Third party inspectors perform a vital service in the construction industry. All too often this service is value engineered out of the construction process, which can affect the success of the finished project. The third party inspector should be the owner’s first contact since they can determine the scope of work and assist the owner through all phases of the project. This applies to new construction and renovation projects. Third party inspectors are extremely vital in repair and remediation work since the owner may not have hired a general contractor to oversee the project. An experienced third party inspector can act as the owner’s set of eyes on the project from the beginning to the end of the completed work.

Third party inspectors perform a site inspection which can take anywhere from one to three hours. There is a fee for this service and it is often well worth the cost. Third party inspectors often possess some type of technical training and may be a licensed architect or engineer or building envelope consultant. They should be, and usually are, familiar with critical aspects of the project such as construction detailing, air sealing and flashing, and do not have any financial connection or ties to any of the contractors on the project.