Whether you need a building inspection because you are buying or selling a building, want to do some renovations, or want to add any kind of addition to the building, there are some things you should be aware of. An inspector is going to go through a list of items and determine whether they are acceptable enough to pass inspection or whether some improvements need to be made. Regardless of whether it is a home or commercial building, the following items are key to watch out for during a building inspection. 

Foundation

Certainly the basis of any building is the foundation and having cracks in it can be extremely dangerous. This is especially the case if you have plans to add on to the building or renovate. Additionally, new codes can make fixing things like the foundation tremendously expensive. 

Walls

 If you are planning any type of renovation to your building you need to understand the walls that are load bearing before you start demolition. A load bearing wall can sometimes be taken down by putting up a beam if you so choose. 

Cracks

One of the most obvious signs that can indicate issues are crack patterns.  A structural engineer will study the crack patterns in the walls of your building and determine if they indicate problems.  If the crack patterns show issues, the structural engineer can provide solutions to correct these issues in the form of CAD drawings. Don’t worry, they will explain everything so you understand. 

Building Code Violations 

Included with a structural assessment is often a property condition assessment. The engineer will determine the life left of mechanical systems, but more importantly they will be able to point out any building code violations. Many times building owners are unaware of such violations and only find out at the time of an insurance claim or other unforeseen incident. 

Having a building inspection is a step in the right direction if you are preparing for future changes. Stay alert for the above-mentioned risks.