• Building Technical Terms Explained 

    Sun, 03/25/2012 - 00:00
    Abs— A type of black plastic pipe commonly used for waste water lines.Aggregate— Crushed rock or stone.Air chamber— A vertical, air filled pipe that prevents water hammer by absorbing pressure when water is shut off at a faucet or valve.Air-conditioner condenser— The outside fan unit of the air conditioning system. The condenser discharges heat to the building exterior.Alligatoring— Coarse checking pattern on the surface of a material. Typically caused by ageing, exposure to sun and/or loss of volatiles.

  • What are you looking for in a home inspection report?

    Fri, 03/16/2012 - 00:00
    Home inspections have been around for a few decades now and reaching the 80 percentile application level especially with people entering the property ladder especially in the Kitchener/Cambridge area of South Western Ontario where home buyers are especially savvy, but are still not well understood by many homebuyers and homeowners. That's partly the fault of the profession.

  • Product Recall - Tankless Water Heaters

    Wed, 03/07/2012 - 00:00
    The Technical Standards & Safety Authority issued an advisory regarding Navien instantaneous hot water heaters. It states that the joints for the entire venting system of all Navien water heaters manufactured between February 29, 2008 and December 31, 2008 must be re-inspected to ensure they are properly fused, to prevent any potential flue products from being expelled into the living space of a home. The lack of fusing between joints has been attributed to an inadequate application of cement.

  • Over Using Your Gas Fireplace?

    Thu, 03/01/2012 - 00:00
    A recent survey of household energy use found that 23 per cent of Canadian single- and semi-detached and row-housing reported having a gas fireplace and of those, 22 per cent reported using them every day once the temperatures dip. Depending on the size and location of the fireplace, the added warmth can help ease the furnace's heating burden, causing it to turn on less frequently. But will that save your customers' money?

  • Preparing for a Home Inspection On YOUR Home:

    Thu, 02/23/2012 - 00:00
    If you have an upcoming home inspection and don't know what to expect contact me and I will share a checklist that will let you see what the home inspector will be looking for. Following are a few tips for you as you prepare for for that upcoming inspection:

  • Inspect Before You Renovate

    Fri, 02/17/2012 - 00:00
    A professional building inspection by a qualified engineer can help you separate the NEEDS from the WANTS.The time has finally come. Your cramped kitchen and dining room is making way for the state-of-the-art dining and entertaining center. But first that wall has to come out. Is it load bearing? What about the electrical service – can it handle the SubZero fridge?

  • Update

    Wed, 02/15/2012 - 00:00
    Removable/ Cleanable filter on outlet of tank - Required after 2008 for all new installations. Clean every 6 - 12 months or as requiredDual compartments on tanks and PVC piping - Required  after 1978Life of Steel tanks 15 - 20 yearsCheck for corrosion of Concrete tanks especially on exit areasWhen originally designing your system OVERSIZE the tank as home modifications over the future life of the home may overload a marginal systemMaintain 16 feet to tree line from all componentsPermits ARE required for ALL modifications to system

  • EcoENERGY Retrofit Programme

    Fri, 02/10/2012 - 00:00
    On January 29, National Resource Minister Joe Oliver announced that registrations for the ecoENERGY retrofit for homes program had closed due to a 250,000 participant limit. This solidifies suspicion that the ecoENERGY Retrofit program will not be renewed again. If you already have a Natural Resources Canada registration number, you can still add these quick jobs to your list to get the most possible out of the final 40 days of the ecoENERGY retrofit program. 

  • Spray Foam Insulation

    Thu, 02/02/2012 - 00:00
    If you are in the market for upgrading your insulation then the fashionable alternative and Hi efficiency recommendation is sprayed on Foam Insulation. If you are making the commitment become informed before you do about the process, options available and costs. Many contractors are seeing this as a new cash cow to add to their business or starting new businesses without being fully trained and aware. 

  • Hole in the Ground: Basement or Swimming Pool?

    Tue, 11/29/2011 - 00:00
    The moral of the story is do you want moisture to enter into your basement through the cracks and create a swimming pool... of course not.Every basement will have cracks.... eventually. Some small and inconsequential, some severe and more alarming each day.