A home renovation can be fun for a lot of reasons: Depending on the project, you might get to design a new space, add features you’ve always wanted, and select new fixtures and finishes. But when you do a home renovation, you also have to tackle tasks that aren’t as much fun, such as obtaining a permit for your project and getting inspections. Why are home renovation inspections something you don’t want to forget about? Here are 4 key things you should know about home renovation inspections:
1. Why you need a home renovation inspection
When you get a home renovation inspection, someone comes to your home to assess a renovation that’s currently in progress or complete. Home renovation inspections are important for ensuring that any work you’re doing in your home complies with municipal building codes and regulations. This is why you won’t be able to close out the permit on your renovation project until you’ve completed all required inspections.
More importantly, however, home renovation inspections verify that your home is safe for you, your family, and future occupants to live in. They help you ensure that you won’t be harmed by faulty electrical work or drywall that hasn’t been put up properly.
2. The types of inspections you need
When you renovate your home, the types of inspections you need depend on the work that’s included in your project. In general, however, you need inspections for footings, foundations, insulation, exterior work, interior work, plumbing, and HVAC work. You may also need to get other types of work inspected based on what your home renovation project involves.
3. When home renovation inspections happen
Inspections can happen at various phases of the renovation project. In particular, you may need to get a particular type of work inspected both while it’s in progress and once it’s complete. For example, when installing insulation, you may need to get an inspection once the insulation is installed and before drywall is added.
If you’re required to get work inspected at a certain stage before moving on to the next step, hold off on doing any additional work until you’ve passed the inspection. When inspectors come to your home to assess the work, they need to be able to see the work directly. So if you’ve already put drywall over your insulation or covered a new drain, an inspector might ask you to uncover or expose it.
4. Responsibility for arranging an inspection
You may have made a deal with your contractor that they would take on the responsibility of arranging the inspections you need. But keep in mind that as the home owner, it’s ultimately your responsibility to make sure that your project complies with local regulations. This means that you’re the one who will be on the hook if you miss or skip an inspection. For this reason, be sure to choose a reputable and reliable contractor who knows when they’ll need to arrange inspections and schedules them at the appropriate times to avoid project delays.
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