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For New Home Owners in Ontario

Tarion Warranty & PDI Inspections

Every new Ontario home is protected by mandatory Tarion warranty coverage — but only if defects are identified and reported within strict deadlines. Here's how we make sure nothing is missed, from possession day through your final warranty window.

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PDI Inspections

Your Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) happens at possession and is led by the builder's own coordinator — typically a brief walkthrough focused on visible, cosmetic items. It is not an independent assessment, and it is not a substitute for a trained third-party inspector documenting the property before you take possession.

What we do differently

  • An independent, parallel review timed to your possession date, alongside or shortly after the builder's own PDI
  • Documentation of workmanship, materials, and unauthorized substitutions discovered within the critical first 30 days
  • A written record of anything unresolved from your PDI form — the exact starting point Tarion requires for a 30-day claim
  • Photos and clear item descriptions formatted to support a Tarion claim from day one, not reconstructed from memory weeks later
The builder's PDI coordinator is not your inspector. They represent the builder's interests during the walkthrough. An independent PDI-timed inspection gives you your own documented record — the same record that becomes the foundation of your 30-day Tarion claim if anything needs to be reported.
Book a PDI Inspection
Day 1
is the best time to document deficiencies — before your baseline is locked in and Tarion deadlines begin
30 Days
to report items from your PDI form plus any new defects in work, materials, or unauthorized substitutions
Warranty Inspections

Beyond possession, your Tarion coverage continues through a series of strict reporting windows — 1-year, 2-year, and 7-year — each covering different categories of defects, and each with a hard deadline that cannot be extended. A warranty inspection, timed ahead of each deadline, is how you make sure nothing that should be covered slips through uncounted.

1 Year
Workmanship, Materials, Ontario Building Code & Habitability
Requires the home to be constructed in a workman-like manner and free from defects in material. Protects against Ontario Building Code violations and requires the home to be fit for habitation. Applies for one year from possession, even if the home is sold.
2 Years
Water Penetration, Building Envelope & Major Systems
Protects against water penetration through the basement or foundation walls, defects resulting in water penetration into the building envelope, and defects in the electrical, plumbing, and heating delivery and distribution systems.
7 Years
Major Structural Defects
Covers any defect resulting in failure of a structural load-bearing element, or that materially and adversely affects the ability to carry structural loads or the use of a significant portion of the building for ordinary residential purposes.
The 1-year window is the most important deadline. The majority of defects are no longer covered once it closes, and repairs become your expense. We recommend booking 4 to 6 weeks ahead of each deadline to leave time to document, report, and follow up with the builder.
Book a Warranty Inspection
Up to 7 yrs
of mandatory warranty protection on every new Ontario home — but only if defects are reported on time
Tarion.com — Ontario New Home Warranties Act
260+ items
checked and logged against Tarion's Construction Performance Guidelines on every warranty inspection
Year 1
is your most important deadline — most defects stop being covered after the 1-year window closes

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a PDI and a Tarion warranty inspection?

A PDI happens at possession and is led by the builder. A Tarion warranty inspection is an independent, third-party assessment timed to your 30-day, 1-year, 2-year, or 7-year Tarion reporting deadlines, and is specifically documented to support a formal warranty claim.

How many items do you check during a Tarion warranty inspection?

We check against 260+ specific coverage items drawn from Tarion's own Construction Performance Guidelines on top of any other general home issues that we may come across, with every item logged in a detailed report noting which coverage category it falls under and whether it's urgent or minor.

What happens if I miss my 1-year Tarion deadline?

You permanently lose the right to claim for anything that should have been reported within that window. Missing the deadline means the repair becomes your expense rather than the builder's, which is why we recommend booking 4 to 6 weeks ahead of each deadline.

Do you inspect new builds outside of Ottawa proper?

Yes. We regularly inspect new construction in Kanata, Barrhaven, Orléans, and Westboro, in addition to Ottawa and the surrounding area.

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Don't Let a Tarion Deadline Slip By

Serving new homeowners across Ottawa, Gatineau, Barrhaven, Kanata, Orléans, Nepean, and surrounding areas.

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