Admirable Inspection Services LTD
304 Windermere road nw T6W2Z8 Edmonton, AB, Canada

The coolers were performing very well at this out of town restaurant inspection today. all that ice cold beer was looking a little too good....We wanted to take a moment and thank you very much for having us out to help you with your building needs during challenging times in your industry!!

Building codes prescribed locations that flashings are required in a residential property. in this photo we can see multiple locations where flashings were omitted altogether, this installation would be contrary to Alberta building code AKA NBC2019AE or to the manufacturer requirements for the cladding selected. The only reason things like this happen is from applicators that are not familiar with building codes or home builders not enforcing them on trades. It's too bad things like this happen resulting in warranty claims and frustrations that otherwise could be mitigated through proper inspection.

Exposed OSB (orientated strand board) at grade is rot waiting to happen, furthermore this was conditioned space on the interior with major air loss. Unfortunately I can not comment on the interior errors as it was fully finished but covering a incomplete / problem area with paper is not going to do much for the long haul. in this case the builder will need to consult with a designer as to what the most appropriate membrane/ air water barrier will be. Always inspect new!!

Is your roof leaking at your restaurant? Foil pie plates are not recommended for repairs!!

Flashing and general wall cladding details are probably the most common defect when inspection in #yeg So many ask why? That is because the exterior cladding of a residential property is not apart of the inspection process for new construction. Take a look at this image from a recent inspection and the comparable infographic showing us how the house wrap needs to be lapped into the flashings to maintain continuity within the first plane of protection. This is a major cost to correct and is not be compliant with installation standards at the time of construction. Had this been caught through a new home inspection and addressed in the first year of materials and defects warranty, this could have been corrected at no cost to a homeowner..... now somebody's going to have to open their wallet to correct this home for the long run!!

Custom masks and key chains from a cool customer, thanks for the nice gifts!!

Here's a relatively young home that will need to be reviewed by engineers for directions. It is possible the home is dealing with expansive soil conditions. Expansive soils can push back on post footings and cause significant movement. You can look at the beams and see the level !

I wasn't surprised to see a double tapped breaker, it's very common.(this is when two conductors are connected to a single breaker that is not rated for the task) I was surprised to see a conductor connected to the bus bar fastener. This would be a connection bypassing a breaker of an appropriate rating. (This is a major fire risk if connected) Simple repairs at this point, it stresses the importance of permits when repairs are done at your home.

Roof designs can be problematic if not monitored and questioned at time of construction. moisture accumulation can be found in main locations and knowing where to look is the key. Unfortunately this moisture accumulation at the foundation ladder of a garage will require interior wall removal to determine the extent of damage and if structural issues are present.

The floor structure in this home needs a little help. Fasteners were missing, hangers were bent and joists were split. Structures age and need attention to ensure a objection free sale!

Hot stuff! Do you see it? Looks like something went a little sideways in this panel, time to remove some breakers and take a closer look!

Another liquid applied water resistive barrier inspection is complete. With EIFS and any other while clotting the air water barrier is probably the most critical application in the building envelope. Site inspections are vital step.

Home builder quality control round two.

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Thermal surveys are critical in building diagnosis. This anomaly noted in this ceiling with our @flir T series camera directed us to a open joist bay at a incomplete cantilever. Building envelope details are critical in the performance of your home. Always inspect new!

EIFS inspections always pose challenges. Such as whose responsibility is it to install the air water barrier? All too often the EIFS applicator takes the blame for incomplete work when it was not their scope. From a construction standpoint anybody working on the exterior walls and interior insulation in new construction should understand basic building science principles. What do you see below the EIFS cladding? Exposed wood.... This was missed by the builder and will become a major repair that could have otherwise been corrected a time of construction for a fraction of the value.

You never really know if building materials were wet in the past unless your looking. Always, always look.!

When the ledger is growing we either have a minute to react and correct before it's too late.

Sill flashing is required at the bottom of all windows for all cladding types. Missing flashings can lead to moisture issue within your structure. Where do you think the water will go? Always inspect New.

EIFS cladded walls like most others require 200MM clearance from final grade to help mitigate mositure problems. What kind of clearance would you expect when sod goes down?

Rotten waste line, no worries duct tape will take care of it!!

I couldn't quite wrap up my builder inspection this morning before heading out to the next job. I'll be back at this one later today and be sharing a great video be sure to watch.

Nicely done! Not all home builders will ensure a frost wall is properly insulated. Today I was pleasantly surprised to see a full foundation/ Frost wall protected with insulation board. All too often the insulation board is removed to pour the concrete slab tight to the home, in an area we ideally want insulation.

Here's today's example of not my job. Upside down lighting because they're a little bit too tall to fit. Oh well let's install them anyway...

Poorly sealed vapor retarders can have an impact on building performance. just because a home went through city inspections does not mean it's good to go! Step back, evaluate and get your third party inspection. Always inspect new

We are certainly on a roll for finding rotten beams in homes over the last couple of weeks. Major sloping of floors can certainly indicate something is going on beneath.

Bowing combined with sweeping can certainly be alarming to new home buyers. Look closely at these pictures from a new construction home and look at the bottom of the wall around the window and outside. The bow / sweep was over 1". This is one of those time that the builders engineering team and framers may have some work to do.... Nobody wants a compromised load path. Always inspect new.

New homes with cracking finish coats is not a good sign. We know we have a mositure issue, only demolition will tell us the full story... The challenge of new homes.

What are we looking at? We are looking at the base of a wall on a traditional sand and cement stucco cladded home with an acrylic finish. What we should be seeing at this offset is a metal trim with holes. The holes are known as weep holes. These allow water within the wall to drain. When drainage is blocked a variety of problematic conditions may occur. Always inspect new.

You really never know what you're walking into when you are requested for a building investigation.

An afternoon of home builder inspections in Valley view and park Lane Estates. Always nice to spend some time on construction challenges and testing the mind.

Another new home defect that really makes you stop and stare!! How long do you think it will be before water ingress occurs at this through wall penetration at the termination of a roof? This is also the wind driven rain side of the home......

New homes......

Leaking after the storm.... I'll say it again. Always, always inspect new!

Joining flat roof membranes to sloped roofs with asphalt shingles is not a challenging task. When a brand new home is covered with roofing tar at the transition point we know we have missing details that are being overcome with surface sealants. Surface sealants are Band-Aids to problems this one may result in a re-roof. Always inspect new.

Yet another new home inspection finds air barriers missing in the third floor walls of the home. These can be corrected after the fact with much more challenge than just installing the products required in the first place. Always inspect new.

Always make sure you're checking up on your windows as they age. these clips you see at the top which are worn and broken are the retainers that ensure the glass assembly cannot fall out. although there is spring bars and clips that also help retain the window the risk is present.

You never know what you'll find in a new home inspection. This one was an 11-month inspection prior to the expiration of the builder's warranty. The homeowners were told that the sump pump was accidentally left unplugged and that's why water was present in the basement. That was not the case the plumbers did not bond the drain line properly and was leaking everytime it operated. Always inspect new.

Always ensure your vacant home is being monitored. it's unknown how long ago this sump pump stopped working but an unnecessary flood could be avoided with a little check in.

Mould can happen for a variety of reasons. in a situation like this in a unfinished basement it's only one sheet of drywall to remediate problem. Don't leave mould in your home especially on inspection day, this can create major objections to home purchasers. In this case I suspect it was nothing more than condensation or maybe a minor league that occurred but now we have to explain there's mould in the house!

99% of new construction still nails garage walls to the slab. The City of Edmonton expects 1/2" lag bolts on 8' centers to secure the garage walls. I almost didn't know what to think when I actually found appropriate lag bolts today!

Our community league has worked hard and hard work pays off. Cameron Heights will be set to have a hockey rink in place this year followed up by a pretty cool spray park. We wanted to extend a big thanks to the community league that works very hard to make our neighborhood attractive to all community members!

A quick afternoon stopped to assist with what's that smell? Turned out to be a leaky roof causing some mould. Always look in those rooms you don't typically go into.

Last one, after a solid week of commercial inspections I am back to residential inspections tomorrow!!

Simply the best way to get around town and complete building inspection quotations! Enjoy your ride before Summer's over.

Late night thermal inspection went absolutely great, contrast was there and captured some great information. The @flir T530 with a 24degree lens performs excellent at 22M. @ Windermere

Last night's thermal inspections was rained out and put on hold. Super excited to see the Sun that will allow us to get to work. Quality thermal inspections can only be completed under the cover of darkness. Daylight inspections may not yield any information or bring benefit to the project. Stay tuned for some great thermal shots this evening.

Apparently the spruce grove TD Bank has an issue with people walking into the glass. Lol!!!

It may not look like much but the air barrier on the exterior walls of this customers master bedroom was mostly missing. This one sucks, insulation will need to be vacuumed out, the barrier installed and re blown. Always inspect new!!