Blog
Do You Like Exposed Brick? It can be Deadly
by Ivan Mose A couple of weeks after last Christmas I received a phone call from a young man who told me he had a terrible smell in his apartment and could I come over as soon as possible and take a look. I am a building inspector so smells usually mean drains, mouldy basements…
Read MoreInterNACHI: the World’s Largest Professional Inspector Organization
InterNACHI (the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors) is the world’s largest trade organization of certified property inspectors. As our team has expanded to the double digits, and we’ve grown to provide services in multiple specializations, we have sought out new opportunities to learn and benefit from other professional experiences. A highly esteemed professional association…
Read MoreClimbing Vines on Brick: Much Ado About Nothing?
This year’s Montreal and area Shakespeare in the park series featured Shakespeare’s comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. The meaning of the title to this play, often misinterpreted, is about making a big fuss when there is nothing to fuss about. They play attempts to show that deceit is not inherently evil, but can be used…
Read MoreDoes Your Bathroom Fan Suck up Toilet Paper? It Should.
Have you noticed that your bathroom fan isn’t quite sucking out the humidity quite like it used to? It might be time for an upgrade. A classic, simple DIY trick is to hold up a piece of toilet paper to the whirring fan. If the TP won’t stay in place, the fan isn’t pulling its…
Read MoreCarpenter Ants are NOT the Problem, They are the Symptom
Sure, as carpenter ants burrow into wood to create their nests, your home is slowly getting destroyed from the inside out. But carpenter ants don’t generally nest in nice dry areas free of food stuffs. They prefer moist, rotting wood. Carpenter ants indicate a bigger problem in the home. Carpenter Ants Like High Moisture Carpenter ants…
Read MoreThe Most Explosive Device in Your Home? Hot Water Tank Checkup
Did you know that a hot water tank can explode? When you combine high water temperatures and neglected pressure relief valves, you could have yourself an explosive tank that can literally blow your home through your roof. An old Mythbusters video makes light of a hot water tank explosion, but shows how potentially dangerous this essential…
Read MoreThe Most Important Home Maintenance Tool you will Ever Own
As a homeowner what do you consider the most important home maintenance tool? We’ve heard a wide range of answers: “Screwdriver.” “Hammer.” “Draino.” “Wrench.” “Measuring tape.” “Duct tape.” “Paintbrush.” “Hedge trimmer.” It’s true, trim hedges and fresh paint are all good for a home, but non of the tools listed above compare to this one: The #1 Tool…
Read MoreHow to Save $10,000 on your Electricity Bill
Is your Hydro-Québec electricity bill putting a hole in your wallet? It might be time to fix the holes in your home… I recently had a gentleman ask me how his electricity bill could possibly be $1000 per month. He asked me to poke around his house to see if I could recommend any energy-saving solutions. It…
Read MoreBurnt Toast Made you Disable the Smoke Detector?
You may have the wrong smoke detector. Reduce false alarms by using a different type. There’s nothing more annoying than a smoke detector that goes off every time you use the oven or burn toast. Many people take the batteries out of their smoke detectors because they get tired of false alarms – this is…
Read MoreThe GR8 Electrical Acronym Guide for Home Owners
While we hope you’re doing a lot of LOL’ing (laughing out loud) in your home, we also hope your GFI’s (Ground Fault interrupters) are installed in the right places to make sure your home is really safe. Not sure what a GFI is for? NP (no problem.) This GR8 (Great) Electrical Acronym Guide is just…
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