Pre-renovation Inspection

What do you want to achieve with your renovation? Can you remove that wall? The pre-renovation inspection is an opportunity to consult with an objective professional who has the technical background to foresee problems and offer best approaches. The inspector will review just those parts of your home affected by the renovation. He will then prepare a list of items to consider before and during the renovation.

This report will include a logical schedule and work plan for carrying out the renovation. This must include a clearly defined scope of work. Defining exactly what you want, within the confines of your budget is critical to maintaining the quality of the project. Hiring an architect or certified architectural technologist to help you with the design and prepare drawings will guarantee that your plans are up to current building codes and will be accepted for a building permit. Without all of these elements, the possibility of “scope creep” and schedule and cost overruns are greatly enhanced.

Depending upon the size and type of renovation, most construction projects will need the expertise of a structural engineer and general contractor. When modifications occur to an existing or older home, it is not unusual to find unforeseen problems that will need to be addressed during the course of the renovation. A contingency fund of 10 to 20% is usually sufficient and should be kept in reserve for this purpose. The older the home, the greater the likelihood that problems may arise. For this reason alone, it’s important to have qualified bonded professionals do the work and ensure a successful outcome to your renovation.

For general guidelines on the inspection process, please see our FAQs section.

Inspect first! To book a DCI inspection online click here; email us at info@doublecheckinspections.ca,
or call 1-613-322-3682.

Central Mortgage and Housing Canada (CMHC) www.cmhc.ca has a wealth of information on home ownership, some of which is noted below. CMHC is located at 800 Montreal Road in Ottawa. You may wish to e-mail or contact them by: telephone at 1-800-688-2642, or by fax at 1-800-245-9274

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) also has useful information, some of which is listed following.

• Dwellings: Energy Conservation
• Consumers Guide to Buying Energy-Efficient Windows and Doors
• Dwellings: Insulation
• Insulation: Heat
• Keeping The Heat In