Structural Home Inspection - FAQs
Jensen Engineering & Construction Services, LLC
Should I have a Home Inspector or Professional Engineer inspect my home?
Many people are familiar with the general terms of Home Inspector and Professional Engineer, but are unsure which one they should consult with for a home inspection. In general, Home Inspectors make observations and general recommendations for repairs of most systems related to a home. Professional Engineers can provide structural evaluation, engineering opinions, specific repair details, cost estimates for repair, opinions regarding structural integrity and a stamped engineering report addressing these details. For example, a Home Inspector may observe that a concrete foundation is cracked and believes it requires repair, but is not able to determine the structural implications of the cracking. All structures move to a certain extent. However, does two inches of foundation settlement in one corner of a residence reduce the structural capacity of the home? Does it require remediation in the short term or long term? If necessary, what is an appropriate repair? How much will that repair cost? These are questions that a Professional Engineer can answer.
Issues that typically require review by a Professional Engineer are ground slope movement, soil and foundation settlement, foundation cracking, moisture damage and wood rot to the structure, wall cracks or bulging as well as excessively sagging roofs and floors.
Why should I choose JEC Services to complete a structural inspection?
1. Forensic Engineering Failure Investigations. At the request of attorneys, insurance companies and claims adjusters, JEC Engineers have traveled around the United States to complete 600+ failure investigations in 20+ states, including collapsed structures. This experience provides exceptional education with regard to conditions that lead to failure. We have completed investigations on losses as small as $500 and as large as $60,000,000. Most Home Inspectors and Structural Engineers do not have a background in failure investigation. We cannot stress enough the advantage of this experience.
2. Superior Inspection Equipment. Since a core service of JEC is forensic engineering failure investigations, we own and maintain valuable equipment that most Home Inspectors and Structural Engineers do not have at their disposal. This includes concrete/masonry x-ray machines,
high-precision altimeters, total stations, laser distance measurer, moisture meters, infrared cameras, infrared thermometers, snake cameras and more. These tools allow us to accurately measure and quantify most conditions that could lead to failure.
3. Understanding of Liability. JEC Engineers regularly investigate failure claims immediately following the purchase of a home due to conditions that a general Home Inspector failed to observe and report on. It is not uncommon for new owners to discover conditions that require expensive remediation measures as well as the involvement of attorneys and insurance companies. JEC has the experience necessary to deal with attorneys and insurance companies in an adversarial environment. This gives us a unique perspective on liabilities for pre-purchase inspections. Our engineering reports are finalized with a Professional Engineering stamp ensuring a certain level of liability protection for the new owner as well as the ethical and professional responsibilities required of engineers in accordance with state laws that dictate the practice of engineering.
4. Excellent Judgment. A background in engineering failure investigation provides unique insights on the risks of certain conditions, which continually improves our judgment. While we are cautious and error on the side of safety, we understand, where the limits are. Excellent judgment allows us to clearly define risks, as opposed to overstating risks and repair requirements. For example, a recent home inspected had 4.5 inches of differential settlement in some locations of the property as well as foundation cracking. While this is considered excessive by most, the risks where explained to the potential homeowner in clear terms and it was determined the settlement did not reduce the structural integrity of the home. On the other hand, another recent home inspected had 0.5 inches of differential settlement. This second home was constructed on a moving hillside and the movement was having deleterious effects on the performance of the structures constructed on the hillside. A permanent repair cost in this case was in excess of $200,000. Excellent judgment allows us to distinguish the difference in risk between the two examples above.
Please contact us to discuss your structural concerns with a Professional Engineer.
Do Professional Engineers need a home inspectors license or certification?
In accordance with RCW 18.280.170, Professional Engineers are not required to have a home inspector license or certification when they are acting within the scope of their profession. Professional Engineers are regulated by other, more stringent portions of the state’s regulations, which exceed the requirements for Home Inspectors in experience, education, training, testing and licensing.
What will JEC inspect when they examine my home or structure?
We will examine whichever components and systems you request within the scope of our professional licenses. Or we can make custom recommendations what should be inspected based on the type of structure and time period the structure was constructed. We regularly inspect structural components and systems, masonry walls, foundations, retaining walls, ground slopes, site drainage, culverts, bridges, slabs on grade, driveways, steps, walkways, patios, garages, carports, exterior siding, roofs, insulation, ventilation, trees and vegetation.
How much will it cost to have a Professional Engineer inspect my home or structure?
This will vary depending on the scope of inspection involved, the type and size of structure and the extent of reporting requested. We will tailor the scope of work to meet your specific needs and are available to make recommendations based on our experience. If the scope of work is understood, we can provide a not-to-exceed cost.
Please contact us today for a cost of service estimate or to schedule an inspection.