# Home inspections in Devon

> Devon is in our service area, from its first oil-boom houses to new builds in the Ravines of Devon. Imperial Oil started building the town in 1948 after the Leduc No. 1 discovery, so its original homes date from the late 1940s. Those homes, and lots near the river valley, have their own inspection priorities.

Imperial Oil’s 1948 planned town on the North Saskatchewan River, plus the newer Ravines.

About 40 minutes from central Edmonton.

## Homes in Devon

Devon exists because of oil. After Imperial Oil struck oil at Leduc No. 1 in February 1947, it chose a site on the south bank of the North Saskatchewan River for a planned town to house workers. Building on Athabasca Avenue began by January 1948, the first residents moved in that May, and 123 homes were finished by the end of January 1949. It was called Canada’s Model Town because it was the first community in Canada approved by a regional planning commission.

Those first houses date from the late 1940s, and most will have been renovated at least once. A [pre-purchase inspection](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/services/pre-purchase-home-inspection) looks at how old and new work meet: electrical panels added to original wiring, attic insulation layered over older material, and basements that may have been finished over original foundation walls.

Newer homes include the Ravines of Devon, planned for the east part of town, and South Ravines. The Battery Creek plan was adopted in 2017. For one of these homes, a [new construction inspection](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/services/new-construction-inspection) helps you hand the builder a clear list.

## Neighbourhoods we cover

- Ravines of Devon: Newer, east side
- South Ravines: Newer
- Battery Creek: Plan adopted in 2017
- Highwood

## What we look for in Devon

- **Renovation layers in late-1940s homes**: Original houses have often been rewired, re-plumbed or extended in stages. An inspection notes where old and new materials meet and flags work that looks unpermitted or unfinished.
- **Vermiculite in original attics**: Homes insulated before 1990 may contain vermiculite, which Health Canada says to leave undisturbed. An inspection notes it if seen and recommends a lab test before any attic work.
- **Lots near the river valley**: Properties near the valley edge rely on surface water moving away from the house. An inspection checks grading and visible cracks; slope stability is a question for a geotechnical engineer.
- **Radon in basements**: Health Canada recommends testing every home for radon over at least three months. A home inspection does not test for radon, so plan a long-term test after you move in.

## Common questions

### What should I know before buying one of Devon’s original homes?

They date from 1948 onward and have usually been renovated more than once. An inspection shows the condition of the visible wiring, plumbing, insulation and foundation, and flags what needs a specialist.

### Can you inspect a home in winter?

Yes. Most of an inspection is unaffected by winter. Snow can limit what is visible on the roof and around the grading, and the report says exactly what could not be seen.

## Nearby areas we serve

- [Leduc](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/service-areas/leduc)
- [Edmonton](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/service-areas/edmonton)
- [Stony Plain](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/service-areas/stony-plain)