GPR and Infrared Thermography Inspection vs. Traditional Inspection
Few of us would purchase a home or property without an official inspection. This inspector is usually a technician who walks the house and land with modest tools such as electronic measuring tools to validate advertised dimensions and a flashlight to peek into corners and crawl spaces. Certainly much can be learned from such an inspection, but because of the limitations of applied technology, much can also be overlooked. When you are contemplating a major investment, consider taking an additional step in evaluating your future home or property by employing a reliable GPR and infrared Thermography professional audit.
What can GPR and Infrared Thermography find that Your Inspector Might Miss?
There is a combination of art and science employed in any good inspection. Your traditional home or property inspector draws on his knowledge of the geographic area and the problems associated with it, his experience with common issues in comparable properties and uses both his understanding of property and his technological toolkit to complete his inspection. He may have devices that can detect moisture, though this is usually a general detection rather than a specific one, and his measuring tools which are very accurate enabling him to validate the advertised property measurements presented to you. These are good inspections and valuable when considering a purchase, but undoubtedly, a GPR and infrared Thermography professional audit is more detailed and reveals vastly more in the way of existing and potential defects. Considering the size of the investment, it is wise to be open to the value of a GPR and infrared Thermography professional audit for your next purchase.
Infrared Thermography Property Audit Findings
From top to bottom, a GPR and Infrared Thermography inspection can uncover more detail than a traditional home or property inspection.
Let’s look at the Roof
As all homeowners know, roof repair and replacement are expensive propositions. Your GPR and Infrared Thermography audit of the roof includes detailed imaging of every part of your roof. This imaging reveals areas under the roof that retain moisture and we all know that interior moisture is very destructive. This analysis enables you to see the precise extent of the incursion after which you can move forward with confidence. You may see a minimal problem and elect to purchase the property and simply make the correction; you may negotiate with the owner to cover or split the cost; either way, with knowledge, you have confidence and options.
Let’s look at the basement
At the foundation of the house is the basement, another area in which water assaults are common. Using infrared thermography, your inspector uses video and still photography to create a detailed understanding of the pipes and water system of the home or property. These images enable pinpointing areas of water incursion. If unwanted water is discovered, you now have the information you need to make precise repairs. This saves time and money by enabling you to specifically target the part of wall or ceiling that may need to be breached to make the correction.
Between the Roof and Basement: Mold
An enemy of homeowners everywhere is that sneaky, creeping mold. Currently, the news is filled with warnings to homeowners about how damaging mold can be to property and to the health of the people inhabiting that property. An infrared thermography examination of the property can identify the places where mode is hiding. This is a very destructive item that traditional inspectors can miss; not because they are ignorant or disinterested, but because they simply do not have the tools to detect the presence of mold nor its extent.
Between the Roof and Basement: Electrical
If your property needs a new electrical system or requires major upgrades, you want to know that before you sign on the dotted line. Infrared thermography audits reveal hotspots in the electrical system that can spell trouble for the new owners.
Between the Roof and Basement: Structural Issues
A traditional inspector can detect visible structural issues, but you need infrared thermography to detect invisible challenges to the structure. Not all of the details exposed by this inspection will need immediate attention or prove that the house is about to fall, but it will provide you with the details of existing problems and potentially dangerous problems, both of which it is better to know than not.
Taking Advantage of GPR and Infrared Thermography to Save Money and Sleep Soundly
If we are considering a purchase or already own property, it seems wise to understand that property in as much detail as we can to protect our health and investment. An Infrared thermography audit performed by a trained professional is your route to minimal repair expenditures and a sound night’s sleep.