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What is a Geologic Inspection? Contact us at (866)-436-3647 or (866) GEO-ENGR to answer any questions What is a Geological Inspection? Back to top Beverly Silver Lake Steep Slope Next to The House A geological inspection usually covers evaluation of the grounds and any slopes at the property only. Typically, inspection of the structure and its foundation as well as any other improvements such as retaining walls or swimming pools is not within the scope of this type of inspection. What is a structural Inspection? Back to top Encino Distorted Door Settlement In Mt. Washington A structural inspection involves an evaluation of the building foundations, floor slab, or retaining walls from a settlement (or movement due to expansive soils) and cracking viewpoint. This type of inspection does not include an evaluation of the stability of the grounds or any slopes at the property as those are covered in a geological inspection. What does a Geotechnical Inspection include? Back to top This type of inspection is our most complete type of inspection in that it combines a geological and a structural inspection into one. This way, instead of hiring a geologist as well as a structural engineer to evaluate the property, you have a geotechnical engineer evaluate the entire site (both the grounds as well as the improvements at the site such as the structure, any retaining walls, pools, etc.) saving you cost and time. This is one of the reasons why the California Association of Realtors (CAR) recommends using a geotechnical engineer in their Buyer's Inspection Advisory (attached to the back of every real estate contract). Sherman Oaks Encino Studio City Daylighted Bedding Spalled Foundation Settled Jacuzzi A written report is then emailed to you usually within 2 to 3 days. Do I need to be there during the Inspection? Back to top We strongly recommend that you be present during the inspection. Its a valuable learning experience for most people and will help you get the most benefit from the inspection. Our engineers will give you a tour of the proeprty upon completion of the inspection to point out the potential problem areas and how best to mitigate them. How long will the Inspection take? Back to top Inspection time varies depending on the size and condition of the property. For most homes, 2 to 2.5 hours is typical. Does a newly constructed home need an Inspection? Back to top Absolutely, even more so than older houses because older homes have been through past earthquakes and heavy rains and in case of any problems, they show signs of distress. Why cant I do the Inspection myself? Back to top Chances are that even if you are very familiar with construction, you still don't have the knowledge, training and experience of a professional civil & geotechnical engineer; we have inspected thousands of homes and have over 30 years of experience. We know what to look for to detect problem areas. What if the Inspection uncovers problems? Back to top In our report we will delineate the condition of the property from a geotechnical viepwoint and provide you with conceptual repairs so that a contractor can provide you with a rough estimate. Armed with this information, you can make a more inteligent decision about purchasing and negotiation your dream home. Will you fix the problems you find during the Inspection? Back to top No. This assures that there will never be any conflict of interest. We are professional engineers, not contractors; therefore, we do not perform any of the repairs that we recommend. However, we do recommend that we observ the repairs during construction to make sure that the contractor complies with our recommendations and to revise our recommendations due to unforseen and changed conditions. |
