Surrey is the largest of our cities by area, and most of its housing is newer than what you find in Vancouver or New Westminster. It grew quickly from the 1980s onward, in neighbourhoods such as Fleetwood, Newton, Guildford, Cloverdale and Panorama Ridge, and on the south side in Grandview Heights and Morgan Creek.
| Area | Typical buildings | Usual focus |
|---|---|---|
| Guildford, Whalley, Newton | 1970s to 1990s houses, townhouses, apartments | Poly-B, suites, wiring, roofs |
| Fleetwood, Cloverdale | 1990s to 2010s subdivisions | Poly-B in the early ones, decks, drainage |
| South Surrey, Grandview | Large newer houses, townhouses | Warranty periods, flat roofs, decks |
| City Centre | Towers, mid-rise | In-suite scope, strata documents |
Subdivision houses
Many Surrey houses are two-storey, wood-frame houses in subdivisions, built in a short time by one builder to a handful of plans. That has a few consequences.
- Neighbours share findings. A defect in one house often exists in the next. A stucco detail, a deck connection or a roof valley can be repeated up and down a street.
- Poly-B. Houses from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s often have it. See Poly-B plumbing.
- Builder-grade finishes. Fixtures, roofing and windows that were chosen for price. They age on a similar schedule, so several items fall due at once.
- Decks and balconies. Many have wood decks over living space, and the flashing and drainage details matter.
Newer houses and warranty periods
Surrey has a lot of new construction. Houses and townhouses less than ten years old may still be inside their warranty periods. The first two years cover labour and materials, five years cover the building envelope and ten cover structural defects, in general terms. Your warranty documents set out the details. An inspection before the first period runs out is worth booking. See new home and warranty-period inspections.
Soils and drainage
Much of Surrey sits on clay and glacial till. Clay swells and shrinks with moisture, and water does not drain through it quickly. Look at the grading, the downspouts and the way the lot drains, particularly at the back where fill was brought in. Low spots next to the foundation hold water.
We also check the crawl spaces and basements, where houses have them, for damp and for any sump arrangements.
Basement suites
Secondary suites are common in Surrey houses. They vary: some were built with permits to current standards, and some were not. We note the visible details such as separate entrances, ceiling heights, fire separations, smoke alarms and bedroom windows, and we describe what we find. Whether a suite is permitted is a question for the City and your lawyer. A suite is an add-on to the inspection.
Townhouses and strata
Surrey has very large townhouse complexes and apartment buildings. See condo and townhouse inspections. For complexes from the 1980s and 1990s, check the envelope and plumbing history in the strata documents. For newer ones, check which warranty coverage applies to the common property.
Older properties and acreage
Some parts of Surrey, especially Cloverdale and the south, still have older farmhouses and acreage. Wells, septic systems, outbuildings and oil tanks may be present. These are outside a standard inspection, and we note them.
Booking in Surrey
Phone or send a request with the address, the year built, and your subject date. We travel to you, and we plan the time with the size of the house in mind.