New Construction Inspections

Building New in Alberta? Don't Sign Off Without an Independent Inspection.

With Alberta's trades stretched thinner than ever, even great builders are missing things. We inspect at every critical milestone — pre-drywall, pre-possession, and just before your 1-year warranty closes — so defects get fixed on the builder's dime, not yours.

Why It Matters Right Now

The Alberta Trade Reality in 2026

Record housing starts. A skilled trades shortage. Material substitutions. Tight timelines. The conditions that produce defects are stacked higher today than at any point in recent memory — and the cost of catching them after possession has never been higher.

Alberta's Trade Shortage Crisis

Alberta's housing starts hit record highs in 2024-2026, but the skilled trades pool hasn't kept pace. Framers, electricians, plumbers and HVAC techs are stretched across multiple sites. Result: rushed work, less peer review, and more defects making it past site supervisors.

"New" Doesn't Mean "Defect-Free"

Industry data consistently shows new builds average 30-100+ deficiencies on first inspection. Missed insulation, improper flashing, unsealed roof penetrations, reversed polarity outlets, and code violations are routine — not rare exceptions.

Material Substitutions Are Common

Supply chain pressure and rising costs push builders to swap specified materials mid-build. An independent inspection verifies the windows, insulation R-values, mechanical equipment and finishes you actually got match what was promised in your contract.

Your Warranty Window Closes Fast

Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act mandates 1-year materials & labour, 2-year delivery & distribution systems, 5-year building envelope, and 10-year structural. Miss the documentation deadlines and you're paying for builder mistakes out of pocket.

The Three Critical Stages

A Complete Inspection Plan for Your New Build

Each stage protects a different layer of your investment. Together, they form the most complete quality safety net you can put around a new construction home in Calgary or surrounding area.

Stage 1 After framing, plumbing, electrical & HVAC rough-ins — BEFORE drywall goes up

Pre-Drywall (Pre-Board) Inspection

The single highest-value inspection in the entire build process. This is your only chance to see what's behind the walls before they're sealed forever.

Framing: stud spacing, headers, beams, hangers, shear walls, fire blocking

Foundation visible elements: anchor bolts, sill plates, sealant, drainage tile

Plumbing rough-ins: pipe sizing, slope, supports, vents, pressure tests

Electrical rough-ins: wire gauge, box fill, grounding, panel layout, AFCI/GFCI placement

HVAC rough-ins: duct sizing, sealing, return air paths, equipment clearances

Insulation: R-values, full coverage, vapour barrier integrity, air sealing details

Window & door installation: flashing tape, sill pans, rough opening prep

Structural penetrations: every hole drilled through framing assessed

Why this stage: Once drywall is installed, every defect listed above becomes invisible — and most become a $5,000-$30,000 demolition project to access and fix. Pre-drywall is your one shot.

Stage 2 1-2 weeks before possession date

Pre-Possession (Final Walkthrough) Inspection

A complete top-to-bottom inspection of the finished home before you sign the possession papers — so deficiencies become the builder's responsibility to fix, not yours.

Full visual inspection of every interior & exterior surface

Thermal imaging scan for missing insulation, air leaks & moisture intrusion

Roof inspection (drone where applicable) — flashing, shingles, ventilation

Attic: insulation depth, ventilation ratios, vapour barrier penetrations

Every window & door operated, sealed and inspected for damage

All plumbing fixtures function-tested for leaks, drainage, hot water delivery

Electrical panel verification, outlet polarity, GFCI/AFCI testing throughout

HVAC operation, balance, filter access, condensate management

All built-in appliances tested for proper operation

Grading, drainage, downspouts, weeping tile termination

Cosmetic deficiencies documented: paint, drywall, trim, flooring, cabinets

Why this stage: Anything documented before you take keys is the builder's problem. Anything you discover after possession often becomes 'normal settlement' or 'cosmetic' — and the cost shifts to you.

Stage 3 Months 10-11 after possession (BEFORE the 1-year mark)

1-Year Warranty Inspection

A second comprehensive inspection timed deliberately just before your 1-year materials & labour warranty expires under Alberta's New Home Buyer Protection Act.

Re-inspection of every item from the pre-possession deficiency list

Settlement cracks: foundation, drywall, exterior cladding, hardscaping

Door & window operation after a full year of seasonal movement

Roof, flashing, sealants — first full Calgary winter & summer cycle

Grading & drainage performance after spring melt and storms

HVAC performance through extreme cold and heat

Plumbing leaks that only surface after extended use

Trim separation, nail pops, grout cracks — all warrantable items

Documented written report you can submit directly to your builder

Why this stage: After the 1-year mark, materials & labour coverage ends. Anything you find after that is on your dime. Catching it at month 10-11 means the builder still has to fix it for free.

Built for Alberta Conditions

What Calgary Climate & Code Demand

A new build that performs in Vancouver or Toronto isn't automatically a build that survives Calgary winters and Chinooks. Here's what we focus on that matters specifically here.

Calgary's Climate Demands More

Chinook cycles, -30°C winters, and 35°C summers stress every assembly. Vapour barriers, attic ventilation ratios, and proper exterior flashing aren't optional details — they're what determines whether your home rots from the inside in 5 years or stands strong for 50.

The Building Envelope Window

Alberta's 5-year building envelope warranty is a big deal — but only if defects are documented. Improper window flashing, missing kickout flashings, and bad cladding details often don't show damage until year 4 or 5. That's why we encourage envelope-focused inspections at year 4.

Code Updates Are Constant

Alberta Building Code updates regularly — energy efficiency requirements, electrical (CEC), plumbing, and ventilation standards all shift. Builders sometimes use older spec sheets. We inspect to current code and flag deficiencies that may not yet be on your builder's radar.

Energy Performance Matters

Calgary heating bills hinge on how well your envelope performs. Missing insulation in a single rim joist or a poorly sealed attic hatch can cost hundreds per year and create ice damming. Thermal imaging during the final walkthrough catches what the eye can't.

Our Process

What Working With Us Looks Like

Simple, transparent, and respectful of your build timeline and your relationship with your builder.

1
Book your inspection
Call (403) 710-7770 or schedule online. Tell us your build stage and possession date and we'll recommend which inspection(s) to schedule.
2
We coordinate with your builder
We notify your builder, confirm site access, and schedule around the build timeline. You're welcome to attend — we encourage it.
3
Detailed on-site inspection
Typically 3-4 hours on site with thermal imaging, drone (where applicable), and full system testing. Hundreds of photos captured.
4
Same-day digital report
Itemized PDF deficiency list with photos, locations, code references and severity ratings. Formatted for direct submission to your builder.
5
Follow-up support
Questions about builder responses? Need help interpreting whether something is warrantable? We're a phone call away — included.

What We Bring to Every New Build Inspection

Thermal Imaging

FLIR cameras detect missing insulation, air leaks, moisture and electrical hotspots invisible to the eye.

Drone Roof Inspection

Up-close roof, flashing & chimney imaging without ever needing to walk the shingles.

Live System Testing

Every fixture, appliance, GFCI, and HVAC component operated and verified — not just visually checked.

Code-Referenced Reports

Deficiencies tied to specific Alberta Building Code, CEC, or manufacturer specifications.

Builder-Ready Format

PDF reports formatted exactly how builders prefer to receive them — fast turnaround on fixes.

Severity Ratings

Each item flagged Cosmetic, Maintenance, Major or Safety so you know what actually matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

When exactly should I book the pre-drywall inspection?›

After all rough-ins (framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC) AND insulation are complete, but BEFORE drywall is hung. Most builders give a 3-7 day window — book early. We can usually accommodate 48-72 hour notice for Calgary-area builds.

My builder says I don't need an inspection because they have site supervisors. Is that true?›

Site supervisors work for the builder. Their job is to keep the build moving and meet the builder's quality bar — which may differ from yours. Independent third-party inspections are a recognized best practice and consistently identify issues internal QC misses. The cost of an inspection is a tiny fraction of one missed defect.

Will my builder be upset if I bring in an independent inspector?›

Reputable Alberta builders welcome it — it protects everyone. If a builder actively resists letting you bring in an inspector, that's information worth having. We've worked alongside virtually every major Calgary-area builder and the experience is overwhelmingly professional.

Do I need all three inspections, or can I just do one?›

Each catches different things. If budget forces a choice: pre-drywall is the highest-value because nothing else can ever see behind the walls again. Pre-possession is essential to lock in builder accountability before keys change hands. The 1-year inspection is the cheapest insurance you'll buy — it pays for itself the first time it surfaces a single warrantable issue.

What does the Alberta New Home Warranty actually cover?›

Under the New Home Buyer Protection Act: 1 year on materials & labour (workmanship & materials), 2 years on delivery & distribution systems (electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation), 5 years on building envelope (water penetration), and 10 years on structural defects. Each tier has documentation requirements — inspections create that documentation.

Can you inspect a custom build, not a production builder?›

Absolutely. Custom and infill builds in Calgary actually benefit even more from independent inspection because there's often less repetitive process and more one-off detailing where mistakes happen.

What does it cost?›

Pricing varies by home size and inspection stage. Pre-drywall inspections are typically the most cost-effective. Call (403) 710-7770 for a fast quote based on your specific build.

Do you provide reports the builder will accept?›

Yes. Our reports are formatted with photos, locations, code/standard references, and severity ratings — exactly the format builders need to action items efficiently. We've never had a builder refuse one of our reports.

Don't Find Out After Possession.

Book your new construction inspection today. Same-week availability across Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Okotoks and surrounding communities. Call (403) 710-7770 or schedule online in under two minutes.