What Are The Different Types Of building Inspections?

By: Carolyn
On: December 1, 2022

If you are building a new home, there is an important thing that you should consider. You need to conduct a building inspection.

A building inspection is the best way to find out about any potential risks or issues with your newly-built house. This will help you protect yourself from unnecessary expenses in case something goes wrong later on.

The whole process of conducting a building inspection can be divided into two parts – pre- and post-construction inspections. The pre-construction phase involves taking measurements and checking for any existing problems while the post-construction phase is more focused on ensuring that everything is going smoothly at the time of moving in.

However, if you are planning to build a new home, it is important to know what things you would cover during a building inspection and how they might affect your budget.

First of all before we start about the types of building inspection you have to know about what is a building inspection means and what it refers to. If you want to understand it then you can read this article if suppose you don’t get anything then you can search about it on the internet. Given below are known to be as some major types of building inspection.

Pre-Construction Building Inspection

Before starting the construction of your new home, you should conduct a pre-construction building inspection. It will take approximately 3 months to get all the permits needed for construction. However, most homes have more than one permit required, so this period could be longer depending on the complexity of the project.

During this period, you will have to make sure that everything is ready. As you prepare for the building inspection, here are some of the things you should check for:

Electrical installation
Plumbing
HVAC
Existing structure

It is always smart to consult with an experienced contractor before moving forward with your plans. They will provide you with plenty of information regarding these things, as well as other details like the zoning laws in your area and the cost of each permit.

Some things that might require an additional fee include:

Fencing
Garage door opener
Water heater connection
Drain system
Flooring
Curb appeal
Landscaping

You are expected to spend about $500-$750 per day on labor costs for construction. So, it is essential that you hire a reputable contractor who has been in the business for several years. Hiring someone new may result in higher expenses.

Post-Construction Building Inspection

When the building inspector comes to inspect your home after completion, they will go through three stages. The first stage is called “preparation” and covers items such as

Wiring
Power points
Smoke detectors
Security systems
Fire alarms
Ventilation
Thermostats

After this stage, the inspector will do another round of checks for electrical wiring and appliances. After this is complete, he will move on to the second stage, which consists of assessing the structure and foundation.

This includes things like

Structural integrity
Foundations
Roofs
Siding
Windows

Finally, the final stage involves verifying the interior fixtures and finishes. This means checking for

Plumbing
Interior walls
Kitchen cabinets
Exterior doors
Laminate flooring
Rugs
Plastering
Light fixtures

If you want to save money, it is recommended that you hire a professional company for the entire job. Doing it yourself can prove to be quite costly and time consuming.

What to Expect During Post Construction Inspection

After the building inspection is complete, you will receive a written report that will detail the findings. Here are some of the things that you will see mentioned in the report:

Foundation
Structure
Seismic stability
Interior walls
Exterior walls
Interior floors
Exterior floors
Exterior siding
Insulation
Roofing
Interior plumbing
Exterior plumbing
Exterior insulation
Roof flashing
Window trim
Window frames
Flashing around windows
Skylights
Attics
Basements
Vents
Smoke detectors
Fire alarm
Sprinkler systems

While inspecting the exterior of your home, the building inspector will also look for

Roof pitch
Water leakage
Masonry work
Drain pipes
Foundation drainage
Foundation drainage design
Ground movement
Excavation conditions

Now that we have discussed everything that you would find on the building inspection report, let us move on to the next point.

Things That Can Go Wrong During the Building Inspection Process

It is possible that your building inspector finds some errors during their visit, but it is never too late to fix them. If you feel that the house is not up to par, you can request a re-inspection by paying an extra fee. Most inspectors charge between $100-$200, though this depends on the size of the property and the number of people living there.