Exterior & Cladding Inspection — What We Look For
The building envelope — your first defence against Ontario weather.
What we check — 12 inspection points
Every item below is checked on every inspection that includes exterior & cladding.
Cladding type and condition
Brick, vinyl, aluminum, stucco, stone, wood
Mortar joints
Brick repointing needs, deterioration, gaps
Window condition
Seals, caulking, operation, condensation
Door condition
Weatherstripping, threshold, operation, security
Lot grading
Slope direction, grade level relative to foundation
Downspout discharge
Extension length, direction, splash pads
Driveway and walkways
Cracks, heaving, slope toward or away from foundation
Retaining walls
Lean, displacement, drainage provision
Deck and porch
Structure, ledger, railing, fasteners
Chimney exterior
Masonry, cap, crown, flashing
Garage exterior
Cladding, trim, weather protection
Thermal exterior scan
Infrared identifying heat loss and moisture
What we find — top 5 issues
The most common exterior & cladding findings in Ontario home inspections.
Grading toward foundation
$2,000–$8,000Soil sloping inward directing water to foundation
Failed window seals
$300–$800 per windowBroken thermal seals causing condensation and drafts
Deteriorated mortar
$2,000–$10,000Brick repointing needed to prevent water infiltration
Deck structural deficiency
$1,000–$5,000Ledger, post, or beam failure requiring repair
Chimney crown failure
$500–$2,000Cracked crown allowing water into chimney structure
How exterior & cladding gets inspected — and verified
On site — Physical Inspection
Your RHI certified inspector physically examines every accessible exterior & cladding component with professional equipment, including moisture detection — plus thermal imaging when the optional upgrade is added.
In the report — Review & Verification
Every photo and reading from the exterior & cladding inspection is cross-referenced through our reporting system, and every finding is severity-rated before appearing in your report.
Related inspection services
Every exterior & cladding checkpoint. Every inspection.
From $349. Same-day report. 12 exterior & cladding checkpoints included.
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