How to Find A Stucco Hardcoat or EIFS Home Inspector or Inspection Company

Step 1

Ask the stucco hardcoat and eifs inspector how long the company has been in business.

Step 2

Ask the stucco  eifs inspector how long he or she has worked at the company.

Step 3

Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the stucco inspection company.

Step 4

Ask if the stucco  inspector is a certified MoistureFree stucco inspector as well as any local or state organizations.

Step 5

Ask if the stucco  inspector or inspection company has other accreditations such as EDI, ASHI, interNACHI, NAHI etc.

Step 6

If you need both a home inspection and stucco inspection use an inspector that is qualified to do both instead of hiring 2 inspectors.

Step 7

Check the stucco  inspector’s vehicle for official, professional lettering.

Step 8

Be sure the stucco  inspector has an office in your area.

Step 9

Ask if the stucco inspector is part time or full time or uses a helper that takes moisture readings and is that person certified.

Step 10

Ask if the stucco inspector’s methods are approved by MoistureFree or some other credited association like EDI etc.

Step 11

Ask about inspection guarantees. Be suspicious of any life time guarantees.

Step 12

Ask to see an insurance certificate if you’re having a home inspection. If you are just having a stucco inspection an insurance certificate is not required but is preferred.

Step 13

Ask for suggestions from friends and relatives. Real estate agents are also good sources.

Step 14

The standard home inspection does not qualify for a MoistureFree Warranty. Does the stucco inspector have the correct testing equipment? (Wetwall Detector, Moisture Probe Meter). Infa-Red Meters do not qualify.

HOW TO FIND A STUCCO REPAIR COMPANY

STEP 1

Have the stucco repair contractor agree to provide a guarantee on services provided.

STEP 2

Check the stucco repair contractor’s accreditations and are they licence and bonded? What happens if someone falls off a ladder?

STEP 3

Have the stucco repair company agree to provide an onsite Certified Repair Contractor on all projects related to the stucco repair job.

STEP 4

Have the stucco repair contractor agree to provide reasonable evidence of the adequacy of repairs (digital photos of critical areas) and documentation to you the client.

STEP 5

Make sure the stucco repair company agrees to provide repairs and modifications in accordance with the repair standards and options established by MWC or State Guidelines.

STEP 6

Stucco repair company should agree NOT to solicit or provide stucco inspection services related to moisture testing of the stucco clad home after repairs are completed. Avoid any type of conflict of interest. Never let a repair company inspect it’s own work at any price.

Prevention is the cure

Your best defense? Prevention. An ounce is worth the proverbial pound of cure in averting litigation.

Step 1

Demand adequate information from the seller. If you represent the buyer, insist on obtaining all relevant, available information about a stucco home from the seller even if your state doesn’t require disclosure. Is the system traditional stucco or is it EIFS? Have repairs been performed? Have moisture readings or other inspections been conducted? Although low moisture readings are no guarantee that there isn’t a problem with EIFS, one or more high moisture readings definitely indicate the need for investigation.
Avoid potentially misleading representations about the condition of the EIFS or the underlying framing. For instance, stating that the house is “dry” or that the EIFS application defects have been “repaired” without proper documentation is an invitation to the courthouse.

Step 2

Encourage the buyer to obtain a stucco inspection. Buyers’ best inspection option would be to hire a certified stucco inspector rather than a home inspector because the more invasive testing methods used are more likely to find moisture problems. As is the case when recommending any vendor, offer buyers several names to choose from.

Step 3

Consider a MoistureFree Stucco Warranty. In order to obtain a warranty the property will have had to be inspected by a 3rd party certified stucco inspector, repaired by a 3rd party certified stucco repair company, and then re-inspected to verify the repairs were performed properly.