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Vinyl Siding: A flammable material
A few weeks ago a friend called me to say he had some pictures I should take a look at. He told me that a relative of his living in Vaudreuil, (west of Montreal) was hosting a few friends on his back deck one evening when a cigarette was apparently stubbed out in a planter…
Read MoreTop 5 Threats to your Brick
The three pigs proved that brick was the best building material – it certainly is. But brick has its natural enemies (and the big bad wolf is definitely not one of them.) Water and paint are at the top the list of materials that can do damage to brick. Don’t be fooled: looks can be…
Read MoreHoney, is our Dryer Vent made out of Flammable Flexible Tubing?
Sound crazy? It’s not. It’s unbelievable how often we see homes with flammable dryer vents installed, filled with lint, all ready to catch a spark. It’s winter. Not a lot of clothes hanging out on the ‘cord-a-linge’ this time of year. Most of us are using our dryers, and we’re putting a lot of wooly…
Read MoreBeautiful Laminate Flooring? Attn: May Contain Cancer-Causing Formaldehyde
A CBS 60 Minutes report last month found that laminate flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators, manufactured in China, is assembled using glue containing high levels of formaldehyde. The company sold over $1 billion of merchandise in 2014. Signs of formaldehyde Wheezing, running eyes, coughing, breathing problems are all symptoms of high levels of formaldehyde. Families…
Read MoreIs Your Montreal Balcony Secure for Your Family?
Montreal is a city with a great many balconies, porches and back decks; and Montrealers make good use of them during the summers. Playwright David Fennario even referred to the city as “Balconville” in his play of the same name, alluding to the balcony’s central place in the city’s culture, where thousands of Montrealers retreat…
Read MoreThe 5 Minute Sump Pump Test Every Homeowner Should Know
Tulips still underground? Can’t smell the crocuses yet? Good! Because you want to make sure your sump pump works before spring showers are in full flood! This is a good week to check your sump pump. It’ll only take 5 minutes, and if there’s any problem, you’ll prevent water damage or flooding during the rainy…
Read MoreHome Electricity 101: Safety in Grounded Plugs
All Montreal homes built before 1960 have the same energy: unpredictable. For us, the 1960’s brought about a new era of groovy energy; an energy we could get down with. We’re not talking bellbottoms, afros or free love. We’re talking energy in the literal sense. Safer home electricity standards were introduced in the 60’s: something…
Read MoreEffective Ventilation System Maintenance Stops Ice Damming
Without a working ventilation system on your roof, your home could thaw out snow and ice on the roof, turning it to water. The water pools, then freezes and melts again causing roof damage and leaks. – And for home owners who haven’t done regular maintenance on their roof, that means water damage from ice…
Read MoreSewer Smell in Your House? Get the P Trap Fundamentals
It’s mind baffling. When that smell starts to come into your home, and you’re looking for the unflushed toilet, or the doggie accident, or the poopy diaper you may have forgotten, and you just can’t figure it out… Where is that smell coming from? Often, this means your home has a sewer drainage and/or ventilation…
Read MoreIs your House Making your Family Ill? Check Your Indoor Air Quality
It’s a fact: indoor air quality can affect our health. Many respiratory problems and headaches can be traced to a sick house. In temperate climates, where windows and doors are left open constantly, this isn’t a serious concern. But in cold climates like Canada’s, where we have become experts at sealing our houses airtight to…
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