What is a Geologic Inspection?
What is a Structural Inspection?
What is a Geotechnical Home Inspection?
Do I need to be there during the Inspection?
How long will the Inspection take?
Does a newly constructed home need an Inspection?
Why cant I do the Inspection myself?
What if the Inspection uncovers problems?
Will you fix the problems you find during the Inspection?
Contact us at (866)-436-3647 or (866) GEO-ENGR to answer any questions
What is a Geological Inspection? Back to top
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A geological inspection usually covers evaluation of the grounds and any slopes at the property. Typically, inspection of the structure and its foundation as well as any other improvements such as retaining walls or swimming pools is not within the scope of this type of inspection as they may be structural in nature. We can perform this type of inspection, should you decide that the structures at the site are in good repair and further evaluation by a specialist is not warranted.
What is a structural Inspection? Back to top
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A structural inspection involves an evaluation of the building foundations and floor slabs, any retaining walls and/or swimming pools, and settlement analyses. This type of inspection does not include an evaluation of the stability of the grounds or any slopes at the property as those are covered in a geological or a geotechnical inspection.
What does a Geotechnical Home Inspection include? Back to top
This type of inspection is our most complete type of inspection in that it combines a geological and a structural inspection into one, a geotechnical inspection. In this manner instead of hiring a geologist as well as a structural engineer to evaluate the whole property (the grounds as well as the structure), you can hire a geotechnical engineer who will evaluate the entire site saving you inspection cost and time. This is one of the reasons why the California Association of Realtors (CAR) recommends using a geotechnical engineer in their Buyer's Inspection Advisory attached to the back of every real estate contract.
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A home is the largest purchase most people will ever make. It only makes sense to find out as much as you can about the property you are interested in before you buy. That way you can avoid costly surprise repairs and problems with your new home. A professional geotechnical inspection will give you a clear picture of the geological, drainage, and structural conditions of the building from a foundation and settlement view point. If you are selling your home, a listing inspection will point out any potential problems that might be uncovered later by the buyer's inspector. Finding them early will allow you to address them before listing your home, making for a faster and smoother sale.
We usually get involved with a property where the home inspector finds some evidence of an adverse geological, drainage, or foundation problem or if the property is in a hillside area. Our standard geotechnical inspection report covers a complete investigation of the grounds and any slopes at the property, the drainage conditions, and condition of the foundations, seismic components, floor slabs (if any), retaining walls, and swimming pools. Upon completion of the inspection, our engineer will describe his findings and recommendations in an easy to understand manner. A written report is then emailed, faxed, and mailed to you usually within 2 to 3 days.
Do I need to be there during the Inspection? Back to top
No, you arent required to be there for the inspection. But we highly recommend that you be present. Its a valuable learning experience for most people and will help you get the most benefit from the inspection. By following the engineer around, you can ask questions directly and the engineer can explain the cause and repair alternatives for specific areas. We feel youll be able to best understand the finished report and get the most benefit from it by having been present during the inspection.
How long will the Inspection take? Back to top
The time will vary depending on both the size and condition of the home. For most homes, 1.5 to 2 hours is pretty typical. But for larger homes, or homes in poor condition, it may take longer. Of course, there is some time spent before arriving at the property gathering the pertinent geological maps providing coverage for the area. Additionally, 3 to 4 hours is typically spent after the inspection typing the report in our office.
Does a newly constructed home need an Inspection? Back to top
Absolutely. A professional inspection of a new home is important. We can spot potential problems early, while they are still easy to correct. Its especially valuable to arrange an inspection before the interior walls are finished. As engineers, we may find problem areas where the builder has taken shortcuts or not done good work.
Why cant I do the Inspection myself? Back to top
Chances are that even if you are very familiar with home construction, you still dont have the knowledge, training and experience of a professional engineer. Weve inspected thousands of homes. We are not only familiar with building construction techniques, but we also know what to look for to tell us what areas are getting ready to fail or have failed due to adverse geological and drainage conditions. But beyond the technical expertise and experience a professional inspector brings, it is important to remember that the inspector remains an impartial third party. If you are involved in buying or selling a house, its impossible for you to remain completely unemotional about the house, and this may cloud your judgment. Our professional engineer will provide an objective outside reporting of the facts.
What if the Inspection uncovers problems? Back to top
Our report will tell you the condition of the house and what approximate repairs are needed so that a contractor can provide you with a rough estimate. Armed with this information, you can make a more inteligent decision about purchasing your dream home.
Will you fix the problems you find during the Inspection? Back to top
No. This assures that there will never be any conflict of interest. We are professional engineers, not contractors. Therefore, we do not perform any of the repairs that we recommend. However, we do recommend that we observ whichever contractor that performs the repairs to make sure that they comply with our recommendations and to revise our recommendations due to unforseen and changed conditions. Our purpose is to provide an unbiased, objective third party report on the condition of the property.
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