The Decatur Minute

 

Ever wonder what building inspectors look for when they inspect homes?  Okay, most of you might think about the framing, flooring, electrical or maybe plumbing.  All true, but there is so much more that goes into inspecting construction to ensure that all codes are met and that the home is energy efficient.  Two years ago, Decatur decided to contract Safebuilt to provide expert inspection services.  Steve Kinnaird is the Safebuilt representative that works for the City of Decatur.  Today I joined him in his inspection of a new single family home being built at in the MAK  district by Thrive Homes. 

 

The home will be a certified Earthcraft house which means that it meets stringent standards for sustainability.  We looked at caulking on the outside, insulation/caulking all openings that go outside (ceilings, floors, seams on the plyboard), any fixtures that allow air to pass through.  There a lot of holes in a house!  That specific pink caulk was everywhere!  We looked at the smoke detector outlets to make sure they met code and were hard wired.  Every duct for the HVAC needed a special goo called Mastik painted on the inside to make sure air flow stayed in the duct and not in the walls or attic.  We counted electrical outlets, made sure ceiling fans did not get installed within 36″ of a smoke detector (aha!) or a vent (could blow smoke in the vent away from the detector-that’s bad!).  The plumbing needed to be insulated and the wires coming from the electrical panel had to be spread out so that they don’t get overheated (who knew?).  The amount of knowledge and expertise required to ensure that buildings are safe and energy efficient is astounding!  What impressed me the most was the spirit of collaboration between the inspector and the builder.  Each knew that the final product must be safe for the new occupants so solutions and corrections were discussed and agreed upon.  Those changes will be made and Steve will head back over and make sure it’s done to his satisfaction.  This happens everyday, many times a day as Decatur is experiencing a great deal of growth and increase in construction permits.

 

So, be assured that while the standards for construction change and the requirements for energy efficiency and safety increase; Decatur and it’s contractor Safebuilt have it all under control.  City of Decatur Schools should offer this as a field trip.  The kids would love it and so would Steve!