Building a new home allows you to customize your living space to meet your needs and reflect your own style. You are investing time, energy, and money into the project with the expectation that it will be perfect when you move in. Because this is not always the case, you should always order a home inspection on new construction.

What You Can Learn From a Home Inspection on New Construction

The inspection process for a newly built home versus a pre-existing home is similar. The home inspector reviews many structural components and installed systems throughout the home. By ordering a home inspection on new construction, you will learn of any material defects, poor workmanship, and other issues that should be repaired before you take ownership.

1. A Thorough Inspection for Quality

Your new construction home will be inspected by a municipal building official to determine if it meets the minimum building codes. However, building codes only provide basic guidelines. A home inspector reviews the property for proper installation and functionality of systems, quality materials, and workmanship. Without a report from a professional home inspector, problems may remain unknown until they start to affect daily life over time.

2. Order a Home Inspection on New Construction at Multiple Phases

Ordering a home inspection after the home is finished is one option, but you can also request an inspection at each stage. Through the building process, materials will be installed over other materials, making some components inaccessible.

For example, insulation and drywall will cover the frame, pipes, and electrical wiring. With a multi-stage phase inspection, the inspector can review aspects of the home that will not be visible once the construction process is complete.

3. Avoid Warranty Hassles

Some people who are building a new home rely on a home warranty to cover construction defects. However, filing a claim under a home warranty is time-consuming and inconvenient since you’re living in the home while under coverage. Also, not all construction-related defects are identified before the warranty expires. When you know about issues before closing, you can address them before moving in so repairs are covered by the builder and completed before you move into the home.

A home inspection on new construction is important for understanding your newly built house. This service or phase inspections completed during multiple stages of construction will ensure your home is free from defects and safe for your family.

Dooley Home Inspection offers home inspections on new construction, new construction phase inspections, and other services. Contact us to request an appointment.

Most buyers should add a WDI inspection/report ($95) along with their General Home Inspection.  WDI stands wood destroying insects such as termites, powder post beetles, carpenter bees and carpenter ants. If left undetected, these pests can cause major structural damage to your home, Also, the WDI report is often required by your lender (VA, FHA, USDA Loans).  During the termite inspection, I look for evidence of insect damage and conducive conditions around the home. While the report cannot guarantee the house is pest free, I will recommend treatment or removal of conducive conditions, if there is a cause for concern. Most pest control companies offer a warranty or guarantee for their termite treatments.

THE WDI REPORT

The WDI report breaks down into four main parts: information about the home, conducive conditions, active/past infestations and treatments noted, a diagram of the home inspected with treatment recommendations. This drawing will help a pest control company if treatment is required and also will serve as a guide if further evaluation and inspection is needed.  In summary, the WDI termite inspection is outside the scope of the general home inspection and requires a licensed pest control technician. Along with my Texas Inspection License, I also carry the Texas Pest Control License which allows me to offer both services with a package discount.

Contact me anytime with questions! -Jonathan jonathan@dooleyinspections.com

 

Inspection of your water well system can help ensure it is operating properly by pointing out small deficiencies before they become major issues. More importantly, a water sample test can protect your health by discovering bacteria or other contaminants that could result in water quality problems presenting a health risk.

My Well Inspection includes:

  • Examining the area above the ground surface around the well head to check casing (pipe protruding from the ground)—to make sure materials and seals are in good condition and the casing extends at least 12 inches above ground with positive drainage around it.
  • Electrical conduit and control box—Visually verify that all connections are secure.
  • Check for potential sources of contamination and physical dangers such as chemicals, kennels, pastures, livestock operations, septic system within 100 ft radius.
  • Checking pressure and flow at each faucet while other faucets are running.

When I take a water sample to the lab, I take proper protocol such as running water for 5 minutes, sanitizing faucet, keeping sample below the required 60 degrees and delivering to the lab within 24 hrs.

For more information see: http://www.twdb.texas.gov/groundwater/data/doc/Well_Water_Testing.pdf

Contact me anytime with questions! -Jonathan jonathan@dooleyinspections.com

 

Maybe his regular job was designing water slides and he just does plumbing on the side!

 

kid's wooden toy blocksconcrete foundation blocks

 

Jenga anyone? Hey, how you doin?







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Protective moss coating coming loose on SE corner of roof. Recommend stapling the moss to the roof as needed to provide adequate protection from the elements.  Talk about going Green! bu dum tshhh





 

 

 

Minor cracking observed in stone foundation. These are non-structural, but should be monitored and repaired by oppressed peasant. Functioning as intended since 1379.

 

I often run into concrete that is just “done.” I note it mainly because it has become a trip hazard. A wise man once told me that there are 2 things certain about concrete: 1. It will crack. 2. I can’t remember the second thing. So, if we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we make concrete that won’t crack? The answer to this is more complicated than I can cover in this blog. I also don’t actually know the answer so I will just blame it on being too complicated.

Seriously, the primary cause is settlement of the soil underneath. This is caused by tree roots, poor soil compaction, poor drainage…I sometimes wonder if local concrete contractors go around planting trees for free around concrete sidewalks and foundations…wait till the cracks get big and then drop off their cards. Anyway, sealing cracks and repairing concrete is always a good idea to prevent further damage. Here is a more technically detailed article to explain the process of deciding when it is time to remove and replace.

Infrared (thermal imaging) is an advanced, non-invasive technology that allows the inspector to show clients things about their homes or buildings that can’t be revealed using conventional inspection methods.  Ancillary inspection reports are just as important as the reports  generated for standard inspections.  For something as specialized as a thermal imaging inspection, it’s critical that the information presented meets the clients’ needs for information they can use and act on.

The art of an IR inspection is to interpret the results as accurately and reasonably as possible such that the client is given actionable information in order to proceed with necessary repairs.

Here are a couple recent finds using my new thermal imaging camera:


Overheated wiring- Microwave being used on an undersized wire and breaker.

Hot water line used for toilet.

My wife asked me to check son’s temperature, so I did. She was not amused when I recommended further evaluation and repair by a specialist.