- HOME INSPECTIONS - ARIZONA
Builder Standards Inspection
Confirm your builder met Arizona’s workmanship standards before your warranty expires.
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You Have 1 Year To Use Your Home Warranty
When you buy a new home in Arizona, builders must provide a workmanship warranty. It’s a promise that their labor and installation met professional standards.
The problem? Most homeowners never use it.
Not because their home is perfect. Because they run out of time. As a result, builders are let off the hook for any substandard construction.
- WHAT IS A BUILDER STANDARDS INSPECTION?
An Inspection To Hold Your Builder Accountable
A Builder Standards Inspection evaluates your home against Arizona’s Workmanship Standards for Licensed Contractors. This is the legal benchmark that builders must meet. It documents any flaws in construction so you can make a warranty claim before it expires.
Workmanship Quality
Does the work meet Arizona’s minimum standards for licensed contractors?
Safety and Code Items
Hazards, incomplete work, or anything that falls short of state requirements.
Contractor Quality
Was the work completed correctly and in line with what your builder promised?
Builder Standards Inspection vs.
New Construction Inspection
Both inspections apply to new construction but they serve different purposes. A new construction inspection evaluates your home’s condition before you close. A Builder Standards Inspection evaluates your contractor’s compliance with building standards before the warranty ends.
| Builder Standards Inspection | New Construction Inspection | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Evaluate whether your contractor met Arizona's legal workmanship standard | Assess overall home condition before taking ownership |
| Timing | Months 10–11, before the warranty expires | Before construction is final |
| Focus | Workmanship quality, safety, and contractor obligations | Systems, components, and visible defects |
| Outcome | Documentation to support a warranty claim or Registrar of Contractors (ROC) action | Leverage to negotiate repairs before you move in |
These inspections aren’t competing services. They protect you at different moments in the homeownership journey. AJF Inspections provides both.
What We Check During a Builder Standards Inspection
We evaluate your home in accordance with Arizona’s ROC Workmanship Standards. Most findings are documented in a detailed digital report that you can take directly to your builder.
Foundation and Framing
Slab flatness, control joints, cracking, plumb walls, proper fastening, header spans, and point load support.
Exterior
Stucco cracking, paint coverage, trim gaps, caulking, weatherstripping, and moisture infiltration.
Roofing
Underlayment installation, flashing at all penetrations and valleys, ridge cap execution, tile or shingle alignment, and drainage slope.
Interior
Nail pops, tape joints, flooring gaps, paint holidays, and trim and caulking at the transitions.
Electrical
Panel installation, circuit breaker labeling, outlet and fixture installation, and visible wiring compliance.
HVAC Systems
Equipment installation, ductwork connections, refrigerant line routing, and proper clearances.
Plumbing Installations
Fixture mounting, supply line connections, drain slopes, valve operation, and water heater installation.
Grading and Drainage
Positive slope away from the foundation, swale grading, and proximity of irrigation to the structure.
When To Schedule a Builder Standards Inspection
Inspection timing matters. Schedule too early and you may miss issues that haven’t surfaced yet. Wait too long and your warranty is gone. The ideal inspection time is 10 to 11 months after you close on your new home.
Months 1-9
You’re covered. Your builder’s warranty is active. Start noting anything that seems off.
- Schedule Your Inspection Here
Months 10-11
Your ideal window. A Builder Standards Inspection documents what your builder still owes you - while you can still act.
Month 12
Warranty expires. Your builder is off the hook. Any unresolved issues become your problem to fix.
- Detailed evaluation of all components inspected
- Digital report delivered within 24 hours of inspection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Builder Standards Inspection in Arizona?
A Builder Standards Inspection evaluates your newly built home in accordance with Arizona’s Workmanship Standards for Licensed Contractors. It’s a legal requirement for all licensed builders in the state.
How is a Builder Standards Inspection different from a new construction inspection?
A new construction inspection is a broad condition assessment performed before you close on a new home. It evaluates the major systems and components like the roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical. It can give you leverage to negotiate repairs before taking ownership.
A Builder Standards Inspection evaluates whether your builder met Arizona’s minimum workmanship standards. Where a new construction inspection asks “what’s wrong with this house,” a Builder Standards Inspection asks “did the contractor do their job correctly?”
When should I schedule a Builder Standards Inspection?
The ideal window is months 10 and 11 after closing. Scheduling too early risks missing defects that take time to surface. Waiting until month 12 leaves little time to act on findings before the warranty expires.
What does Arizona's one-year builder warranty cover?
A workmanship warranty covers every major system and component from foundation and framing to interior finishes and drainage. If defects are identified within the first year of homeownership, you can request your builder to make corrections.
The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or homeowner modifications.
Does my builder have to fix everything a Builder Standards Inspection finds?
Not automatically. Arizona’s workmanship warranty covers defects that fall below the minimum standards set by the ROC. If the inspection identifies items that don’t meet those standards, your builder is obligated to address them under the warranty.
What is the Registrar of Contractors (ROC) and what can they do?
The Registrar of Contractors is Arizona’s state licensing body for contractors. It sets and enforces the Workmanship Standards that all licensed contractors must meet; the same standards a Builder Standards Inspection evaluates your home against.
If your builder refuses to address legitimate warranty items, you can file a complaint with the ROC. The ROC has the authority to investigate, mediate disputes, and take disciplinary action against licensed contractors who fail to meet their obligations.
What happens if my one-year warranty already expired?
Once the one-year workmanship warranty expires, your builder is no longer obligated to address defects under that warranty. Any repairs become your responsibility.
Arizona law does provide additional protections beyond the one-year window for certain structural defects. If you believe you have a significant structural issue, it’s worth consulting a legal professional to understand your options.
What do I receive after a Builder Standards Inspection?
You receive a detailed digital inspection report documenting most items evaluated against Arizona’s ROC Workmanship Standards. The report includes findings, photos, and references to the applicable standards. You’ll receive the report within 24 hours of your inspection.
Let's Get Started!
Call us at 480-661-8888 or follow the link below to start the conversation.
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