Barrie Home Inspector – The Right Choice

Buying a home can be a very stressful event for most people.  In the heat of the moment it can be very easy to forget or not realize how important a home inspection is when buying any property.  In the fast paced Barrie Real Estate market arranging a home inspection can be very trying as time is sometimes of the essence.

Most home buyers are not aware that buying a home does not come with any guarantees.  Caveat Emptor, Let the buyer beware,  is not just a saying when it comes to buying a house, it is the law of the land.  That is why having a professional inspect your home is so important.

Although some Realtor’s may place down the importance of choosing the right home inspector, when it comes time to explain why there is a problem with your new home, you will most likely be referred back to your home inspector.  In my ten years experience as a home inspector I have had this happen countless times,  clients calling with concerns with issues not disclosed by sellers or problems that have occurred since the inspection.  This is when the value of choosing a professional home inspector becomes so important.

WETT Certified – Most insurance companies now require any wood burning appliance
to be inspected by a WETT certified technician.  The Barrie Home Inspector offers a WETT inspection for $50.00 as part of home inspection package.  The Site Basic inspection consists of visually check your chimney, appliance, damper, firebox, hearth, and clearances required from unit to any combustible materials. 

FREE Thermal Imaging –  The Barrie Home Inspector was the first home inspector in Simcoe County to offer Thermal Imaging as part of home inspection.  We now offer this service Free as part of home inspection package.  Thermal imaging can help find hidden moisture and water leaks,  missing insulation, areas of heat loss and electrical hot spots.

Experience  – My personal experience starts at being a Registered Building with HUDAC, which were the original Home Warranty Program for Ontario.  I then followed that up with 7 years in charge of Project Reviews for Fire Department where I was responsible for reviewing plans and drawings and making site visits to ensure compliance with the National Building Code.  I was during this time with the DND that I obtained by Certified Building Code Official designation from the Ontario Building Officials Association.  Currently I have performed over 5,000 home inspections over the past ten years.

Training –  My training related  to the home inspection field:

Master Inspector Qualification

Graduate Carson Dunlop Home Inspector Course

Member of Nachi

Former Registered Builder with HUDAC – Housing and Urban Development Association of Canada – was new home warranty program from 1971 to 1973 when it was replaced by TARION

Over 26 years of combined Building and Inspection Experience

Residential and Commercial Inspections

WETT Certified – Over 6 years

Woodburning Systems – WETT recertification course

Mould Testing – Pro Labs level one mould course

Commercial Cooking Equipment Maintenance and Installation

Basic Sprinkler Inspection – CASA

Ontario Building Officials Association and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Courses – all 40 hours and taught in Toronto at OBOA

Part 9 -The House – Health & Safety

–deals with plan examination and inspection of the health and safety-related aspects of the house. This course includes: an introduction to the Ontario Building Code; the house – general; fire safety and protection; chimneys; fireplaces; inserts and solid-fuel-burning appliances; stairs; guards; insulation; health and comfort requirements; party walls; final interior inspections; and final exterior inspections.

Part 9 -The House – Building Envelope

–deals with basic part 9 house structural requirements and inspections, including the study of the building envelope. It includes: an introduction to the Ontario Building Code: difficulties confronting building inspectors; reading plans; the building permit application; the house – general; site plans; footings; foundation walls; concrete slabs on ground; roof and ceiling construction; floor construction; wall construction; and brick veneer and structural components.

Part 9 – Buildings – Structural Requirements

–deals with the more complicated aspects of the structural requirements and limitations of part 9 buildings in general. This course does not deal specifically with the design of structural elements. The course addresses: getting started; the law; excavation inspection; footing and foundation inspections I; footing and foundation inspections II; structural framing inspections I; and structural framing inspections II.

Part 3 – Large Buildings – Health & Safety

–includes the following topics: separation of occupancies; spatial separation and exposure protection; exits; lighting and emergency power; flame spread rating and interior finishes; service spaces and rooms; egress and exiting from mezzanines; health requirements; and fire alarm and detection systems.

Part 3 – Large Buildings – Classification & Construction-2006

-deals with the elements of a structure which are important when dealing with larger buildings. This is considered an introduction to part 3 buildings and includes the following: building classification; separation of major occupancies; building area and height; streets; building size and construction; occupant load; fire separation/fire-resistance ratings; firewalls; closures – Ontario Building Code requirements; firestopping; provision for fire fighting; and mezzanines and interconnected floor spaces.

Part 3 – Large Buildings

–It is largely based on the Large Building Syllabus – 2006 published by the Building and Development Branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and deals with relevant portions of Division A – Parts 1, 2 and 3; Division B – Part 3, and those points of interest as found in Division B – Parts 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12. Additionally, parts of Supplementary Standards SB-2, SB-3, and SB-8 are reviewed. Some areas covered by this course include: – Occupancy, Construction Types, Fire-Resistance and Occupant Loads – Building Fire Safety – Safety within Floor Areas – Exits – Vertical Transportation – Health Requirements – Barrier-Free Design – Portable Classrooms and Self-Service Storage Buildings – Public Pools and Spas – Rapid Transit Stations – Tents and Air-Supported Structures, Signs and Shelf/Rack Storage Systems – Change of Use and Renovations – Environmental Separation – Structural Design, HVAC, Plumbing – Resource Conservation

Part 10/11 Renovations & Change of Use

-training inspectors to be able to properly identify that a building’s use and occupancy is appropriate and the construction requirements due to a change-of-use in an existing building. This course covers the following areas: requirements for permits; applicability of parts 10 and 11; code terminology for evaluating renovation projects; building systems; occupant load; change in major occupancy; fire separations; basic renovations; example projects; site generated challenges; and change-of-use without construction.

House – areas covered are: Basics of Structural Requirements Design of Areas and Spaces Doors Windows and Skylights Stairs, Ramps, Handrails and Guards Means of Egress Fire Protection Sound Control Excavation Dampproofing, Waterproofing and Soil Gas Control Drainage Footings and Foundations Floors-on-Ground Columns Crawl Spaces Attic and Roof Spaces Above Grade Masonry Chimneys Fireplaces Wood Frame Construction Sheet Steel Stud Wall Framing Heat Transfer, Air Leakage, Condensation Control and Part 12 Roofing Cladding Stucco Interior Wall and Ceiling Finishes Flooring Plumbing Electrical Facilities Garages and Carports Cottages Log Construction Park Model Trailers

General Legal/Process

this course deals with the Building Code Act, responsibilities of Governments, Municipalities, Building Departments, Inspectors, Designers and Architects.

Fire Protection

deals with provision of the Building Code that relates to fire suppression, fire detection, firefighting and fire safety and covers Occupancy Classification & Construction Requirements ·Provisions for Firefighting ·Automatic Sprinkler Systems ·Fire Separations, Closures, Fire Stopping & Firewalls, Safety Within Floor Areas, Exits, Chutes ·Fire Performance Ratings, Fire and Sound Resistance of Building Assemblies ·Fire Alarm and Detection Systems ·Standpipe and Hose Cabinet Systems ·Emergency Power, Lighting and Protection of Electrical Conductors ·Ventilation ·High Building Requirements ·Special Protection for Interconnected Floor Space ·Part 9 Buildings ·Renovations ·Rapid Transit Stations, Tents and Air Supported Structures, Portable Classrooms, Self-Storage Buildings

Nachi Courses

Note: These are online courses and are open to all NACHI members.

Green Buildings

Online Roofing Course

Commercial Inspection Prerequisite Course

Inspecting Foundation Walls and Piers

Although finding a professional home inspector can seem very daunting with new inspectors appearing every day,  take your time and interview 2 or 3 inspectors to verify their experience before making a decision.  You will be glad you did if the house your thinking about buying has issues you should know about.

Call the Barrie Home Inspector anytime to discuss your requirements or just for information.  Cell  705-795-8255  or Toll Free  888-818-8608