An engineering inspection puts a licensed engineer on site to look at work and put an opinion in writing. Builders call A1 when a city inspector, an owner or a lender wants more than a passed checklist, or when something on the job raises a question that only an engineer can answer.
Residential and commercial are different visits
The goal is the same in both cases, a written opinion someone can rely on. What changes is who's reading it and how much ground the visit has to cover.
| Residential | Commercial | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical reasons | Additions, service upgrades, covered work, unpermitted work, storm or fire damage, a sale or refinance | Tenant finish-outs, changes of use, equipment additions, conditions flagged by the city or the owner's team |
| Who usually reads the report | Building inspector, homeowner, lender | Building official, owner, property manager, design team |
| Access | Homeowner or GC lets us in | Often scheduled around tenants, operating hours or other trades |
| Documents worth having on site | Permit, any drawings, photos of work before it was covered | Approved drawings, prior reports, equipment submittals |
What the written report includes
A report is only useful if the person reading it can act on it. Ours are written so a building official or an owner can follow them without calling us:
- Who, where and when. Property address, date of the visit, who was present, and the reason for the inspection.
- What was looked at. The areas and systems inspected, and anything that couldn't be accessed.
- Findings. Each observation described plainly, with photos where they help.
- Code basis. The adopted code the work was compared against.
- Recommendations. What needs correcting, if anything, and whether a follow-up visit is needed after repairs.
- Seal and signature from an engineer licensed in the project's state.
If what you really need is a short sign-off rather than a full report, a pre-inspection or observation letter may be the better fit. We'll tell you which one the situation calls for.
Scheduling a visit
Tell us what you need inspected, the address, and the date you're working against, whether that's a city reinspection, a pour, a closing or a tenant move-in. We'll confirm the scope, quote the visit and the report, and pick a time that works with the job.
A few things make the visit go smoothly:
- Someone on site who can open panels, attics or ceilings if needed
- Covered work exposed where possible, or photos taken before it was covered
- Any correction notice or inspector note that triggered the request
If the inspection turns up something that needs a design change, the findings can feed straight into a plan review so the drawings and the field match.
Special inspections through our network
Some projects require special inspections, where a qualified inspector verifies specific work during construction, often structural items. These are handled by a licensed structural engineer in our network, licensed in the project's state. You coordinate through A1, and the reports come back through A1, so your file stays in one place.
Inspections in Florida
For Florida jobs, in-person inspections are done by a Florida-licensed engineer in our network. Plan reviews and letters for those jobs are still handled by A1 directly. More on how Florida projects work is on our Florida page.
Questions
Is an engineering inspection the same as a city inspection?
No. The city inspector decides whether the permit passes. An engineering inspection gives the inspector, owner or lender a licensed engineer's written opinion to rely on, which is often what gets a stuck inspection moving.
Can you inspect work that's already been covered?
Sometimes. Photos taken before it was covered help a lot. In other cases a small area may need to be opened so the engineer can see it.
Do you inspect structural items?
Structural and special inspections go through a licensed structural engineer in our network, licensed in your project's state. Electrical inspections are Nick's.
Where do you inspect?
Dallas-Fort Worth from our North Dallas office, and Florida through a Florida-licensed engineer in our network.
How is an inspection priced?
We give you a flat quote for the visit and the report once we know the scope and location.
Need an engineer on site? Tell us what needs inspecting and your deadline, or call (214) 382-9584.