No matter where you live in the country, you need a building inspector for any kind of new construction, whether you are building a home from scratch, just remodeling your custom Cherry Hills home, or having an addition put on your existing home. Many who think they can get away without one find themselves in a big bind when they realize they were wrong.
There are two big things that building inspectors do. One is that since they are part of the government, they are required by law to report all land and property improvements, no matter how small. The government uses these figures in determining property values, as well as taxes. Without a building inspectors input, the government wouldn’t know whether to raise or lower taxes, distribute subsidies, and many things that help communities as a whole.
Another important thing a building inspector does is make sure that your property and structure is sound, and complies with all building and safety codes. While they won’t need to be there for every little thing, major steps always have to have an inspector come in and check. First of these steps starts before you even lay down the foundation.
Since the foundation has to support the whole building, and sits on the ground, an inspector will have to be brought in for a soil inspection. If you have plans to start building on bad soil, it won’t support the weight of the structure, and you will end up with uneven floors, cracks in the foundation and structure. It could cause leakage problems, and can cause unwanted moisture in the basement or crawl space.
After the foundation is poured, an inspector will come in to see if it is the right thickness, and has some kind of moisture barrier. He will also check and make sure that all electrical conduits, plumbing, and gas lines that may be coming through the foundation are all up to building and safety standards.
It continues through the other milestones, framing, electrical wiring, plumbing, all the way up to roofing. What exactly needs inspection is really dependent on the codes and laws in your area, but an inspector will know which are needed. You can find out through your local government agency, or online.
If you get caught building a structure without a permit, not only will you have to tear it down, you may also incur a heavy fine. Any good licensed contractor won’t proceed without one, and are liable if they fail to get one on site to check their work. If you encounter any contractors that say that you don’t need an inspection, do not use their services.
You can find out more detailed information online about what building inspectors do, and why they are important when taking on any residential building project. If you need to hire an inspector, your realtor or contractor can connect you with ones they use. It isn’t really a matter of shopping around, most inspectors charge about the same. It’s really a matter of picking one that feels right to you, or that have been recommended by reliable sources.