Purchasing a newly built home in Ontario is an exciting milestone. To safeguard this significant investment, it’s crucial to understand the Tarion Warranty Program and the importance of a Tarion Warranty Inspection. This inspection ensures your new home meets the quality standards and building codes mandated by Tarion, providing peace of mind and protection against potential defects.

The Tarion Warranty Program is a mandatory warranty for new homes in Ontario, covering various aspects of construction and workmanship. It offers protection against defects in work and materials, ensuring builders adhere to provincial standards. Homeowners can make warranty claims within specific timeframes, depending on the nature of the defect.

The Role of a Tarion Warranty Inspection

This Inspection is a comprehensive evaluation conducted by certified professionals to identify any deficiencies or defects in your new home. This inspection is typically performed before the expiration of your warranty periods, allowing you to address issues with your builder promptly.

Key Components Assessed During the Inspection

• Structural Integrity: Inspectors assess the foundation, framing, and overall structural components for any signs of defects or non-compliance with building codes.
• Mechanical Systems: Evaluation of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems to ensure proper installation and functionality.
• Exterior Elements: Assessment of roofing, siding, windows, and doors for defects that could lead to water infiltration or energy inefficiency.
• Interior Finishes: Inspection of walls, ceilings, flooring, and cabinetry for workmanship quality and adherence to standards.

Benefits of a Tarion Warranty Inspection

• Early Detection of Issues: Identifying problems early allows for timely repairs under the warranty, saving homeowners from future expenses.
• Enhanced Communication with Builders: A detailed inspection report provides a solid foundation for discussions with your builder regarding necessary corrections.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing your home has been thoroughly inspected ensures confidence in your investment’s longevity and safety.

A Tarion Warranty Inspection is an essential step in protecting your new home investment. By identifying and addressing potential issues early, homeowners can ensure their property meets the highest standards of quality and safety. Feel free to explore our website to learn more about Tarion Warranty Inspections and book your own today. You can trust Inspection Services Group to provide thorough and professional Inspections, giving you the peace of mind you deserve.

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Why Independent Tarion Warranty Inspections are forgone by buyers

1. Buyers are led to believe that the house has undergone rigorous inspections by the city or local jurisdiction building department. This is partly true. The city inspectors, especially in big cities, typically do representative inspections. If they are dealing with a builder who is constructing 500 houses in one subdivision, it is impossible to go through every single house at all stages of the construction process.
2. The builder tells buyers that the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) is sufficient. This is simply not true. Most PDIs do not include the functional components of the house such as the electrical, plumbing, structure, HVAC etc. PDIs concentrate on cosmetic issues and contract disagreements.
3. The builder does not educate the buyer about their rights as per the Tarion Warranty that the buyer pays for. Every buyer has the right to bring their representative, such as a professional inspector, at any process of the Tarion Warranty. I have heard so many times from homeowners the sentence “I didn’t know that I could bring my own inspector”.
4. Homeowners believe that if a house is built as per the Ontario Building Code (OBS), then it is going to be good. This is a myth in the construction industry that is perpetuated by builders and construction companies. The OBC like any other building code sets the MINIMUM standards in construction. Minimum Standards are not always good practice and I see this in every single new construction inspection I do.
5. The builder hires licensed trades to do the job. Even though this is true, modern contracting practices include subcontracting most of the work of a project. A large builder does not have thousands of different trades on the payroll. They hire other companies that specialize in a specific sector and have them do the work at a lower cost. Like any other structure, a house is built by different teams of trades whether these are plumbers, electricians, framers etc. I see the lack of communication between all these trades, in the deficiencies I see in new homes.
6. Homebuyers think that their house comes with a 7-year Warranty. That is the biggest myth of all. There are different stages in the Tarion Warranty and each one covers specific things.

What are the stages of your Tarion Warranty!

1. The Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). The PDI is done before the house keys are delivered to the buyer.  The PDI has the purpose of the buyer inspecting the property and submitting a list of deficiencies that are supposed to be corrected by the builder. This does not stop the delivery of the house though. In my opinion, the PDI should be done by the buyer just to make sure that the builder has delivered the property as per contract requirements; paint colours, cabinets, counters, floors etc. Cosmetic damages or deficiencies should also be reported during the PDI, as the builder may not agree with them after closing.
2. The 30-Day Warranty Stage. This stage is for the buyer to have the opportunity to report any issues after living in and interacting with the property. For example, plumbing, electrical and other evident issues can be reported during this period.
3. The 1-Year Warranty Inspection. This stage is for the buyer to report any issues that have come up within the first year of living in the home. This may include cosmetic issues that have occurred like nail pops, separating floors, drywall cracks etc. The Tarion Construction Performance Guidelines have a lot of exceptions for cosmetic issues though.
4. The 2-Year Tarion Warranty Stage. The two-year stage covers many functional issues such as plumbing, electrical, structural and water penetration inside the home. The coverage is much less than the one-year stage and will not cover workmanship issues or things that the builder may have forgotten to complete, regardless of whether they are OBC requirements or not.
5. The 7-Year Tarion Warranty Stage. The seven-stage only covers major structural issues. These include failure of foundation, frame etc. These issues typically will require engineering inspections.

Why should a new home buyer hire an independent inspection company?

In the last 5 years, I have seen houses being delivered to buyers without being finished both inside and outside. This is because builders have found loopholes in the building code that allow them to deliver an unfinished structure without any repercussions. Many home buyers do not know what to expect or have knowledge of construction practices and the OBC. A professional Inspector who follows the Tarion Construction Performance Guidelines and is trained and follows a specific process will go through the exterior and interior of the house in detail and report on all issues. As opposed to the builder representative who works FOR THE BUILDER, the inspector works for YOU.

The 30-Day Inspection and the 1-Year inspection are the most important stages of the process because a lot of issues are covered. After the first year passes, the homeowner is left on their own when it comes to workmanship, errors, etc. I have heard many times a homeowner being told this by the builder: “Sorry, you should have done an inspection!”

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