# Home inspections in Sherwood Park

> We inspect homes across Sherwood Park, the hamlet at the heart of Strathcona County. Its first ranch homes opened in 1955 and rapid growth followed in the 1960s and 1970s, so many houses predate 1989, the cut-off the county uses for its backwater valve rebate. Newer areas add townhouses and condos.

Strathcona County hamlet that began with 1955 ranch homes and keeps growing east.

About 25 minutes from central Edmonton.

## Homes in Sherwood Park

Sherwood Park began in the mid-1950s as a satellite community for workers at Refinery Row. The first model homes opened in September 1955 on Birch Avenue in Sherwood Heights, sold as ranch homes for easier housekeeping. It is still a hamlet, governed by Strathcona County, a specialized municipality.

The population grew from under 3,000 in 1961 to more than 26,000 by 1976, so a large share of the older streets date from that stretch. Houses from those years now carry 50 or more winters on their roofs, windows, furnaces and electrical service. Strathcona County notes that homes built before 1989 were not required to have a backwater valve, which makes the basement drainage worth a close look on a [pre-purchase inspection](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/services/pre-purchase-home-inspection).

Growth has stayed strong over the past two decades. Centre in the Park added newer residences beside the county’s civic core, and Summerwood continues to add detached, semi-detached and townhouse homes. If you are buying a unit in a complex, a [condo inspection](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/services/condo-inspection) covers the suite and the shared areas we can reach.

## Neighbourhoods we cover

- Sherwood Heights: First homes in 1955
- Glen Allan
- Broadmoor Estates
- Westboro
- Clarkdale Meadows
- Emerald Hills
- Salisbury Village
- Centre in the Park: Newer development near the civic core
- Summerwood: Detached, semi-detached and townhouses

## What we look for in Sherwood Park

- **No backwater valve in pre-1989 homes**: Strathcona County offers a backwater valve rebate for homes built before 1989. An inspection notes a valve if one is visible, and a plumber can confirm what is there.
- **Ageing electrical service**: Insurers often see 60-amp service and older wiring as high risk. An inspection reports the visible panel and wiring so you can talk to an electrician and your insurer early.
- **Poly-B in 1980s and 1990s houses**: Homes built from about 1980 to 1998 may have grey Poly-B supply pipe. An inspection notes it where piping is exposed, usually in the utility room.
- **Shared walls and roofs in newer complexes**: Townhouses and condos share roofs, walls and parking with neighbours. The unit inspection matters, and so do the reserve fund and board minutes.

## Common questions

### Does a home inspection check for a backwater valve in Sherwood Park?

An inspection notes a backwater valve if it is visible and accessible. Many Sherwood Park homes predate 1989, and Strathcona County offers a rebate for adding a valve to those homes.

### 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

- [Edmonton](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/service-areas/edmonton)
- [Fort Saskatchewan](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/service-areas/fort-saskatchewan)
- [Beaumont](https://edmontonhomeinspector.com/service-areas/beaumont)