Residential Ancillary Services

A mold inspection is the first step in the process of determining if the mold spores in the home are elevated and if so, what type of spores they are.  During a mold inspection we take  a minimum of 2 Air Samples to (1 Inside/ 1 Outside) to determine if elevated conditions exist or not.

When making a commitment like buying a home, you want to make sure you are not purchasing into someone else’s problems. Unfortunately, it is fairly easy to cover up serious mold issues for a short period of time with cleaning or painting the affected areas.

There are many reasons to test for mold:

• Seeing mold with the naked eye or smelling it upon entering the home
• There was recent water damage in the home
• The home is older
• If the new occupants have a respiratory illness or are elderly/infants

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas. It comes from Radium, Uranium and some granites in the earth. It comes up through the soil, can collect in homes and is the 2nd leading cause of lung cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determine the levels that are safe or when to consider mitigation.

You have to conduct a Radon test to determine the radon level in the home.  “Radon level” is not whether or not the house has Radon. Radon comes up through the soil. In most areas there is always a level of Radon in the air, even outdoors.  What we want to know is what that level is inside the living space. Because of subsurface soil conditions and home construction differences, the level of Radon in one home may be completely different from the house next door. Each home must be tested separately.

Our Inspectors use electronic continuous Radon monitors which take air samples each hour for a minimum of 48 hours.  the results are available at the end of the testing period showing an average Radon level for each of the 48 hours of the test.

Our professionals get the most reliable results conducted with properly maintained and calibrated equipment. We ensure that the test is completed in optimal testing conditions can provide hourly results if there was unusual conditions and test interference.

An infrared scan can be a valuable tool in analyzing leak detection or heat loss that might be hidden during a standard home inspection. This is an additional tool that help you get a more complete picture of the home.

By detecting the difference in temperature between a wet area and the surrounding dry areas thermal imaging can help detect moisture issues that would not be visible during a limited visual property inspection. It is also great at identifying areas where the contractor failed to insulate adequately.

Edifice Inspections has trained inspectors in the use of Infrared Thermography. We encourage its use with qualified individuals and will gladly answer any questions you have concerning its use, advantages and limitations.  This new technology has many advantages but should only be used by qualified personnel as an additional tool to help the inspector provide the most thorough inspection possible for their customers.

In a sewer inspection, we test the condition of your sewer line from the house to the street.  In new homes, sewer lines can be bellied and compressed with heavy construction equipment when the house was being built.  In older homes, tree roots and corrosion are the biggest threats for potential issues.  Clogs causing backups can happen anytime.  Make sure you understand the condition of your sewer line before it backs up and you have sewage in your house

When sewer lines are damaged or blocked, sewage can back up into the home. This water contains a variety of biological hazards that can cause intestinal, lung, and other infections. The moisture also creates the perfect growing environment for mold. Additionally, if backups go unnoticed, the issues can spread and expose people in the home to further health risks.

Edifice Inspectors have been trained on Georgia law for pool regulations and safety.

We check:

• plumbing
• filter
• lights
• adjoining structure as it relates to the pool or spa
• valves
• solar heating system
• pumps and motors
• electrical system
• filtration system
• pool heater
• safety barriers
• pool deck

Our Inspectors also report on:

• observe indications of active pool or spa shell leaks
• damaged water line tiles
• damaged or faulty drain covers
• pumps; heaters or filter housings
• inadequate drainage
• improper settlement of pool deck
• any visibly unsafe or improper pool equipment
• electrical connections, or bonding connections

Termites are a serious threat to homes, especially in the southeast. Queens can produce thousands of termite eggs per day, and termites have a relentless appetite for the structural wood in your home. Unfortunately, termite damage is typically not covered by homeowners insurance — so you’ll want to stay two steps ahead of termite invasions.

Homes are at risk from multiple types of termites:

Subterranean termites live underground and infiltrate homes through a series of tunnels. They feed on the cellulose components of your home, which are primarily wood and by-products of wood. Subterranean termites are very common in southern states and have a proclivity toward warmer climates, but they have been found in every state except Alaska.

Drywood termites do not need contact with the soil like subterranean termites. Drywood termites build colonies in structural wood; control of drywoods can be more challenging because their colonies are not confined to the soil.

Formosan termites are sometimes referred to as “super termites” because of their size, destructive habits and size of the colonies. Colonies can number over 1 million!