When you build hundreds of homes with massive crews, errors can happen.

That’s why high-volume homebuilders trust DPIS. Our home inspectors preemptively identify and help solve common and not-so-common errors, so your crews can build homes faster and with fewer warranty issues.

Here are a handful of problems we have prevented for our clients.

#1. Structural Damage Due to Improper Foundation Grading

Regardless of soil type and plasticity, areas adjacent to structures and slabs should slope away at a gradient of 2% or greater in order to provide positive surface drainage away from the home.

If the gradient is incorrect, potential foundation movement could cause structural damage and/or moisture intrusion under the foundation.

During a site preparation inspection, we identified improper drainage on the site before framing began and were able to minimize costs for the builder and prevent future drainage issues by bringing this finding to their attention.

#2. Weak Airflow Due to Poor Duct Design and Install

As home construction becomes tighter with less natural air changes per hour, high moisture and poor airflow become a dangerous and costly concern for builders.

During multiple inspections, we have noticed duct work being cut to fit in the required space, because they were not integrated with framing engineering. When ductwork is installed wrong, the HVAC system does not perform to specification.

To solve this issue, we now offer HVAC Design that includes: Manual’s J (Heat Load), D (Duct Design), and S (System Selection). These designs also include ducting layouts that are integrated with engineering to ensure all structural components will coincide with the mechanical system equipment and ducting.

#3. Mold in Small Closets and Utility Rooms Due to no Ventilation

Another issue as a result of tighter homes is mildew growth within small closets and utility rooms. When you place damp clothes in a confined space, mildew thrives. To solve this issue, we often suggest adding a supply vent in small spaces to improve circulation.

#4 Missing or Inadequate Fire Blocking

Forgetting to add fire blocking in code-mandated locations can be a deadly error for the new homeowners because fire blocking slows down the spread of flames.

Fire blocking must cut off all concealed draft openings, but it’s easy for busy house framers to miss spots that need to be blocked because they’re often obscured by complex elements such as in complex chases and some soffit areas.

Our team of certified home inspectors and engineers not only provide superior inspections but help educate your construction managers and trades on a daily basis to ensure homes are built faster and without costly mistakes.

{{cta('3a34feb0-a1fb-47d8-bad8-ad3512783425')}} if you want to minimize risk.