What is a legal expertise?

What is a legal expertise?

July 7th, 2022

If you own a residential or commercial building, it is possible that at some point you will need to obtain a legal expertise. It is quite legitimate to wonder what it is and we often learn it only when we need it. The following article will give you information on what a legal expertise is and when and how it can be useful to you.

Why ask for a legal expertise?

Legal expertise is often required in the event of problems in the building. This may be in a situation where the construction seems questionable or where defects have been masked (hidden defects). In these cases, it becomes imperative to have a legal expertise carried out to determine the causes of the problems and check the applicable standards. This type of inspection can also serve as a second opinion or help in cases where conciliation is necessary. It also allows, if necessary, to enlighten the court and help it in the assessment of evidence. In other words, the expertise consists in giving an opinion on elements related to the integrity or the state of a building. This type of inspection can avoid costly legal fees in the event of a dispute and will give you the facts about the situation in order to give you the weapons to assert your rights.

The process

As a first step, a visual inspection is first carried out in the bus to document the current state of the situation and to identify the parameters involved in the occurrence of the problems raised. To do this, it may be mandatory to open some walls to investigate elements that would not be noticeable without touching the materials. It is sometimes possible to use the infrared camera to assess the extent of the damage or to take samples when traces of mould are visible. Once this first inspection is completed, the standards applicable to the building under study are evaluated and recommendations are issued if necessary. In terms of legal construction expertise, the expert refers to the recognized principles of building science, the building codes and the standards in force. The main quality of a conclusive legal expertise in construction is based on the quality of the objective technical evidence, for example, observations, measurements and test results in support of the opinion expressed.

If you believe that a defect is hiding in your building or house, it is better to call professionals as soon as possible. A legal expertise could save you a lot of headaches and save you a lot of money. Professionals in this type of inspection are familiar with building codes and standards and are therefore the ideal people to analyze the situation and detect construction defects and poor workmanship. Do not hesitate to call professionals in this type of inspection to ask all the questions you have. They will always be happy to guide you as best as possible in this situation which often generates a lot of stress.

Also find us on the network of Outremont's home inspectors