What type of inspections do you require when building a new home?

What type of inspections do you require when building a new home?

There are several inspections that have to happen at certain times when you are building a new home, if these inspections do not happen then you could end up in deep trouble with the local municipal building department.

Here is a brief list and description of what inspections you will need and what they entail;

• Footing inspection. A footing inspection is require before you pour the concrete in the footing forms. The inspectors are looking for size and shape of footings, that proper re-bar enforcement has been installed and that the ground conditions are proper for the installation of footings.

• Foundation inspection. Before you pour the concrete in the basement wall forms you will require an inspection, they will be checking to see that the concrete wall is the proper width and height and that the re-bar has been properly installed.

• Waterproofing and weeper inspection. Inspectors will be checking that the building is properly waterproofed or damp proofed, they will be checking that there is a sump pail, that there are weepers installed around the building and that there is a proper amount of stone installed on top of the weepers.

• Sewer or septic inspection. Depending on whether your home is on sewer or septic the basis of this inspection can very. For sewer they are looking to see that the sewer line is connected properly with the proper slope. For septic they are inspecting the entire system from the line to the tank to the bed.

• Framing inspection. The framing inspection happens after all the electric, mechanical and plumbing has been installed in the home. The inspector will be looking that you have constructed the home as per the plans and the engineer’s specs. They will focus mostly on truss placement, hanger installation, bearing points and any rough-in cut outs in the floor joist.

• Plumbing inspection. The inspectors will be checking to see that the proper size of plumbing has been installed, that there are proper traps and vents where they should be and that the plumbing “air test” is holding air properly.

• Insulation inspection. Inspectors will be looking to see that you have followed the required performance guidelines of the home or are exceeding it. They will be checking to make sure that the vapour barrier is properly installed with no holes or gaps in it and all the appropriate area's have received spray foam or sheeted foam.

• Occupancy inspection. This is an inspection checking for guard rails, electrical working, heat operational and that the overall envelope of the home is safe for human habitation. This inspection allows the homeowners to live in the home, but the home isn’t finished or completed.

• Final inspection. The final inspection includes the exterior grading, the driveway and anything that wasn’t completed when the occupancy inspection was completed. The grading has to meet the engineered grading plan that was submitted for the original building permit.

These are the typical inspections that every house goes through, there are other inspections depending on what specialty items are in the home.

Rob Abbott
Village Builder Inc.