Full Commercial Inspections

Ground Zero Inspections, offering the best full commercial inspection services in the Midwest United States

The Midwest's Commercial Inspection Experts

A commercial building inspection, often formally referred to as a Property Condition Assessment (PCA), is a detailed and systematic evaluation of a property's physical condition performed by a qualified professional. The primary goal is to provide the buyer or investor with a comprehensive understanding of the building's current state, identify existing deficiencies, and estimate the future costs required for necessary repairs and replacements. This process helps mitigate risk and provides crucial data for financial planning and negotiation.


The scope of a thorough commercial inspection is vast, covering nearly every component that affects the building's functionality and safety. The inspection typically includes an assessment of the Building's Exterior and Site Improvements, such as the roof (including flashing and gutters), windows and doors, parking lots, sidewalks, drainage, and landscaping. Crucially, the inspection delves into the condition and estimated remaining useful life (RUL) of the Major Building Systems, including the HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), electrical service and distribution, and plumbing supply and waste lines. For specialized properties, the inspection extends to communal and operational areas like elevators, fire control systems, kitchens, laundry rooms, utility rooms, swimming areas, spas, and gym areas, along with all interior and exterior amenities.


In essence, the commercial inspection is a small, up-front investment that yields a full picture of the property's health. By uncovering hidden defects and providing an accurate cost-to-cure analysis, the resulting report serves as a powerful bargaining tool to negotiate price reductions or seller credits. This ensures that the buyer can properly budget for future capital expenditures and current maintenance requirements, turning an otherwise risky purchase into a well-managed investment.

Thermal Drone Inspections

Thermal drone inspections offer a significant advancement in commercial property assessment by providing a non-invasive, highly efficient way to detect hidden issues on building exteriors, especially roofs. A drone equipped with a thermal (infrared) camera captures heat signatures, which reveal temperature anomalies invisible to the naked eye. The primary benefit of this technology on a commercial building, particularly a large flat roof, is the ability to identify moisture intrusion and subsurface water damage. During the day, the roof absorbs solar energy; at night, dry areas cool rapidly, but wet areas hold heat longer due to water's high thermal capacity. The drone's camera captures this temperature differential, pinpointing the exact location and extent of trapped moisture within the roof assembly, allowing for targeted repairs rather than costly full replacements.


Beyond the roof, thermal drone inspections are invaluable for assessing the entire building envelope. The thermal imagery can quickly identify areas where the insulation is missing, damaged, or improperly installed (thermal bridging), revealing energy loss and air leaks around windows, doors, and façade penetrations. By quantifying these heat loss points, property owners can prioritize energy efficiency upgrades that lead to substantial long-term savings on utility costs. Furthermore, drones provide rapid, comprehensive coverage of high-rise structures and complex façades, performing inspections in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods like bucket trucks or ropes, dramatically reducing inspection time, labor costs, and safety risks to inspectors.

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Our Full Commercial Inspection Services

5-Point Inspection

The Commercial "Big Five" 5-Point Inspection is a focused, cost-effective alternative to a full Property Condition Assessment (PCA), designed specifically to evaluate the five most critical and highest-cost systems in a commercial building. This streamlined inspection prioritizes the components most likely to harbor expensive, hidden defects or require immediate major capital expenditure, making it an ideal choice for budget-conscious investors or those conducting preliminary due diligence.


This inspection targets:


  • Roof System: Assesses the current condition, drainage (including gutters), flashing, and estimated Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of the roof membrane. Its primary goal is to identify active leaks, major water ponding issues, and signs of material fatigue that signal an imminent need for replacement.
  • HVAC Systems: Evaluates the functional condition, age, and maintenance level of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment (boilers, chillers, furnaces, rooftop units). The inspector looks for operational deficiencies, signs of neglect, and estimates replacement costs for major units.
  • Electrical System: Focuses on the main electrical service entrance, distribution panels, wiring methods, and grounding to identify safety hazards, undersized components, or deficiencies that violate current codes, which could lead to fire or operational failure.
  • Plumbing System: Assesses the integrity of the water supply lines, waste drainage system, water heaters, and exposed piping. The goal is to detect leaks, corrosion, inadequate pressure, and signs of major blockages or compromised sewer lines (often suggesting the need for a follow-up scope).
  • Foundation/Structure: Inspects the visible foundation elements, load-bearing walls, and floor slabs for signs of significant structural distress, settlement, large cracking, or water intrusion that could compromise the building's stability.


By concentrating only on these BIG FIVE high-ticket items, this inspection provides essential negotiating leverage by quantifying the largest financial risks associated with the purchase, often at a significantly reduced price compared to a comprehensive assessment

6-Point Inspection

The Commercial "Big Six" 6-Point Inspection is a specialized, targeted inspection designed for properties that contain high-value, high-risk operational areas, particularly those with a commercial kitchen. Similar to the "Big Five," this inspection is a cost-saving alternative to a full Property Condition Assessment (PCA), focusing exclusively on the six areas most likely to present immediate, costly financial risk or operational failure.

This inspection targets:


  • Roof System: Evaluates the condition, drainage, flashing, and estimated Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of the roof membrane. Its primary objective is to identify active leaks, water intrusion, and structural fatigue that signal a large, immediate capital expense.
  • HVAC Systems: Assesses the functionality, age, and maintenance condition of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. This includes looking for operational deficiencies, signs of neglect, and determining the replacement cost for major units.
  • Electrical System: Focuses on the main service entrance, distribution panels, and wiring methods to identify immediate safety hazards, undersized components, and code deficiencies that could lead to fire or power failure.
  • Plumbing System: Assesses the water supply lines, waste drainage, water heaters, and exposed piping for leaks, corrosion, inadequate pressure, and signs of major blockages or compromised sewer lines.
  • Foundation/Structure: Inspects the visible foundation, load-bearing walls, and floor slabs for signs of significant structural movement, large cracking, settlement, or severe water intrusion that compromises the building's stability.
  • Full Commercial Kitchen: This critical sixth point specifically focuses on the costly and regulation-heavy components of a commercial kitchen. It assesses the operation and condition of the ventilation/exhaust hood system (including fire suppression linkage), key appliances (e.g., walk-in coolers, freezers, ovens), and the specialized plumbing (e.g., grease traps). Failure in this area can lead to immediate fire safety fines or operational shutdown.


By focusing on these BIG SIX high-ticket items, this inspection provides essential information for quantifying the largest financial risks of the purchase, allowing the buyer to negotiate with leverage and confidence, all while maintaining a lower initial inspection cost than a full commercial PCA.

7-Point Inspection

The Commercial "Big Seven" 7-Point Inspection is a highly focused, risk-mitigation assessment that concentrates exclusively on the most financially significant and safety-critical systems within a commercial property. As a tailored alternative to a full Property Condition Assessment (PCA), this inspection is designed for buyers seeking maximum leverage on high-cost items and major compliance risks, offering a cost advantage over a standard full-scope inspection.


This essential seven-point assessment targets:


  • Foundation/Structure: Inspects the structural integrity of the foundation, load-bearing walls, and floor slabs for signs of serious structural compromise, settlement, or severe water intrusion.
  • Roof System: Evaluates the condition, drainage, flashing, and estimated Remaining Useful Life (RUL) of the roof covering and structure to identify immediate leak risks and forecast major replacement capital expenditures.
  • HVAC Systems: Assesses the age, functionality, maintenance history, and capacity of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment (boilers, chillers, major units) to determine the cost of near-term replacement or major repair.
  • Electrical System: Inspects the main service, distribution panels, and wiring for safety hazards, insufficient capacity for modern use, code violations, and fire risks.
  • Plumbing System: Evaluates the water supply lines, waste drainage, water heaters, and exposed piping for leaks, corrosion, pressure issues, and evidence of compromise in the main sewer line.
  • Full Commercial Kitchen: Focuses on the operation, safety, and compliance of specialized kitchen equipment, including the complex exhaust hood and ventilation systems, fire suppression linkage, and key commercial appliances (like walk-in refrigeration and grease traps).
  • Commercial Fire Inspection: A critical safety component that reviews the visible elements of the Life Safety and Fire Suppression Systems. This includes checking the functionality of fire alarms, emergency lighting, fire extinguishers, and the visible components of the sprinkler system (heads, risers, and control valves) to identify immediate code violations and occupancy risks.


By concentrating on these BIG SEVEN areas, this inspection equips the buyer with the factual data necessary to negotiate major cost concessions and ensure critical safety compliance, all while keeping the initial inspection investment minimal.

Full Commercial Inspection FAQ's

  • What types of buildings are considered for Commercial Inspections?

    Ground Zero Inspections provides comprehensive and specialized inspection services across a wide range of commercial property types, ensuring investors and buyers receive the detailed due diligence necessary for a secure transaction. We understand that each commercial category has unique high-risk systems and regulatory requirements. Our services are tailored to cover diverse building types, including:


    Hospitality: Detailed assessments of Hotels and Motels, focusing heavily on high-use systems like HVAC, plumbing (including pools/spas), commercial kitchens, life safety, and ADA compliance in public areas and guest rooms.


    Residential Investment: Thorough inspections of Apartment Complexes and Multi-Unit Residential buildings, concentrating on common areas, major mechanical rooms, roof condition, and the overall integrity of the structure and systems serving multiple tenants.


    Retail & Food Service: Specialized assessments for Restaurants and other food-service establishments, critically evaluating the expensive and safety-sensitive components like exhaust hood systems, fire suppression linkage, grease traps, and commercial-grade refrigeration.


    Regardless of the building's function, our core mission is to focus on the "Big Seven" high-ticket items—the Roof, Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC Systems, Foundation, Commercial Kitchen, and Fire/Life Safety Systems—to uncover hidden defects, quantify financial risks, and provide you with the essential bargaining leverage needed to close the deal confidently. 

  • What is the fundamental purpose of a pre-purchase commercial inspection?

    The fundamental purpose is to perform a comprehensive Property Condition Assessment (PCA) of the building's major systems and components. This assessment, documented in a detailed report, identifies existing defects, deficiencies, and areas of concern regarding the structure, safety, and operational capacity. This knowledge ensures you understand the true condition and costs of the asset you are acquiring, transforming the transaction from an educated guest into a fully informed business decision.

  • How does the inspection report become a powerful bargaining tool in negotiations?


    The inspection report provides you with unbiased, documented evidence of the property's condition, complete with photos, professional opinions, and often, estimated costs for necessary repairs (Cost-to-Cure analysis). This leverage allows you to:


    • Request Price Reduction: Negotiate a lower purchase price to account for immediate repair expenses.

    • Demand Seller Credits: Ask the seller to provide credit at closing to cover the cost of major repairs (like a failing HVAC unit or a compromised roof).

    • Request Repairs: Insist the seller rectify critical issues (especially safety or code violations) before the deal closes.

    Without this documented evidence, your request for concessions is merely a subjective opinion.

  • What are "hidden defects" and why are companies like Ground Zero Inspections often the ones to find them?

    "Hidden defects" are flaws or damages that are not immediately visible during a walkthrough and may not have been disclosed by the seller. These often relate to major systems or structural components. Professional commercial inspectors, like Ground Zero Inspectors, are trained to look beyond superficial appearances. They use specialized knowledge and equipment to check areas such as:


    • The true condition of the roof membrane (often via drone/thermal imaging).

    • Electrical system defects behind panels or in concealed wiring.

    • The integrity of the sewer lines (via sewer scope inspection).

    • Structural inconsistencies in the foundation or load-bearing walls.

    Finding these hidden defects prevents you from inheriting major, unexpected liabilities post-closing.

  • What kind of high-cost surprises does a commercial inspection typically prevent?

    The inspection focuses on major capital expenditure items that can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair or replace. The most common high-cost issues uncovered include:


    Failing HVAC Systems: An aging or improperly maintained heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.


    Roof Leaks/End-of-Life: Deteriorated membranes, poor drainage, or structural issues with the commercial roof.


    Major Plumbing Failures: Corroded pipes, inadequate water pressure, or broken sewer lines.


    Code Violations: Especially related to fire safety or ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance, which can result in hefty fines.

  • Why is the cost of an inspection considering a small fraction of your total investment?

    The fee for a comprehensive commercial inspection typically ranges from a fraction of a percent of the property's purchase price. For example, an inspection might cost a few thousand dollars, but the defects it uncovers could lead to negotiating a price reduction or credit that saves you $50,000 to $100,000 or more. The inspection is a minimal upfront expense that serves as insurance against major financial losses and unforeseen capital costs.

  • How does the inspection report help you properly budget for future costs and current maintenance?

    Beyond identifying immediate defects, the report helps you create an accurate Capital Expenditure (CapEx) forecast. By assessing the age, condition, and remaining useful life (RUL) of major components (like the roof, boilers, and elevators), the report enables you to:


    • Forecast Replacements: Budget for system replacements (e.g., new HVAC units) years down the line, ensuring cash reserves are adequate.

    • Prioritize Maintenance: Identify minor issues that require immediate attention (like gutter repairs or small roof patches) before they escalate into catastrophic failures.

  • Does the inspection also assess the building's safety and compliance?

    Yes, a key component of the inspection is evaluating the building's safety features and basic regulatory compliance. Inspectors look for hazards such as electrical faults that could cause a fire, blocked emergency exits, and general adherence to relevant building codes. Identifying these issues is crucial, as non-compliance can lead to fines, legal liabilities, or operational injunctions, all of which heavily impact your business and investment.

Areas Ground Zero Inspections Serves

We are proud to serve the entire Midwest, offering dependable commercial inspection services across Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Missouri. Wherever your property needs arise, our team is equipped to help.

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