Ottawa’s Top Rated Home Inspector

Chimney The exterior of the chimney is looked at for signs of deterioration and water tightness.	Heating Systems The furnace and water heater are tested and inspected.	Asphalt Shingles The roof is examined for signs of wear and deterioration.
Thermal Image Cold zone observed on the underside of the roof.	Electrical Inside of the the main service panel (power disconnected).	Thermal Image Hot water in a sink.
Plumbing Plumbing fixtures with exposed drains are inspected for signs of issues.	Thermal Image Hot water used to verify that the drain is functioning properly.	Plumbing Bathtubs are filled and drained to listen for signs of poor venting, and to check for structural issues.
Moisture Moisture meters are helpful in determining if water or moisture is present in a wall cavity.	Roof Vent Vents are inspected to ensure they are water shedding and weather resistant.	Thermal Image A water leak was detected in the ceiling coming from the bathroom above.
Heating Modern day programmable thermostat allows for more efficient operation of heating and cooling systems.	Decks Deck surfaces require routine maintenance to keep the surface smooth and free from trip hazards.	Electric Service The electrical mast should be secure and trees and vegetation should be kept clear.
Eavestrough Keeping the eavestrough clear of debris allows it to drain properly and prevents leaks when gutters back up.	Thermal Image Cold zone noted on the roof, missing insulation in attic.	Windows Drainage holes in the wall should be in place over windows openings and under sills to encourage water drainage.
Electrical Outdoor plugs require functioning GFI protection to prevent accidental shock in wet areas.	Foundation Foundation cracks can be cosmetic and/or structural, often times further investigation is required on larger cracks to determine the correct course of remedy.	Insulation Verifying the attic insulation depth.
Thermal Image Attic hatch with good insulation on top, no cold zone observed.	Structure Broken trusses often require an engineers repair detail.	Thermal Image Cold zone observed on the underside of the roof.
Valley Flashing The flashings and gutters should be free of debris and encourage good drainage.	Flashing Counter flashings should be in place to protect the wall from water damage.	Thermal Image Cold zone observed where the interior wall meets the roof.
Garage Door Opener Garage door openers should have a functioning laser sensor and an auto-reverse feature for safety reasons.	Window Sill Window sills should slope away from the window to encourage water to run away from the window and the interior of the home.	Insulation Spray foam insulation used in a joist space.
Roofing The underside of broken roof decking.	Heating Heat registers are inspected for signs of dirty supply lines.	GFI testing GFI plugs should be in place around kitchens and bathrooms when close to sinks, tubs and wet areas.
Floors Flooring should be level and not present any trip hazards.	Appliances Household appliances are not generally inspected during a home inspection. Take note of information and be informed of their features.	Plumbing Kitchen sinks filled and drained to listen for signs of poor venting.
Basement Unfinished basements allow for good viewing of the homes infrastructure.	Plumbing Water staining on copper pipes in basement.	Heating Furnaces are operated and tested using their normal operating switches.
Electrical Main breaker in the electrical service panel.	Basement Windows Basement windows should have enough clearance to the ground to prevent flooding or they should have a window well installed.	Decks Deck joists are sized according to their spans.
Roof The soffit material should allow for good attic ventilation and the fascia should be securely fastened.	Plumbing Typical water meter in basement.	Plumbing Gaps around the water fixture in a bathtub can lead to leaks.
Fireplaces Wood-stove insert unit for heating.

Hallway Home Inspections Ltd. provides thorough and professional home inspection services and Tarion warranty inspections for single family homes, semi-detached homes, townhomes, and condominiums. Hiring a professional ensures that all areas of the home are inspected and all major components are tested by a trained and qualified individual. Proudly serving Ottawa and the surrounding area.

Why choose Hallway Home Inspections:

Your inspection is carried out by owner and inspector Tristan Hall, with past experience as a municipal building inspector and plans examiner with thorough understanding of the Ontario Building Code and municipal inspections process.
Registered home designer and Certified Architectural Technologist with experience in functional building design, structural requirements, and building envelope issues.
All home inspections are done to the Standards of Practice set out by the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI).
Quick turnaround time on informative electronic PDF reports with pictures, descriptions, and recommendations. Easy to read and understand.
No double bookings or rushed inspections. Clients are encouraged to follow along and ask questions.
Physically fit and able to access all areas of a home that are safe to enter (including the roof and attic).
Committed to continuing education and professional development.
Fully equipped with current technology to aid in efficiency and documentation.
Clean police record check.
Non-smoker.

Chimney

The exterior of the chimney is looked at for signs of deterioration and water tightness.

Heating Systems

The furnace and water heater are tested and inspected.

Asphalt Shingles

The roof is examined for signs of wear and deterioration.

Thermal Image

Cold zone observed on the underside of the roof.

Electrical

Inside of the the main service panel (power disconnected).

Thermal Image

Hot water in a sink.

Plumbing

Plumbing fixtures with exposed drains are inspected for signs of issues.

Thermal Image

Hot water used to verify that the drain is functioning properly.

Plumbing

Bathtubs are filled and drained to listen for signs of poor venting, and to check for structural issues.

Moisture

Moisture meters are helpful in determining if water or moisture is present in a wall cavity.

Roof Vent

Vents are inspected to ensure they are water shedding and weather resistant.

Thermal Image

A water leak was detected in the ceiling coming from the bathroom above.

Heating

Modern day programmable thermostat allows for more efficient operation of heating and cooling systems.

Decks

Deck surfaces require routine maintenance to keep the surface smooth and free from trip hazards.

Electric Service

The electrical mast should be secure and trees and vegetation should be kept clear.

Eavestrough

Keeping the eavestrough clear of debris allows it to drain properly and prevents leaks when gutters back up.

Thermal Image

Cold zone noted on the roof, missing insulation in attic.

Windows

Drainage holes in the wall should be in place over windows openings and under sills to encourage water drainage.

Electrical

Outdoor plugs require functioning GFI protection to prevent accidental shock in wet areas.

Foundation

Foundation cracks can be cosmetic and/or structural, often times further investigation is required on larger cracks to determine the correct course of remedy.

Insulation

Verifying the attic insulation depth.

Thermal Image

Attic hatch with good insulation on top, no cold zone observed.

Structure

Broken trusses often require an engineers repair detail.

Thermal Image

Cold zone observed on the underside of the roof.

Valley Flashing

The flashings and gutters should be free of debris and encourage good drainage.

Flashing

Counter flashings should be in place to protect the wall from water damage.

Thermal Image

Cold zone observed where the interior wall meets the roof.

Garage Door Opener

Garage door openers should have a functioning laser sensor and an auto-reverse feature for safety reasons.

Window Sill

Window sills should slope away from the window to encourage water to run away from the window and the interior of the home.

Insulation

Spray foam insulation used in a joist space.

Roofing

The underside of broken roof decking.

Heating

Heat registers are inspected for signs of dirty supply lines.

GFI testing

GFI plugs should be in place around kitchens and bathrooms when close to sinks, tubs and wet areas.

Floors

Flooring should be level and not present any trip hazards.

Appliances

Household appliances are not generally inspected during a home inspection. Take note of information and be informed of their features.

Plumbing

Kitchen sinks filled and drained to listen for signs of poor venting.

Basement

Unfinished basements allow for good viewing of the homes infrastructure.

Plumbing

Water staining on copper pipes in basement.

Heating

Furnaces are operated and tested using their normal operating switches.

Electrical

Main breaker in the electrical service panel.