About Us
Locally Owned And Operated
Alpha Engineering
When you hire a home inspector, you are hiring an experienced professional who has training and experience in the building industry. It is the job of the home inspector to not only evaluate the condition of the house’s major systems and structural integrity, but also to evaluate how these systems are working together and identify areas that need to be watched, repaired or replaced.
Your home inspector gives you the Big Picture analysis of the house you are purchasing. If the home inspector identifies the need for a costly, detailed analysis of any of the houses’ systems or structures, the inspector will recommend the appropriate professional, which may be an experienced engineer with expertise analyzing that particular system or structure. The need for this kind of expensive, detailed analysis is rare.
Truly qualified engineer-inspectors
Licensed Professional Engineers in the state of N.Y.
Professionally Inspectors Are
What You Need
- Foundation
- Roofing
- Exterior, Walls, Siding, etc...
- Porches and Decks
- Attics
- Electrical Systems
- Fireplaces
- Plumbing Systems
- Interior
- Doors and Windows
- Heating and Air Conditioning Systems
- Ventilation
Most commonly a home inspector is not a certified engineer. Being an engineer requires a great deal of schooling and professional evaluation that goes beyond the scope of a home inspector, however, a home inspector that is also a qualified engineer can give you an inspection analysis that goes far beyond what a typical inspector offers. An engineer-inspection will give you insight into critical and structural components of your home that can help you get a better understanding of the health of your property. In most parts of the USA houses today are quite old, a fact that when combined with increasingly stronger weather events leads to the conclusion that our aging houses are becoming increasingly more susceptible to damage and property erosion. Our qualified inspectors are here to help you make informed decisions about your home so that you can live in a safe and healthy environment for years to come.
Our Engineer Inspectors are:
Fully licensed, bonded and insured
Knowledgeable, experienced in addition, skilled
Strictly trained in customer service
Top Notch Problem Solvers Who Want to Save You Time and Money
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a House Inspection when my Bank is having the house Appraised?
YES!
A house appraisal is an independent evaluation of the current market value of a house or property. In general, the purpose of an appraisal is to set the current value of a house so that a lender may determine how much it can loan to the buyer. The appraiser looks at similar properties in the area and the prices at which they were sold to set the value of the house.
An engineer conducts a thorough evaluation of the house's major systems and structural integrity. Whereas the appraiser is typically working for the bank, the engineer is working for you and identifies items that need replacement or repair prior to closing, which can save you thousands of dollars.
U.S. Department Of Housing And Urban Development (HUD) requires buyers sign a Consumer Notice advising them to get a house inspection in addition to a house appraisal before purchasing a house with an FHA mortgage. Additionally, HUD now allows homebuyers to include the costs of appraisal and inspection in their FHA mortgage.
Do I need an Engineer or a Home Inspector?
Ideally, you will need a Professional Engineer. Why? Engineers completed a rigorous curriculum. They are required 5 years of experience under the supervision of a Licensed Engineer BEFORE they can sit for their Professional Engineers Exam. This allows them to have the designation of P.E. (Professional Engineer)
ONLY LICENSED ENGINEERS ARE ALLOWED BY LAW TO COMMENT ON THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF A BUILDING.
How can I Protect my Home During the Winter?
Inside Your Home
- Have your furnace system serviced to ensure it's working efficiently and not emitting carbon monoxide.
- Clean permanent furnace filters and replace paper or disposable filters.
- Replace the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- If you have a wood stove or fireplace, have your chimney swept thoroughly. It should be cleaned before the soot build-up reaches one-fourth inch thickness inside the chimney flue.
- Check your hot water heater for leaks and maintain a proper temperature setting (120 degrees recommended by the Department of Energy). On older water heaters with less insulation, for every 10 degrees Fahrenheit you lower the temperature, you save 6 percent of your water heating energy.
- Check the attic to see if insulation needs to be added or replaced. This is the most significant area of heat loss in many homes, so it is also important to see that it has proper ventilation. Inadequate ventilation could lead to premature deterioration of the insulation materials. You may also need to check insulation in exterior walls, crawl spaces, and along foundation walls.
- Check all windows and doors for air leaks. Install storm windows and putty, caulk or add weather stripping as needed.
- Check basement and cellars for seal cracks or leaks in walls and floor.
- Make sure all vents are clean and operating properly.
- Clean and vacuum baseboard heaters, heating ducts, and vents.
- Remove or winterize air conditioning units.
- Store or cover outdoor furniture, toys, and grill.
- Purchase rock salt for melting snow and a shovel or snow blower if you don't already have one. Make sure you have the right kind of gas and oil on hand for your snow blower in the case of an unexpected snowstorm.
- Caulk joints and minor cracks on exterior walls and siding.
- Look for deteriorating finishes. Minor problems can be patched to preserve the wood. Put bigger jobs, such as scraping and refinishing painted or stained areas, on the calendar for next spring or early summer.
- Drain and shut off sprinkler systems and other exterior water lines to avoid frozen and broken pipes. Leave all taps slightly open. Insulate exterior spigots and other pipes that are subject to freezing but can't be drained or shut off.
- Rake and compost leaves and garden debris, or put out for yard-waste pickup.
- Clean storm drains, gutters, and other drain pipes.
- Check the foundation for proper drainage. To do this, spray the yard with a hose to see if water runs away from the house. A little shoveling to reshape the earth next to the house may make the water run away from the foundation.
- Make sure dirt or piles of wood don't come into contact with or touch siding, inviting termites and carpenter ants into the house.
- Seal driveway and walkway cracks, if needed, before the ground freezes regularly.
- Inspect the roof for loose, damaged, or missing pieces.
- Check attic vent openings for nests or other blockages.