Services
- Commercial building inspectionsIndependent inspections of commercial buildings covering structure, envelope, mechanical, electrical and life safety systems, with a clear written report.
- Home inspectionsHome inspections where you walk the property with the inspector, hear the findings on the day and get a written report within two days.
- Certificate of occupancy inspectionsPre-occupancy inspections that find deficiencies before the authority's final inspection, so your building is ready to be occupied on schedule.
- Roof inspectionsRoof inspections for flat and sloped roofs that find leaks, drainage problems, ventilation issues and wear before they turn into interior damage.
- Concrete inspections and X-rayConcrete condition inspections and scanning before cutting or coring, so you understand cracks and deterioration and avoid hitting rebar, tendons or conduit.
- Welding inspectionsIndependent inspections of welds on structural steel, supports and fabricated parts, checked against drawings, procedures and the applicable standard.
All 43 guides
- What a commercial building inspection coversA system-by-system look at what a commercial building inspection covers, what it leaves out, and how to scope one for your purpose.
- Property condition assessments explainedWhat a property condition assessment includes, how it differs from an inspection, and how to use one for buying, lending and capital planning.
- A home inspection checklist for buyersA practical checklist for home buyers: what to do before, during and after the inspection, and which questions to ask the inspector.
- How to read a home inspection reportHow to read a home inspection report: sort safety issues from repairs and maintenance, understand the wording, and decide what to do next.
- Pre-listing inspections for sellersWhy sellers get a home inspected before listing, what to fix and what to disclose, and how a pre-listing report can make a sale go more smoothly.
- New home warranty inspections in AlbertaHow Alberta's new home warranty coverage is structured, when to inspect a new home, and how to document defects so claims are made on time.
- What is a certificate of occupancy?What a certificate of occupancy or occupancy permit is, who issues it, when you need one, and what usually holds it up in Canadian municipalities.
- Occupancy permits vs building permitsHow building permits and occupancy permits differ, where each fits in a project, and what you need to move from one to the other in Canada.
- Signs your roof needs an inspectionThe interior, exterior and attic signs that a roof needs a professional inspection, and the events that should prompt one even when nothing looks wrong.
- Flat roof vs sloped roof inspectionsHow flat and sloped roofs fail in different ways, and what an inspector looks for on each, from membranes and drains to shingles and flashing.
- Ice dams: causes and preventionWhy ice dams form on Canadian roofs, the damage they cause, and how air sealing, insulation and ventilation prevent them better than heat cables.
- Attic ventilation and insulation basicsHow attic air sealing, insulation and ventilation work together to keep a roof dry, prevent frost and ice dams, and cut heating costs in a cold climate.
- Roof drains and ponding waterHow flat roof drains, scuppers and overflows work, why ponding water matters, and a maintenance routine that keeps low-slope roofs draining.
- Snow loads on roofs: when to worryHow roofs are designed for snow, where drifts and ice create extra load, the warning signs of overload, and how to remove snow safely.
- Concrete cracks: when to worryHow to tell normal shrinkage cracks from cracks that signal movement, corrosion or overload, and what to measure and monitor before calling an engineer.
- Concrete X-ray vs GPR scanningHow concrete X-ray and ground penetrating radar work, what each can and cannot find, and how to choose the right scan before cutting or coring.
- Cutting and coring concrete safelyHow to plan concrete cutting and coring: structural approval, scanning, silica dust control, water, noise and the steps that protect workers and the building.
- Concrete testing methods explainedAn overview of concrete tests, from cylinders and cores to rebound hammer, half-cell and chloride testing, and when each one is the right choice.
- Freeze-thaw damage to concrete and masonryHow freeze-thaw cycles damage concrete, brick and stone, how to recognize scaling, spalling and cracking, and what prevents and repairs the damage.
- Parking garage inspection basicsWhat a parking garage inspection looks at, why road salt and freeze-thaw cycles cause damage, and how often owners should have a structure reviewed.
- Common welding defects and what causes themA plain guide to porosity, cracks, undercut, incomplete fusion and other weld defects, what usually causes each one, and how they are found.
- Visual weld inspection basicsHow visual weld inspection works before, during and after welding, what inspectors check, the tools they use, and where visual checks reach their limits.
- Non-destructive testing methods: an overviewAn overview of visual, penetrant, magnetic particle, ultrasonic and radiographic testing, what each finds, and how to choose the right method.
- Welder and welding procedure qualificationHow welding procedures and welders are qualified in Canada, what WPS, PQR and company certification mean, and what owners should ask to see.
- Foundation problems: the warning signsThe signs of foundation movement inside and outside a house, which cracks are normal and which are not, and what to do when you spot a warning sign.
- Why basements leak, and how to fix itThe common reasons basements leak, how to tell where the water is coming from, and which fixes work, from grading and downspouts to weeping tile and sump pumps.
- What to look for in a crawl spaceWhat to check in a crawl space, from moisture and vapour barriers to insulation, framing, pests and plumbing, and how to get in safely to look.
- Moisture, mould and indoor airHow moisture leads to mould in buildings, where to look for it, how to keep humidity under control, and when mould cleanup needs a professional.
- Building envelope basicsWhat the building envelope does, the four control layers for water, air, vapour and heat, and the common failures owners should watch for.
- Air leakage around windows and doorsWhy windows and doors leak air, how to find drafts, which fixes work, from weatherstripping to sealing the rough opening, and when replacement makes sense.
- Thermal imaging in building inspectionsHow thermal imaging helps find heat loss, air leaks, moisture and electrical hot spots in buildings, what it cannot show, and how to get useful results.
- Asbestos in older buildingsWhere asbestos is found in older Canadian buildings, when it becomes a hazard, and what owners and managers should do before renovation or demolition.
- Radon testing in Alberta homesWhat radon is, why Alberta homes should be tested, how to run a long-term test, and what to do if levels come back above the Health Canada guideline.
- Plumbing red flags in an inspectionThe plumbing problems that matter most in a home inspection, from problem pipe materials and leaks to water heaters, drains and sewer lines.
- Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiringHow to recognize knob-and-tube and aluminum branch wiring, why each raises safety and insurance concerns, and what your options are for repair or replacement.
- The real cost of deferred maintenanceWhy putting off building maintenance usually costs more later, where the hidden costs show up, and how owners can manage a backlog of deferred work.
- Building a maintenance scheduleA step-by-step approach to a maintenance schedule for a commercial or multi-unit building, with typical tasks by frequency and tips for tracking.
- Preventive vs reactive maintenanceHow preventive, reactive, predictive and condition-based maintenance compare, where each fits, and how to shift a building towards planned maintenance.
- Reserve fund studies and capital planningWhat a reserve fund study or depreciation report includes, how provincial rules differ, and how owners and condo boards can use one to plan capital work.
- An inspection guide for condo buyersWhat condo buyers should inspect inside the unit, what to review in the condominium documents, and how to spot building-wide issues before you buy.
- Inspecting a commercial space before you leaseWhat tenants should inspect before signing a commercial lease, from HVAC and electrical capacity to the roof, accessibility and fit-out plans.
- Retaining wall inspectionsHow retaining walls fail, the warning signs to look for in concrete, block, timber and stone walls, and when to bring in an engineer.
- How to choose a building inspectorWhat to look for when hiring a building inspector, the questions to ask, how scope and reports differ, and the warning signs of a poor fit.