Inspections You Can Trust
Commercial Property Inspection
Services Throughout Canada
Independently owned and operated
What You Are Inspecting
Customized Inspections to meet the client’s needs
What You Are Inspecting
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Apartment buildings
Office buildings
Warehouses
Restaurants
Strip malls
Convenience stores
Medical/professional buildings
Churches
Unusual: Dude ranches, small
aircraft hangers, etc.
Services We Provide
• From cursory to comprehensive, GPI provides the
information you need:
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Pictures and measurements of a property
An inspection of the roof or fire suppression system
Investigative/problem-solving services
Consulting
Draw inspections
A thorough inspection that meets ASTM standards
• The fees and report format are adapted to the scope
of work
Our Clients
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Investors
Brokers
Real estate attorneys
CPAs
Tenants: pre- and post-lease
Landlords
Insurance companies
Mortgage companies
Banks
Property management companies
Field service companies
Unsurpassed Standards
GPI understands that a service business must provide
great customer service:
• Easy to contact
• Inspections scheduled promptly
• Inspection report clear, concise and containing proper
photo documentation
• Reports delivered in a timely manner
• We answer questions before, during and after
the inspection
Due Diligence
Tenants that require threephase wiring:
• Make sure it’s
available before
signing a lease
Due Diligence
Grass doesn’t just die:
• This is near a gas
station
• This would call for a
Phase I or Phase II
environmental survey
Pre-purchase Inspections
Siding can look good from
afar, but closer examination
is always warranted.
Pre-purchase Inspections
Damaged stucco:
• Difficult to get to
• Difficult to repair
• Can’t be ignored
Pre-purchase Inspections
This masonry wall
supports the roof
and more
• Damage to this wall could
affect the building’s
structural integrity
Pre-purchase Inspections
• Note the gap between
the door and door frame
• Uneven ceiling grid
If a building shows this,
then the foundation could
have settled or the wall
has “racked.”
Pre-purchase Inspections
• Three-story structure with
small overhangs
• Efflorescence due to rain
water running down side
of building
• Salts leached from brick
• At this time, mostly a
cosmetic issue
Pre-purchase Inspections
Photos help out-of-state
investors better understand
the age and condition of the
equipment they are buying
Pre-purchase Inspections
Older boiler in good working
condition; however, the
supplies are wrapped
in asbestos
Pre-purchase Inspections
The flue has an obvious
hole in it. This is a
serious risk to all
building occupants.
Pre-purchase Inspections
• Electrical service is too
small for light
industrial operation
• Cabinet adds to
cosmetic appeal
• Should be open access
around top, front and
sides to dissipate heat
and allow quick access in
case of emergency
Pre-purchase Inspections
• Dampness has rusted
this electrical panel
and breakers
• It is now unsafe
Pre-purchase Inspections
• Unacceptable electrical
ground
• Each ground requires it’s
own connection
• Ground rod is too small
and too shallow to
accommodate the
potential load
Pre-purchase Inspections
Handrails are required in
commercial buildings.
Pre-purchase Inspections
• What type of business
currently occupies this
building:
• A restaurant?
• A clothing store?
• An investor must consider
what is there now and
their plans for the building
Insurance: Loss Control
• Part of the fire
suppression system
• Fire marshal can
issue citations for
obstructing access
Energy Evaluations and Recommendations
• Building owner installed
photovoltaic (solar
cell) panels
• Saved nothing on electric
bills because the panels
were shaded by
large trees
Energy Evaluations and Recommendations
• “Green roofs” can be
anything from sod to
potted plants
• Great care is used in
designing them
Energy Evaluations and Recommendations
Retrofitted energyefficient light fixture:
• Qualifies for certain
tax credits
• Saves energy
Draw Inspections
Bank verified
percentage of
completion BEFORE
approving the builder’s
draw request.
Water Intrusion: Investigative
Building interior got wet
after rain:
• Shrubbery and
negative grading
were culprits
• Easy tenant fix
Water Intrusion: Investigative
• Unoccupied buildings
need periodic
inspection
• This neglected roof leak
led to far greater
damage (see next slide)
Water Intrusion: Investigative
• Metal decking, metal
trusses, etc., are
excessively rusted
• Cost of repair could
exceed the economic
value of the building
Maintenance: Budgeting
Out-of-state landlord
needed photos as part of
the property’s long-term
resurfacing plans
Tenants and Easement Rights
Cell tower operator wanted
verification of no parking or
dumpsters in front of fence
Commercial Mechanical
Computer rooms:
• Large or small
businesses should
carefully design and
monitor their
computer rooms
Commercial Mechanical
Computer rooms:
• Need uninterrupted
electrical, cooling,
surge protection, etc.
• Each computer within
the office should also
have surge protection
Commercial Mechanical
Monitoring temperature
and humidity within a
computer room:
• Some monitors alert
designated people if
conditions are
outside the norm
Windstorm Inspection
The owner and insurance
company were surprised at
the extent of damage.
Commercial HVAC Inspections
The science behind
chillers is not complicated;
however, inspection
of the equipment
is complicated.
Commercial HVAC Inspections
Cooling towers can be
placed on the roof or on the
ground. However …
Commercial HVAC Inspections
The closer the unit is to
dirt, debris, falling
leaves, grass
clippings, etc.:
• The more
maintenance it
requires
• The less efficient it is
HVAC Problem-solving
Units located too
close together:
• Are less efficient
• Run longer
• Use more electricity
Commercial Electrical Inspections
Commercial enterprises
can have numerous
electrical panels:
• Should be
periodically
inspected using
infrared
thermometers,
infrared cameras or
other tools
Electrical Problem-solving
• Control wiring is a
specialized field
• Most electricians are not
qualified to do it
• One tiny mistake can
take many hours to find
and correct
Electrical Problem-solving
• Property had power the
day before
• Result of a lightning strike
Mechanical Problem-solving
• Satellite signal lost
• Was not permanently or
professionally installed
Mechanical Problem-solving
Roof of a restaurant
• Dissipating hot greasy
air next to an air
conditioner that is also
dissipating hot air does
not work well
Specialized Inspections
• Synthetic stucco can be
difficult to repair
• To the untrained eye this
looks OK, but is water
entering the building?
Roof Inspections
When this property
management company
has an unhappy tenant, it
hires experts to locate
roof leaks.
Roof Consultation
Roof-mounted
HVAC units:
• Can produce
thousands of gallons
of condensate a day
• Can cause excessive
wear to the
roof covering
• Best to divert the
water off of the roof
Mechanical Consultation
• Control panels such as
this can be used for
security systems, etc.
• This one is intentionally
hard to locate because
it’s placed above the
ceiling and out of sight
Interior Consultation
Why did the
breaker trip?
• Office had one
20-amp circuit
• Computer tower,
monitor, printer, CD
player and small lamp
• Too much will lead to
nuisance tripping
Interior Consultation
A roof leak led to mold:
• It only takes moisture
and 48 hours for mold
to grow
Interior Consultation
A flood led to:
• Wet floor tiles and
loss of adhesion
• Tiles can’t be repaired
Plumbing Consultation
Replacing traditional
faucets with photo cell
“on/off” sensor and
constant-temperature
models saves on water
and energy to heat it.
Plumbing Consultation
• “Trapped” floor drains
can dry out
• Pouring water down
drains can prevent odor
Contact GPI today to obtain a quote or
to schedule your inspection today.