Commercial Building Inspection

If you need to find a commercial building inspection service, chances are you’re trying to determine if the building that you’re buying is structurally sound. Or, alternatively, you are going to sell your building and you want to discover and fix any potential  problems before a buyer does, thus maximizing your selling price. A good commercial building inspection service will examine all aspects of your building.  Be aware that there may be surcharges for optional elements such as lead paint testing or radon measurement.  Any commercial building inspection should check the structural integrity of the building, as well as note any defects such as plumbing issues or problems with electrical wiring.

Depending on the type of commercial building, there may be special  areas to check—for instance, does the loading dock work properly? If there are industrial doors or equipment that come with the building, do they function properly? Is there a sprinkler system or other fire safety system? Some of these factors may depend on the age of the building. If you plan to renovate the building after buying it, you’ll want to know if there are any environmental hazards such as asbestos before you make the decision to buy.  If the paint is fresh and the floors have been refinished, it may be easy to ignore potentially serious problems. You’ll want to have a commercial building inspection that is as thorough as possible—it’s far better to have too much information than too little.

Commercial building inspections vary from state to state.  You can find a variety of companies that will inspect your building, and you can find reviews that will help you find the best ones. Commercial building inspections are an important way of keeping you, your employees, and your customers safe and healthy in your commercial building.

Building Inspection

Before a building can be occupied by people, it must go through a rigorous building inspection.  This inspection is designed to be certain that the building is safe for people to live in, work in, and shop in.  Much like a traditional home inspection, a building inspection is performed by a certified, licensed inspector who has been trained to know exactly what to look for.  This inspector is also up to date on the latest code guidelines, so they are certain the building meets the minimal safety standards.  Some of the elements of a building inspection include checking the electrical components/wiring, heating and air conditioning, structure (ensuring it is structurally sound), fire escape routs, indoor air quality, and lots more.  All of these checks are in place to make sure that a building is safe for all who inhabit it.  Many times, a large building inspection may take several inspectors to complete, since construction companies are usually on deadlines to get their buildings completed, and construction is not considered finished until it passes inspection.

A building inspection must be performed by qualified individuals who know what to look for.  They must have a license and present it whenever performing an inspection.  Different inspections may fall under different rules and regulations.  For example, some codes may be specific to one particular region, while others may be national.  It depends on the level of the building inspection and which element is being looked at, in most cases.  Once a building inspection is finished and the builder has “passed”, the building can then be open to the public or ready for a homeowner to occupy, depending on the type of building.  Luckily these standards and practices are there to help protect the public from potential injury or even loss of life in extreme cases.

Building Inspections

There is a cynical, but often true statement that nothing is ever as good as it seems.  This statement is typically applicable to purchasing old homes or older commercial buildings that, while they possess a great amount of charm, they also possess dated features that, if not checked out and fixed, or at least noted, could lead to unfortunate and often costly problems in the future. 

To ensure that people are treated fairly and get a fair deal, building inspections are generally required of older spaces.  The purpose of building inspections is to ensure the structural safety and quality of the place that a buyer is looking to purchase.  The building inspectors that perform building inspections are thoroughly trained to inspect all structural elements of the building or home and to perform tests such as radon and carbon monoxide tests, as well as check elements such as the foundation and the roof. 

Oftentimes, the person conducting the building inspections can see many things that a homeowner would easily over look.  Another thing that is often included during building inspections is the inspection of the fire safety level of the home.  This test is to ensure the house or building is up to fire code and can be left easily in case of an emergency caused by a fire.  Nowadays building inspections are very common and occur before a piece of real estate is purchased.  If building inspections were not performed, people would often purchase homes that seemed great from the outside, but possessed extreme flaws that could turn the dream home into a money pit.

When building inspections are performed, it is best for the potential buyer to be on site so that they can see for themselves what needs to be fixed, as well as the building inspectors advice on how to fix something, where to go, and how much it is going to cost to make their future dream home safe for many years to come.

Building Inspector

There are many types of inspectors. The building inspector will usually inspect the structural quality and general safety of buildings. Some inspectors specialize in areas like structural steel or reinforced concrete buildings and structures. Before construction begins plan analysts determine whether or not the plans for a building or other structure will comply with building code regulations and whether they will be acceptable to the engineering and environmental demands of the building site. In many cases, a building inspector will even visit the worksite before the foundation is poured. Later, the inspector return to the site to inspect the foundation after it has been completed. The type of building and its size, as well as how fast it will take to complete will determine the number of other site visits they must make. Upon completion of the project, the building inspector will do a final, comprehensive inspection.

In addition to structural characteristics, a primary concern of the building inspector is to ensure safety in the event of a fire. They inspect the building’s fire sprinklers, alarms, smoke control systems, and fire exits. The building inspector has to make sure that all exits are clearly marked, alarm systems operate properly, and that there is adequate assistance in the event of a fire such as a sprinkler system, easily accessible fire extinguishers, etc.  The building inspector will then assess the type of construction, contents of the building, adequacy of fire protection equipment, and risks posed by adjoining buildings.  It is their job to make sure the building is completely safe before people are allowed to occupy it, and they are an integral and important part of the construction process.  Most of the time, a building inspector is hired by the local government, but some are hired on by private companies as well as local municipalities.

Building Inspectors

If you are building a new home or office, it is important that everything is built according to code.  Building inspectors play a vital role in ensuring that your new building or facility is safe and doesn’t pose a threat to public health and safety.  It is also a good idea for large businesses or companies to hire building inspectors to routinely check through the facilities to ensure that everything is ok.

Building inspectors are certified and take classes that prepare them for their job.  They are the authority when it comes to determining if a structure or building is safe, free from contaminants, or contagious organisms.  They are also certified and are trained to determine if the proper materials have been used when the building was constructed.

Certain materials are preferable to others when building due to the fact that different areas have different climates.  Therefore, building inspectors can ensure that the materials used to compose a structure will stand up to the elements that an area frequently experiences.  This may be tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, snow blizzards, or other natural elements.  This is why it is crucial that building inspectors are certified for the area in which they work in. 

One aspect that building inspectors are trained in is mold detection.  When mold appears on a faucet, sink, showerhead, or bathtub, it can easily be removed.  However, when mold infests the inside of a wall or ceiling the problem can quickly grow to enormous proportions.  A building inspector will make certain that the materials used to construct the walls are up to code and include materials that help prevent the growth of mold.  By making sure that buildings are inspected, you can make certain that the health and safety of the public is protected.  Inspectors will also advise you on the best course of action for repairing any damage as well.

Construction Inspection

A very important part of building a new home or even an office building or restaurant is the construction inspection. These inspections are mandated by many local and state laws in order to ensure the safety of the future occupants of the building. There are many private companies that can perform a construction inspection and there are also many state departments that handle building and construction inspection and code enforcement. Due to the many laws regarding building safety it is very important to follow these building rules and regulations because if you fail a construction inspection the project will end up costing you a lot more money than you planned on. If you are having a home built by a contractor they are the ones that will deal with all of these details and they will know how to build the house to pass the inspection process, and if they do not meet the requirements it will cost them and not you.

When it comes to any building you always want to hire the best in each field anyways, so if you do not go through a contractor and you are building the house by yourself and hiring a couple of journeyman you want to make sure you learn about all of the different building codes and specifications. When you hire a local journeyman through the Union for certain things they are usually up to date with all of the requirements to pass the construction inspection in their specific fields of expertise, such as the electricians and the plumbers. The other thing to consider when you are building your own home is that you will also have to pay the person or company that performs the construction inspection, but that is usually a fairly small fee. The safety of your loved ones should always come first and they is why you always want to build your home to meet the strictest guidelines and you should never build it just well enough to pass the inspection.

EIFS Inspector

Before you can hope to be called an EIFS inspector, it is necessary for you to get certification and the best way to do that is to join one of the many training institutes which have the proper standards required that will create EIFS inspectors who can then go on to inspect government building, industrial building and also work for code agencies as well as inspection services.

Extensive Training

Once you get into an institution to become a certified EIFS inspector, you will need to undergo extensive training in a number areas related to EIFS inspections. You may need to learn multimedia, as well as a number of other EIFS specific related topics that includes things such as identifying EIFS systems, history of EIFS, types of system including PB, PM, DEFS, OCS and quick-R as well as drainage EIFS.

In addition, you will learn about various system components including substrates, insulation boards and more, and you will also need to learn about sealant and joint design as well as chemistry and physical properties. The course to become an inspector is all encompassing and once you have finished the forty hours or so of training, you can be assured of having attained the proper standards to further your career as an inspector.

The training course provides you with the knowledge necessary to properly understand the requirements of EIFS inspections and will also include being taught about unacceptable procedures and materials having been used or misused. Once you have completed this course you will have learnt the proper processes used for the installation of exterior coatings and how to ensure that they are properly used along with proper materials to produce results of the best kind.

Property Inspection

Whenever you are planning to sell your home or if you are looking to buy a house you are going to have to have a property inspection done. When you first list your house with a realtor they will usually come and do a property inspection and a property appraisal. After this is done and your house goes onto the market you will have people looking at it and if someone likes it they will also send an inspector that they have hired to come and check out the house. This property inspection is paid for by the potential buyer and when they are at this point they are obviously very interested. All properties have to be inspected when they are being built first of all, then there is the property inspection that the realty company will have done before they agree to help you sell the house. Most realty companies will make you repair the problems with the house before they will help you sell it, and if you do not have the money to do the repairs some realtors may not even work with you, and if they do the appraisal of the house will be quite low.

It is important to have a private property inspection done every so many years though to make sure your house is still safe, because sometimes things will happen that you might not even notice, such as the foundation cracking or old wiring falling apart and corroding. There are so many houses that are hundreds of years old, and things deteriorate after so many years, so it is really common sense to have things checked out with a good thorough property inspection, really once every 5 years or so would be good and it would help you always have the piece of mind knowing that you and your entire family are safe.

EIFS Inspection

If you are thinking about changing the style of the home you live in but do not actually want to move then you should consider having an EIFS system installed onto your home.  EIFS systems are exterior finishing systems that can change the look of your home.  If you have always wanted to have columns added to the exterior of your home but thought it would look silly against the stucco walls you can change all that with EIFS.  You can have a new finish to your home which looks like bricks if you so choose and then have great white columns added to the outside.

When the EIFS system is being installed you will want to have a building code inspector come out to perform an EIFS inspection of your property to make sure that everything is being done correctly.  You want to make sure that the proper procedures for installation and sealing are being used on your home so there is no chance of mold in the future.  You should look into getting an EIFS system with built in irrigation to channel the water out of the walls of the home.

Once the EIFS system has been installed you are going to want to do regular self EIFS inspections of your home.  When running the EIFS inspection you should keep a log of the items you regularly check.  During your EIFS inspection you should check the bottom of the EIFS system near the soil, the EIFS finish along windows and doors and near the chimney if you have one.  To make your EIFS inspection official you could also photo document the areas so you can see if there is any unusual wear and tear over the months.

Keeping documentation of everything that went into the building and upkeep of your EIFS systems will help you have better EIFS inspections and ensure you have a well made and well refurbished home.

Property Inspections

A property inspection is done prior to the sale of a property to evaluate the soundness of a property. Property inspections are done by an objective party, who looks for visible signs of the structures soundness, and makes sure that the mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems are working properly. The prospective buyer must contact and hire a licensed inspector who will recommend needed major repairs, identify the possibility of future problems, and recommend preventive measures to head off costly repairs in the future. The prospective seller may also conduct a property inspection so they are aware of any potential roadblocks to the sale of the home, and can make needed repairs that will enhance the value of the home, and also make it more desirable.

The main reason for property inspections is preventive. You should be sure that you know what you are buying. A home is the largest investment many of us will make in our lifetime, so it makes good financial sense to spend a few hundred dollars to hire a qualified professional to make sure your investment is sound. The inspector will issue a written report upon the completion of the property inspection.

At the beginning of most property inspections the inspector will look at home’s roof, exterior siding, and foundation. Then they move to the interior looking at the basement, bathroom, and kitchen as well as the condition of the walls and ceiling. The mechanical system such as the hot water heater, furnace and air conditioning unit are tested for functionality, as well as age and condition. The plumbing is checked for water pressure and leaks, and the electrical system to ensure the service can handle the load, and meets current code.

There are no perfect houses, so property inspections are a good idea periodically, much as a person would get a physical examination to ward off potential problems down the road. Think of them as insurance against future financial calamity.