Posts by Ivan
Ice on the Roof: Remove or Leave Alone?
Deep freeze at -26 Celcius. Next day, a balmy 2 degrees and everything melts. Then it rains. Then freezes again. Then snow. What’s a homeowner to do? Be prepared. Freezing and melting water can be your home’s biggest enemy. Ice, especially, can cause a lot of damage. But the fact is, removing thick ice from…
Read MoreBest ‘Smart Home’ Gadgets for 2017
As home inspectors, we’re always on the lookout for new technologies and devices that can improve both home security and home maintenance. 2017 is chalk full of incredible smart home devices that can keep you safe, make your energy consumption more efficient and help you save money. Most of these can be controlled by your smart…
Read MoreTop 5 Gingerbread House Construction Problems
We do a lot of home inspections. This year, we decided to take a crack at inspecting gingerbread houses for the holidays. …we got laughed out of the bakeries! Alas, who doesn’t love a good gingerbread home construction? We find it’s uncanny how many gingerbread construction rules apply to real houses too! Here are the top…
Read MoreBest Time to Test for Radon? First Snowfall. Here’s Why.
Each year, more than 3,000 Canadians die from lung cancer caused by radon—the second most dangerous cause of lung cancer after smoking. Radon comes from uranium, a natural element found in the ground. When uranium breaks down, a radioactive gas is released, called radon. You can’t see it, smell it or taste it, but it’s…
Read MoreHome Heating: Dear Liza, there’s a Hole in the Bucket!
Are you excited to get your January heating bill? Those of you who insulated, caulked and plugged the obvious holes might very well be excited to see the resulting savings. But the rest of us are groaning and ready to put on another sweater to keep the costs down. Letting the heat escape from your home is…
Read MoreAlways Book a Roofer in Autumn. This is Why.
While on an inspection, many of our clients ask: “How old is the roof?” If the owner doesn’t have a receipt on file, it’s impossible to know, but it’s pretty fair to say, we don’t see a lot of roofs more than 20 years old that don’t need to be replaced –sometimes 10-year old roofs…
Read MoreThe Cottage Closing Guide
It’s that time of year. The leaves will soon turn red and gold, and the cottage will need to be properly closed up for winter. It’s always good to have a checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything. We’ve compiled a list of what we consider the most important cottage closing tasks, organized by area.…
Read MoreThe Wobbly Porcelain Bowl: Fixing a Loose Toilet
Nope. We’re not talking about a rough night at the bar. It’s one of our favorite expressions here at the office to describe a loose toilet. “I checked the toilet on the main floor– it spun like a top!” A loose toilet is not just an inconvenience – it could be a sign of trouble.…
Read MoreWhy is Montreal Moving Day on July 1st?
7 per cent of Montrealers move on July 1st, according to 2013 estimates – that’s about 116,000 people. Moving Day causes stress, blocks up streets, and a lot of sweaty people drinking beer and eating pizza with a sore back and a wet paint roller in their hands. Keep in mind, if you’re not moving —…
Read MoreSpring Brought you a Leak in the Basement?
Smell something mouldy, mildew-y or sour coming from your basement or crawl space? Make no mistake: you’ve likely sprung a leak in the basement. Spring is a likely time of year for moisture problems to arise, and a good time to pay attention to how your basement is weathering the thaw. As snow melts, air…
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