R Michael Gray PE, Houston home inspector for 25 years, author of Homebuyer's Guide to Slab-on-Ground Foundations and webmaster for www.houston-slab-foundations.info, presents...


SHOULD YOU RETAIN A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER OR A REAL ESTATE INSPECTOR TO INSPECT YOUR HOME?

R Michael Gray PE      281-358-1121

HOUSTON HOME INSPECTIONS           FOUNDATION INSPECTIONS

NEW HOUSTON HOME INSPECTIONS  OTHER ENGINEERING SERVICES

 

Free Reports for Houston Home Buyers

Tips For a Faster, Easier and More Thorough Inspection

Should you retain a Texas Licensed  Houston Home Inspector or a Texas Professional Engineer?

What You Should Know About C.L.U.E. Reports

Who is R Michael Gray, PE?

Over 25 years experience as a Houston Home  Inspector/Texas Professional Engineer

Texas Professional Structural Engineer, #72949.

SBCCI Registered One and Two Family (code) Inspector, #4700

Author of the book, Buyer's Guide to Slab-on-Ground Foundations.

Has inspected over 13,000 homes as a Houston home inspector and Texas Professional Structural Engineer

Author of two professional papers regarding evaluation of  slab-on-ground foundations.

Coauthor of Guidelines for the Evaluation of Foundation Movement for Residential and Other Low-Rise Buildings published by the Foundation Performance Association

What They Say About R Michael Gray, PE

"We have bought 9 homes during  our adult life.  We have never seen an  inspection this thorough."   

"We started a foundation watering program and installed root barriers for three trees a year ago.  The root barriers solved the problem.  Your advice saved us at least $15,000."

"I know when my buyers pick you they will get a thorough, detailed report.  When I am the listing agent and I hear the buyer has selected  Michael Gray, I just cross my fingers."

"I did not like you at all when you inspected the house I was selling.  Now that I am the buyer - I want you on my side."

Companies My Clients Worked For

Exxon-Mobil, Shell Oil, Conoco-Phillips, Chevron, Houston Port Authority, Brown and Root, Kellogg Brown and Root, Halliburton, Delta Engineering, Forensic Engineers, Inc., Friendswood Development, Village Builders, Newmark Builders, Shaw Group, DPIS Engineering, Fluor, Wells Fargo,  City of Houston, MD Anderson, Momentum Energy, Memorial Hermann, Occidental, Bayer Chemical, Arco, The Offshore Company, Administaff, Holloman Engineering, Klad Manufacturing, Rice University, Bechtel, Kitchens and More, Texas Childrens Hospital, Cintas Corporation, IBM, Continental Airlines, University of Houston, St. Thomas University

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When You Should Consider Using a Professional Engineer to Inspect Home

 A conscientious Real Estate Inspector is a good choice for many homes. But some homes should be inspected by a Professional Engineer. 

You should lean toward retaining a Professional Engineer in the following circumstances:

  • The house has a history of foundation issues.  Houses that have obvious damage should be evaluated by a Professional Structural Engineer. Many real estate inspectors will recommend you retain a Professional Structural Engineer if they see signs of foundation or other structual movement during the general inspection. 

  • The foundation has been underpinned in the past. In these situations, most real estate inspectors will advise you to retain an engineer for further evaluation, especially if there are signs of continuing damage due to foundation movement.

  • The house is a custom or a production custom home.  These houses typically  include more complicated structural configurations, such as long open spans, high ceilings, and foundations with numerous inside corners.  Inside corners can create high stress concentrations in the foundation structure; long spans and high ceilings require special framing to avoid problems.  Buyers of these homes would be well served to retain a Professional Engineer.

  • The house is expensive.  More expense means more risk.  Prudent buyers commonly retain Professional Structural Engineers for more expensive houses.

  • The house foundation, frame structure or both has been repaired or modified in the past.  In many cases, these houses can impose some degree of additional risk to a buyer that may be best evaluated by a Structural Engineer.

In short, you should consider retaining a Professional Engineer to inspect the entire house or at least the foundation when the house you have offered to purchase has a history of foundation problems, shows signs of damage due to foundation movement such as cracks in drywall or brick veneer, is expensive or large house or has been structurally repaired or modifed in the past.

If you are interested in retaining an engineer to make a inspect a house you are considering buying, click for a free sample home inspection report.  To schedule an inspection call 281-358-1121.