Tarion Warranty Inspection
From $249
A Tarion warranty inspection from Bent Nails starts at $249. Darren inspects the whole new home, interior and exterior, roof and attic, electrical, insulation with an infrared camera, down to the foundation and basement, so every defect is documented before your 30-day, year-end, second-year or seven-year Tarion deadline.
Ontario’s new home warranty, administered by Tarion, covers defects for set periods after possession, but only the ones reported in time. Each window closes on a fixed date.
In Darren’s view, three inspections should be standard for every new-build owner: the 30-day and year-end inspections catch workmanship and finish problems, and the second-year inspection catches moisture intrusion. Tell him anything specific you have noticed before the inspection.
What each Tarion inspection covers
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Roof
- Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
- Structure and exterior, for moisture intrusion
- Attic
- Deck structure
- Insulation, with a thermal camera
One-year warranty
- The home is built in a workmanlike manner and free from defects in materials
- The home is fit to live in
- Protection against unauthorized substitutions
- Protection against Ontario Building Code violations
- Runs one year from possession, even if the home is sold
Two-year warranty
- Water penetration through the basement or foundation walls
- Defects in windows, doors and caulking, or work that lets water into the building envelope
- Defects in the electrical, plumbing and heating delivery and distribution systems
- Detachment, displacement or deterioration of exterior cladding such as brick or siding
- Ontario Building Code violations that affect health and safety
Seven-year warranty: major structural defects
- Failure of a load-bearing part of the building
- Defects that materially affect a load-bearing element’s ability to carry its loads
- Defects that materially affect the use of a significant part of the home
- Includes significant damage from soil movement, major cracks in basement walls, collapse or serious distortion of joints or roof structure, and chemical failure of materials
- Excludes dampness not caused by a structural failure, damage to drains or services, and damage to finishes
Tarion deadlines
First 30 days
30-Day Form
Everything you find in the first month. Submit before day 30.
Last 30 days of year 1
Year-End Form
Workmanship, materials, and the defects that showed up with the seasons.
Last 30 days of year 2
Second-Year Form
Water penetration, building envelope, electrical, plumbing and heating.
Years 3 to 7
Major Structural Defects
Defects that affect the structure or make the home unsafe to live in.
Questions about this inspection
What is not covered under Tarion?
Defects in materials, design and work supplied by the homeowner; secondary damage caused by a defect, such as property damage and personal injury; and normal wear and tear.
What can void a new home warranty?
Damage from an improperly installed appliance or system, or a malfunction caused by age, lack of maintenance or a pre-existing issue. Some owners have lost coverage by renovating a base-model home without telling Tarion or the builder, so always let them know first.
Which Tarion inspections matter most?
Darren recommends the 30-day, year-end and second-year inspections for every new-build owner. The first two cover workmanship and finishes; the second year is when moisture intrusion shows up.
When should I book?
Early enough that the inspection happens before the form is due. For the year-end and second-year forms, that means within the last 30 days of the warranty year.
Page updated November 2026. Prices before tax; Darren confirms the final price when he calls.