Question 1

What is the difference between deputy inspections and home inspections?

Accepted Answer

Deputy Inspections vs. Home Inspections

What’s the difference, and who needs them?

At Troupe Inspections, we provide both Deputy (Special) Inspections and Home Inspections, but they serve very different purposes. Here’s a simple breakdown so you know exactly what you’re getting.

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Deputy Inspections (Special Inspections)
Deputy Inspections are code-required inspections that take place during construction. These are not optional on many projects.
    •    Who hires us: The property owner, contractor, or builder, as required by the local building department.
    •    Why they’re needed: Building codes require certain critical structural components to be inspected by a qualified third-party inspector to verify they are installed according to the approved plans and applicable codes.
    •    Common examples:
    •    Foundations and anchor bolts
    •    Structural concrete
    •    Reinforcing steel (rebar)
    •    Structural welding and steel
    •    Masonry (CMU)
    •    Post-tension systems
    •    Who we report to: The building department and the engineer of record.

Bottom line: Deputy inspections are mandatory code inspections that help ensure the structure is built safely and correctly.

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Home Inspections
A Home Inspection is a general, non-code inspection of a property’s condition, most commonly done during a real estate transaction.
    •    Who hires us: Usually the homebuyer, but sometimes the seller or homeowner.
    •    Why they’re needed: To give you a clear, unbiased picture of the home’s condition so you can make confident decisions about buying, selling, or maintaining the property.
    •    What we look at:
    •    Roof and structure
    •    Electrical system
    •    Plumbing
    •    Heating and cooling (HVAC)
    •    Interior and exterior components
    •    Attic, crawlspace, and more

Bottom line: A home inspection helps you understand the condition of the property before you buy or as you maintain it.

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Quick Comparison
    •    Deputy Inspection: Code-required, during construction, hired by builder/owner, reported to the building department.
    •    Home Inspection: General condition evaluation, usually for real estate transactions, hired by buyers or homeowners.

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If you’re not sure which service you need, Troupe Inspections is happy to help you figure it out. Just reach out and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Question 2

What should I do to prepare for an epoxy inspection?

Accepted Answer

Holes should all be drilled at spacing and depth shown on plans.  Holes should be cleaned following epoxy manufacturers directions.  (Blow with compressed air, brush using bottle brush and blow again, making sure to blow dust from back of the hole, not just the front face).  Once I arrive, I will check for plan conformance and proper cleaning procedures and watch the installation of the epoxy anchors.

Question 3

What do you look for during a rebar/footing inspection?

Accepted Answer

I will check the approved plans and make sure what is built matches the plans.  This includes the size and depth of the footing, grade, size, spacing and clearances of all rebar and anchor bolts if required.  3" clearance from rebar to dirt is the most common clearance requirement for footings and is also the most common deficiency.

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