When to call in a building expert and when to call in a contractor when you notice a problematic situation with your building? Read our article or watch or video (with english subtitles) to find the answer to this question and better understand the difference between these two distinct roles.

As a building owner, if you can find out for yourself what is the real cause of a problem, for example, when there is pouring rain and you can see the water entering the bottom left corner of your window. In such a case, you already know the cause, you can see that the water on your wall or your floor comes from that window.

If you know the cause with certainty, the contractor is the best person to contact to fix the problem. However, if the contractor is unable to know exactly how to do a new installation or how to correct this situation, at that time, he should contact an expert who is a specialist in this field and will be able to explain exactly what to do to fix the issue.

The scenario will be different if, on the other hand, you are in a situation where you do not know the cause of a particular problem. For example, you go in the attic and you see traces of mold. There can be a hundred possible causes and if you are not able to know exactly the reason behind the mold growth, then, this is the time to call in an expert. The building expert will be able to tell you exactly the causes behind the mold because he knows the whole system of the building and not just one aspect. The expert is therefore able to know the phenomena and the science behind it. He knows building codes, knows standards and installation methods and requirements. The expert has a global vision of the building and can find the exact causes of the problems you may have and for which you do not know the cause.

If you don’t know the cause(s) behind the issue you are experiencing, such as mold in the attic, you call a building expert. He will tell you exactly what is going on without trying to sell you anything. He will not try to sell you ventilation for your attic, he will not try to sell you new roof shingles or insulation. The expert will tell you exactly the causes that led to this mold formation in the attic.

Subsequently, with the recommendations that the building expert will give you, you will be able to ask a contractor to perform the work as the expert recommends. To sum up, when you know the cause and the real solutions to a situation, you contact a contractor. When you do not know the causes or when you are not 100% sure of the right solution, the building expert is then your best choice.