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Premium Home Inspections
What is a Premium Home Inspection?
A Premium Home Inspection involves a thorough visual assessment of a property’s key components, including structure, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems, to provide critical information for a purchase decision. Beyond standard inspections, it includes advanced techniques like thermal imaging, moisture meter checks, mold and asbestos visual assessments, gas leak detection, carbon monoxide testing, and appliance inspections.
"Donovan was extremely professional, very knowledgeable and helpful! We needed an inspection done ASAP and he was able to squeeze us in! I am someone with no knowledge on homes so he was very good about explaining things in terms I would understand and visually showing me the problems and concerns he had. His report he provided was finished very swiftly, and very easy to read. Thanks again Donovan! Will definitely be recommending you to everyone!" -- Teagan Rempel
Cathedral & Vaulted Ceilings
Cathedral ceilings are also commonly referred to as "vaulted" ceilings, although vaulted ceilings are technically asymmetric while cathedral ceilings have equal slope on opposing sides. These arrangements basically consist of eliminating the attic space for aesthetic purposes, having the ceiling installed directly on the underside of the roof.
Deck Maintenance
Regular maintenance of a wood deck can extend its life by 10-15 years. At the beginning of spring and the end of summer, you should inspect your deck for signs of deterioration - loose screws, rusting fasteners, protruding nails and rotten or loose components are the most common items. Use a piece of paper and a pen to draw a rough diagram of your deck so you can take note of where you locate issues along the way. If you are unsure of any safety concerns, please call a professional.
Concrete vs Wood Foundations
Whether you're buying or building a house, the foundation will always be a major point of interest - after all, it supports the entire structure. Home Inspection clients often ask what material is most beneficial, or express concerns about an existing foundation made of wood, so let's break down the pros and cons of these materials.
DIY Inspection Tips
Tip #1 Plastic Dryer Vent
While performing home inspections, it is quite common that we find a foil or white vinyl vent being used for the dryer exhaust. These materials are a fire hazard and should be replaced with a non-combustible metal vent. If you do not know what material is currently being used with your dryer, you can check by simply looking behind it - for most dryers the vent will be connected near the bottom in the middle.
Why Is My Room So Cold?
Firstly, let's talk about your heat source. Most houses in Canada will have a furnace as the main source of heat in their home - and most of those furnaces will be fueled by natural gas. How do they work? Without getting technical, basically the thermostat located in a central area of the home senses when the temperature in that area of the house drops below a set point. When it does, it sends a signal to the furnace to turn on the burner and start heating up the heat exchanger inside.
Furnace Filters
Primarily, furnaces have to be maintained and cleaned by a professional on an annual basis, but there is one form of maintenance that all homeowners will want to keep up themselves, and that is changing the air filter. The filter is usually located on the side of the furnace near the floor where the return air duct connects. The filter will either be reusable or disposable - usually disposable; if it is reusable, you would be cleaning rather than replacing it.
Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are a great roofing material as long as they are installed correctly and used for the appropriate application they are designed for (low-sloped roofs less than 4:12 pitch usually require a special kind of shingle - flat roofs should never use shingles). Asphalt shingles are the most common type of roof covering, and for anyone who is buying or selling a house, the age and condition of the roof should be one of the major factors to consider.
Aluminum Wiring
There are two types of aluminum wiring: solid and stranded. Solid aluminum wiring was used from the early 1960s to the mid-'70s because it was less expensive than copper and easier to work with, being a softer metal. Stranded aluminum wiring is still used today in brand new construction for larger-gauge wires, which is not a hazard.
Gas Water Heaters
Hot water is obviously very important in our daily lives, and the water heater is one appliance that many of my clients ask me about when I perform home inspections. As a homeowner there are a few things you should know about your water heater...
POLY-B Water Supply Piping
Poly-B was the first plastic piping material developed, intended to replace copper piping due to its affordability and ease of installation. It was installed in over 6 million homes in the U.S and 700,000 in Canada between 1978 and 1995. It is a grey piping material with stamped information along its length, and (in Canada) can be verified by its CSA Standard number "B137.8" or material designation "PB2110".
Information Links
Link resources for homeowners, covering home inspection, consumer protection, health hazards, electrical, plumbing, and heating topics. Explore trusted links to guide your home maintenance and safety decisions.