In Partnership with US-EcoLogic – Independent Energy & Quality Inspectors
Purchasing a home is the largest investment one usually makes in their lifetime. With a decision of this magnitude, it is essential to choose a high caliber product.
All home builders must meet basic city codes; at Grenadier Homes, we go beyond those criteria with our energy efficiency and quality inspections. Let’s explore the processes that ensure the quality of our homes.
The Basics: Code Regulations
Per the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a newly built home must undergo a Foundation Inspection, Set Inspection, and Final Inspection. A foundation inspection is conducted once forms are set but before the concrete is poured. Set Inspection, otherwise known as Framework Inspection, is performed when the framework of the home is up and connected to the foundation. Lastly the Final Inspection is carried out near the very end of construction when utility services are connected and tested. In compliance, a Grenadier home undergoes these inspections at specific stages of construction.
Step Above: Energy Efficiency
Grenadier takes home building a step further by its commitment to energy efficiency. We believe in doing our part to reduce energy waste and costs, which means more comfort and lower utility costs for you. Some of our energy efficiency efforts include:
- EnergyStar 3.1 home certification
- EnergyStar appliances
- Fire suppression system with heat sensitive sprinkler heads in each room
- LED lighting
- R15 fiberglass blown insulation in exterior walls
- R38 or better cellulose blown insulation in flat ceilings and attic
- Lennox 14.3 SEER2 air conditioning unit with 80% AFUE gas furnace
- Radiant Barrier Roof Decking
When energy efficiency is prioritized and your home is constructed with features built to last, you can be confident that your home will deliver for years to come.
Above and Beyond: Third Party Inspections
Once again, Grenadier takes quality construction to the next level. We pride ourselves on utilizing a third-party inspection company to inspect our homes throughout different stages of construction. Since 2018, we have used a company called US-EcoLogic, the largest provider of energy efficiency and green building services for single and multifamily developers in the world, to conduct three separate inspections that ensure that quality and energy efficiency are to our own elevated standards.
The first third-party inspection done on our homes is called Polyseal Inspection. This inspection is focused on your air duct and HVAC systems, making sure that the home has been properly sealed to prevent air leaks and ensuring the correct air exchange in and out of the home. Angie Teer, General Manager National Field Operations for US-Ecologic, says, “We’re testing your ducts, making sure that we see your duct vents in all of the areas that they should be, with no pinches or kinks in the duct to ensure it has adequate airflow. We also check to ensure the HVAC unit is sized adequately, and that the unit on your plan and in your energy model is the one that is installed.”
The second inspection US-Ecologic conducts is called Insulation Inspection. As the name would suggest, our third-party partners are inspecting the insulation of the home, ensuring the insulation is the correct R values designated in our floorplans.
The final inspection is called Build Quality Confirmation Inspection, or BQC Inspection. The home is thoroughly examined from the interior to the exterior, functioning as a confirmation inspection of the build quality of the home. This inspection includes:
- Testing appliances
- Testing HVAC unit
- Testing plumbing
- Verify flooring is correct
- Ensuring no damage to floors, tiles, baseboards, and carpets
- Paint and Texture walk
- Blower door test to ensure seal of home
- Penetrations are cocked correctly
- Windows installed and function correctly
- Landscaping is correct
- Paint touch-up kits are present and filled
- Warranty sticker with contact numbers is present under sink
- Warranty photos of appliances
What’s unique about US-Ecologic and Grenadier’s commitment to excellence is that if items are found to not reach the threshold of passing the inspection, we will have the home reinspected until we have passed the inspection. When asked on average how many times a Grenadier home is inspected, Angie noted Grenadier averages one to two inspections on our homes, which speaks to the attention to detail and intentionality of the construction of our homes.
Learn more specifically about our energy inspections in the words of one of our superintendents.
Why Do We Conduct Third-Party Inspections?
We conduct third party inspections for three reasons: for you, for us, and for the longevity of your home.
For You
We care about your experience living in a Grenadier home. When you move into a newly built home, you shouldn’t be bracing for constant repairs or surprise maintenance issues. That’s why we employ US-Ecologic to evaluate our work at multiple stages of construction. It is an extra layer of accountability designed to protect your experience. We want your time in a Grenadier home to be comfortable and dependable, and these inspections help make that so.
For Us
We want to hold ourselves to a higher standard compared to our competition. We want to build the best and most reliable product in our price point so the decision for homebuyers is an easier one. Third-party inspections hold us accountable at a level that sets us apart. They help us measure ourselves honestly, identify opportunities to improve, and maintain consistency across every home we build. There’s a practical benefit, too: catching and correcting issues early reduces warranty claims and prevents problems before a homeowner ever walks through the door.
For Longevity
A home built well today performs better tomorrow.
When an outside expert verifies our work, it reduces future repairs and protects the long-term integrity of your home. That means fewer disruptions, lower maintenance demands, and greater overall durability.
High build quality also translates to tangible value:
- Improved energy efficiency and lower utility bills
- Stronger long-term performance
- Higher resale value
Built With Intention. Verified With Integrity.
When you purchase a home, you’re not just buying walls and a roof. You’re investing in your future. You deserve a builder who treats that investment with the same seriousness you do.
Because Grenadier Homes are built to a higher internal standard and verified during multiple points of construction, they are expected to perform more predictably years later with less surprises, gifting homebuyers fewer disruptions and stronger resale confidence.
Find your perfect home by visiting any of our DFW communities today!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should you get an inspection on a brand new house?
Most buyers assume a new home is automatically problem-free. But even well-intentioned builders can miss things when building at speed. At Grenadier, we don’t wait for a buyer’s inspector to find issues after the fact. US-EcoLogic is embedded into our construction process at three separate stages, so by the time you walk through the door, your home has already been verified, not just built.
2. Is it worth getting a home inspection on a new build?
Yes, but it’s worth going further than that. It’s worth choosing a builder who makes verification a standard part of how they build. A one-time buyer inspection happens after the walls are closed. Grenadier’s third-party inspections happen during construction, when HVAC systems, insulation, and air sealing can actually be tested and confirmed. Most production builders don’t offer that level of accountability.
3. Are new homes built better than older homes?
When built right, yes. Modern construction brings real advantages: better insulation, ENERGYSTAR appliances, and fire suppression systems that older homes simply don’t have. But new doesn’t automatically mean quality. That depends on the builder. Grenadier partners with US-EcoLogic to verify every home at multiple stages of construction, going above and beyond so your home is built to perform for decades, not just pass a final walkthrough.
