction, at the end
of construction or at the end of the one-year builder’s warranty after the
homeowner has occupied the home. With this type of inspection, choosing a home
inspector that has experience of the codes or construction is critical. Many
inspectors offer cosmetic walkthroughs or inspections which are of little value
to any potential new homeowner.
While these inspections will improve quality and hold builders to a higher
standard, they will also add both time and expense to the building team. Your
decision to conduct such an inspection may be met with resistance by some
builders, however, most of the professional builders welcome an additional
level of quality control and see it as a way of limiting their liability for
hidden/unexpected surprises.
Remediation - Remodeling Inspections Are you spending a lot of money
remodeling, adding on to or conducting remediation repairs to your home without
proper representation? How do you know if the quality is acceptable or not? Are
you relying on the building contractor or remediation company to oversee their
own work? A professional inspector qualified in building construction can
ensure that works in progress are conducted in the manner and quality needed
for your peace of mind.
Commercial Inspection TOP
Most inspectors are not qualified to conduct commercial inspections and as
such, will not offer advice or quotes on such inspections. When choosing an
inspector for these buildings, confirm their past experience with commercial
construction or consultancy. Licensed contractors and engineers are more
qualified than any of the home inspection qualifications. Make sure that you
receive a written proposal with regard to this inspection type as there are no
set guidelines or code of ethics for commercial inspectors to follow.
New construction - Commercial Inspection
The code requirements for public health and safety on commercial construction
are much different than those for residential new construction. If you are
building a commercial building without client representation, you can be
exposed to potentially huge issues. Choosing an inspector with commercial
construction experience is crucial.
Condo Association Inspection
Experience has shown that many condominium associations have suffered at the
hands of incompetent contractors and/or mismanagement of funds for construction
repairs. The lack of quality control has resulted in monies being consistently
spent on short-term repairs or sub- standard work. Are you losing control of
the condo association fees? Are you making sure that repairs are being
conducted correctly and completely? Having an owner's representative qualify
repairs or outline the exact condition of each building or issue is far cheaper
than uncontrolled and wasteful spending.
Mold Screening Inspection / Pre-Sampling Mold Inspection
These are baseline mold inspection evaluations designed to minimize the risk of
mold contamination in your new home or building. They are typically based on
visual inspections only of the building in question and may or may not include
testing. The inspection will outline any visible areas of moisture or moisture
related issues throughout your home or building. Testing will be based on the
date and time of inspection only. Testing for moisture content and percentage
of relative humidity are normally conducted as part of this service. Consult
each inspection company for their respective procedures and policies.
Infrared cameras detect variations in temperature and humidity without
destructive investigations. This is a relatively new area of inspection for
most home inspectors. The objective is to use infrared cameras to detect inner
wall moisture or moisture related issues. Interpretation of photograph results
is critical. Based on the expense of infrared cameras (in excess of
$5,000-50,000), inspectors charge an additional fee for this service if
included with a standard home inspection.
Storm Damage - Insurance Inspection
Experience has shown that many homeowners have suffered storm damage, only to
have to pay for repairs themselves because it went unnoticed until the home or
building sold and a buyer’s inspection was conducted. Insurance adjustors are
not motivated to find every issue with regard to your insurance claim. Some may
or may not enter your attic, or spend the time necessary to conduct a detailed
evaluation of your issue. Having your home or building inspected by an
independent inspector qualified in building defects will give you the exact
picture of your home or building to present to your adjustor. Get what you
deserve and make sure your home or building is fixed correctly.
Roof Inspection
Roof replacement inspections, roof leakage inspections, infrared roof
inspections, etc. Roofing systems are one of the primary components protecting
your home or building from the elements. Having a roof inspection prior to
making the final payment to the contractor for maintenance or replacement
repairs or to diagnose a roof issue may mean the difference between a
functional roof or incomplete/incorrect repairs or replacements costing you
thousands of dollars.
Siding and Stucco
Inspection TOP
Have you suffered as a result of incomplete siding or stucco applications? Do
you now have to spend thousands of dollars fixing these issues? Client
representation will help to eliminate these problems from reoccurring. This
type of inspection can be carried out at the end, or throughout the entire
project.
Expert Witness Inspection
Are you experiencing problems with your new home or building? Have you spoken
to an attorney? Expert witness reports must stand up in court. Make sure your
inspector is qualified to conduct such a service.
Wind Certification Inspection
How will your home fare against a hurricane? Is your roof structure properly
braced? Are your walls properly anchored? Are your doors and windows impact
resistant? Many inspectors are offering these services to existing homeowners
and using reports to possibly reduce their ever- increasing homeowner's
insurance costs. Know the true facts about your new home.
Insurance Inspection
Insurance costs seem to be increasing more and more every year. Insurance
requirements are also getting more and more stringent. Many homes may not be
insurable and many others may need special insurance inspections before they
get coverage. Most insurance companies require inspections on the roof
covering, electrical, HVAC and plumbing systems for older homes. Some insurance
companies require inspectors to be licensed contractors or members of specific
associations before they will accept the report. Make sure your inspector is
qualified to perform this type of inspection before hiring them.
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