Third Party Phase Inspections Texas Inspection Agency offers you a range of service in new home inspections that is unparalleled.  We can act as your expert adviser to help you establish a relationship with your Builder that is conducive to your best interest.  We are there to work with them and to help them provide you the very best possible home. You’ve already taken the first, and most important step by informing yourself of the possibilities. Take the next step and protect yourself and your investment in your new home and give us a call today!   Foundation Below is a partial list of key items we check for.  This list is simplified for your benefit as there are numerous additional items that we are checking for during the inspection. General site inspection of grading and drainage area immediate to foundation Form Check - random level check Vapor Barrier - inspection of poly at all required locations Grade Beams - inspection for depth, width, location, cleanliness Steel - inspection of installation against the engineered drawings For Additional fees : We can perform a final check of all slab dimensions against the plans We can confirm the layout of all electrical, HVAC and plumbing stub outs to ensure they will fall within the intended wall cavity We can confirm that the plumbing, electrical or HVAC installed in the slab conforms to the requirements of the blueprints Inspection Requirements : All work must be ready and complete Approved permits and a complete set of plans & specifications must be on site.  Foundation plans must show all steel layouts, grade beam locations and grade beam cross sectional drawings inclusive of required beam depths and widths All water supply and DWV systems must have an active test and have proper gauges installed All foundations must be certified by a Registered structural engineer prior to placement of any concrete All plumbing, electrical and mechanical placed in foundations must be certified by the local municipal building inspection department prior to placement of concrete All concrete placement, post tensioning, and strength testing must be performed by a registered structural engineer or their agent and certified before any work is placed on the foundation If approved and stamped construction documents are not on site at the time of inspection, the inspection will not be performed and a full fee will be charged to you since the inspection slot is lost and not recoverable.   Framing Only Below is a partial list of key items we check for.  As we mentioned above,  this list is simplified for your benefit as there are numerous additional items that we are checking for during the inspection. General Site Check - embedded forms in slab & hazards ( nails in boards etc. ) General Requirements - inspection on minimum required room sizes, ceiling heights, mechanical service walkway Floor Framing - inspection of all structural & engineered components and floor decking. Wall Framing - inspection of all bearing conditions, notching & boring, wall headers, wall bracing, structural bracing & general framing items such as nail patterns. Exterior Wall - inspection of installation methods of exterior vapor barriers, sheathings, sidings, windows, doors, columns, posts & post connections and flashing details Ceiling & Roof Framing - inspection of sizing’s and installation methods for all ceiling and roof spans, all structural and engineered components, purlins & struts, ridges, hips and valleys, load transfers, roof decking, roofing felt, ventilation and all roof flashing details Fire & Life Safety - inspection of clearance to combustibles on flues & chimneys, fire blocking, draft stopping, attic access and smoke detector pre-wire General Safety - tempered glass requirements, temporary guardrails on interior stairs, fixed guardrails, balusters’ and handrails on finished decks, egress requirements on entry door, hallways & bedroom windows Advisory - All inspections are performed based on the International Code Council International Residential Building Code that is being enforced at the time of construction. Inspection Requirements : All work must be ready and complete ( fully dried in and all windows and doors set ) All plans, specs, engineered component (beams,trusses) drawings & layouts must be on site All engineered or structural repair or bracing letters must be on site The Client or Builders registered structural engineer of record must perform a final inspection and certifiy all structural components in the building prior to insulation or drywall. If the construction documents are not on site, the inspection will be performed and a full fee will be charged to you since the inspection slot is lost and not recoverable. Frame Group (Includes Framing, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical ) The Frame Group is an inspection of the four main systems of the house performed just prior to covering with wallboard.  These inspections can be ordered individually or as a group. If they are individual the fees are higher.  Below is a partial list of key items we check for.  As we mentioned above,  this list is simplified as there are numerous other items that we are checking for during the inspection.     Plumbing (Included in Group Inspection) Below is a partial list of key items we check for.  This list is also a partial list as there are numerous additional items that we are checking for during inspection. General Site Check - damage to underground utilities Building Sewer - inspection of visible building sewer & cleanouts sizing’s and proper locations. Water & Gas - inspection of water and gas main service lines and shut off valves. Drains, Wastes & Vents - inspection of all DWV, DFU, trap arms, cleanouts, support & strapping, pressure or water test, roof or sidewall terminations, penetrations and flashings and pipe protection Water Supply - inspection of all water supply piping for, cross connections, proper material use, routing, supports & protection form damage, shut-offs, proper pipe insulation. Gas Supply Lines - inspection of all routing, supports, required shut-offs, pipe protection Water Heaters - inspection of all general installation requirements, shut-offs, clearances, approved locations, combustion air, flue venting Advisory - All plumbing inspections are performed based on the International Residential Building Code and the International Plumbing Code that is being enforce at the time of construction. Due to State law, we can only provide an opinion of code compliance.   All plumbing must be inspected for a final PASS/FAIL by a State licensed Plumbing inspector. For Additional fees : We can check all water & gas sizing requirements against the blueprint We can confirm that all work installed matches the blueprint.  A code compliance inspection does not check to ensure that everything that is listed on the blueprint is actually in place as changes occur due to the buyer’s wishes. The inspector only inspects to ensure that minimum requirements are met.  If that special faucet or body spray arrangement in the master shower is not roughed in, he will not be looking for it. Inspection Requirements : All work must be ready and complete Approved permits and a complete approved set of plans & specifications must be on site.  Blueprints must show all required plumbing inclusive of changes All water supply and DWV systems must have an active test and have proper gauges installed All water, gas supply, venting and drain system pressure tests must be certified and approved by the local municipality or utility district prior to insulation or drywall. If the approved and stamped construction documents are not on site, the inspection will be performed and a full fee will be charged to you since the inspection slot is lost and not recoverable.     Heating & Air Conditioning (Included in Group Inspection) Below is a partial list of key items we check for.  As we mentioned above, this list is simplified for your benefit as there are numerous additional items that we are checking for during the inspection. General Site Check - damage to any exterior equipment Venting & Flues - inspection of vent connections, penetrations,  terminations, approved routing, clearance ratings to combustibles, approved types, sizing’s & support Ducting - inspection of connections, routing, support, locations, approved seals, fire stopping & fire dampers when required. Combustion Air - inspection of required locations Return Air - inspection of approved locations, mechanical closet & plenum construction Fireplaces - inspection of box installations, clearances, venting, combustion air, roof terminations crown caps & spark arrestors Dryer, Bath, Laundry & Kitchen Exhausts - inspection of approved piping, installation requirements, routing, sizing, support, terminations and backdraft dampers Equipment - inspection of mechanical equipment & installation clearances, refrigerant & suction lines, routing, support & platform, service access, exterior wall penetrations and vent connections Condensate System - inspection of primary and secondary drains, piping type, P traps & vents, sizing, supports, termination points to the exterior or connection points to sanitary drain system, safety pans size & gauge. Advisory - All HVAC is inspected according to the International Code Councils International Residential Building Code & International Mechanical Code that is being enforced at the time of inspection. For Additional fees : We can check all equipment sizes and type against the blueprints & specs We can confirm that all work installed matches the blueprint.  A code compliance inspection does not check to ensure that everything that is listed on the blueprint is actually in place as changes occur due to the buyer’s wishes. The inspector only inspects to ensure minimum requirements are met.  If additional ducting or outlet registers are added to the plan that exceed the minimum requirements, he will not be looking for it and it may go unnoticed until well after it is too late. We can perform return air & supply air calculations to ensure proper sizing of the ducting systems ducts. Inspection Requirements : All work must be ready and complete Approved permits and a complete set of stamped approved plans & specifications must be on site.  Blueprints must show all required duct layouts or locations inclusive of changes and specifications must provide all equipment model #'s and sizing requirements All HVAC installations must be approved by the local municipal inspector prior to insulation and drywall placement. If the construction documents are not on site, the inspection will be performed and a full fee will be charged to you since the inspection slot is lost and not recoverable     Electrical (Included in Group Inspection) Below is a partial list of key items we check for.  As we mentioned above,  this list is simplified for your benefit as there are numerous additional items that we are checking for during the inspection. Outlets - inspection of receptacle spacing, continuity, and polarity. Lighting - inspection of required and general lighting, fan boxes, attics, crawl spaces and exterior. Safety - inspection of required AFCI & GFCI circuits and the smoke detectors are hard-wired in series. Installation - inspection of box fills, device & outlet boxes, wiring methods, support and protection Panels - inspection of Main & sub panels, approved locations, general installation requirements, system grounding, electrodes, feeders and wiring methods Equipment - inspection of appliance circuits, mechanical equipment conductors and all disconnects Advisory - All work is inspected based on the NFPA 70, National Electrical Code. For Additional fees : We can check all service sizing requirements against the blueprint. We can perform load calculations to confirm the service is adequately sized. We can confirm that all work installed matches the blueprint.  A code compliance inspection does not check to ensure that everything that is listed on the blueprint is actually in place as changes occur due to the buyer’s wishes. The inspector only inspects to ensure minimum requirements are met. If additional lighting or outlets are added to the plan that exceed the minimum requirements, he will not be looking for it and it may go unnoticed until well after it is too late. Inspection Requirements : All work must be ready and complete Approved permits and a complete set of plans & specifications must be on site.  Blueprints must show all required electrical inclusive of changes All work must be inspected and approved by the local municipal inspector prior to insulation or drywall installation If these documents are not on site, the inspection will be performed and a full fee will be charged to you since the inspection slot is lost and not recoverable      Drywall (This is not included in Frame Group ) Below is a partial list of key items we check for.  As we mentioned above, this list is simplified for your benefit as there are numerous additional items that we are checking for during the inspection. Materials - inspection of materials and approved locations Installation - inspection of nailing and or screw patterns For Additional fees : We can check for covered electrical devices, HVAC registers and plumbing pipes Inspection Requirements : All drywall must be fully installed and fastened No work may be covered with tape or mud.  Any work covered will require additional fees to substantiate required attachments All work must be fully complete, otherwise the inspection will be performed and a full fee will be charged to you since the inspection slot is lost and not recoverable     Final Inspection (Also known as a Home Buyer Punch list ) This inspection is a final phase Final Building inspection.   We will be inspecting for work that does not meet the International Code Council Residential Building Codes that are being enforced at the time of construction.  Advisory - Local municipal building inspections departments have the final say on all code related rulings.  Numerous local municipalities have large volumes of amendments in place that are impossible to keep up with.  Therefore, be advised that all of our inspections are based on the International Code Council Residential Building Codes and our rulings may be disputed or over ruled by these amendments if effectible.   For Additional fees : We can confirm that all work installed matches the blueprint, specifications and any agreed change orders.  A code compliance inspection does not check to ensure that everything that is listed on the blueprint is actually in place as changes occur due to the buyer’s wishes. The inspector only inspects to ensure minimum requirements are met. If additional items are added to the plans that exceed the minimum requirements, he will not be looking for it and they may go unnoticed until well after it is too late. This additional fee item requires a complete set of Blueprints, specifications and copies of all documented changes orders or contracts.  Fees are based on an hourly rate, inclusive of all conferences, consultation, document review time, field inspection time and final report time. You can contact us about your specific needs to get a quote. Inspection Requirements : All work must be ready and complete Approved permits and a complete set of plans & specifications should be on site.  If we did not perform Phase Inspections for you, please ask your Builder to provide a copy of all municipal or Third Party inspections and engineering reports and correction notices.  We will review these and follow up on all reported items that are visible or accessible at the time of our inspection. This information will help in providing you the most thorough inspection we can perform. Your Builder must have all utilities, equipment and appliances turned on. All HVAC systems, water heaters, appliances & fireplaces must be pre-tested by the Builder prior to our inspection. You are responsible for assuring us that all items are ready for inspection. If they are not, these systems will not be checked.  The inspection will take place as agreed and you will be charged for a full inspection fee regardless as you have blocked a half day of our schedule and the we are unable to re-sell this time. A re-inspection can be booked when all items are ready for inspection and the remaining items can be checked.  The amount of the re-inspection fee will be based on the items remaining to be inspected and will be quoted to you prior to the re-inspection.