Exterior
Always 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 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…
Read MoreWhy Water is your Home’s Biggest Enemy and Caulking is Your Best Friend
I went to visit my mother last week. We sipped tea and talked about the latest news and events. My mom likes to express her opinions by using proverbs. Her inventory is quite astounding. If people are not barking up the wrong tree or making mountains out of molehills, they are putting carts before horses…
Read MoreResidential Home Structure 101: Which Cracks are the Bad Ones?
Serious structural problems in houses are not very common, but when they occur they are never cheap to fix. Some can’t be fixed at all. This report won’t turn you into an seasoned home inspector, but it will give you some of the common indicators. Uneven FloorsUneven floors are typical, particularly in older homes. Here…
Read MoreVinyl 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 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…
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