SOUND ADVICE: From the experts and other useful information

What is Radon Gas?

Radon is a natural gas that rises up thru the ground and is safely disbursed into the atmosphere when it is in an open environment. With the improvements in home construction where natural air movement is constricted in these areas that gas expels from the earth, it is concentrated and can become a serious health issue. Visit: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html for the Environmental Protection Agency's input on this issue.

What is Mold?

There are over 100 known geneses of mold with the majority of them not being dangerous. Visit: http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html for the Environmental Protection Agency's input

Wood-Boring Insects

Termites, which play a positive role in recycling wood and plant material, become a problem when they consume structural lumber. Every year thousands of U.S. housing units require termite treatment. These pests cause serious damage to wooden structures and posts and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books. Successful termite management requires special skills, including a working knowledge of building construction and an understanding of termite biology and identification. In most cases, it is advisable to hire a professional pest control company for the inspection and control problem.

Visit: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/termites/index.htm Good information on Termites

What is Vermiculite Insulation?

Vermiculite is a granular insulation that has been associated with asbestos. Not all vermiculite has asbestos, and, even if yours does, that does not necessarily mean it needs to be removed. Visit: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/pubs/insulation.html for the Environmental Protection Agency's input on this issue.

Home Maintenance Improvement

Priority Items for New Homeowners 
– There are so many home maintenance and repair items that are important; it can be confusing trying to establish which are the most critical.

Home Improvement Costs
– (Life Cycles and Costs)

Home Repair Guide 
– This report will deal with the simpler topic of home repair--basically replacing things that are worn out or fixing things that are broken.

Your New Home 
– It makes sense for you to learn about the qualities of your investment before putting your money on the line.

Inspect Before You Renovate 
– A professional building inspection by a qualified engineer can help you separate the NEEDS from the WANTS.

Technical - Structures

Structures 
– 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 a home inspector, but it will give you some of the common indicators.

Truss Uplift 
– Truss uplift has nothing to do with plastic surgery or under- garments. It is a phenomenon common in homes built with roof trusses as opposed to rafters.

Technical - Insulation and Ventilation

Vermiculite 
– Our informative article on Vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral worldwide.

Condensation 
– A brief, non technical article about controlling Condensation in the home.

Technical - Heating

Air Filters 
– While you’re in the basement unpacking the Halloween costumes, take a moment to consider your furnace.

Humidifiers 
– While an ideal humidity for homes can be as low as 5%, people prefer about 60% humidity. And because people are more powerful than homes, we add humidifiers to have it our way.

Carbon Monoxide 
– Low concentrations of CO can go undetected and can contribute to ongoing, unidentified illnesses. At high concentrations, it can be deadly.

Heating Efficiency 
– High efficiency heating systems have become popular because they save fuel and, one would suppose, save money. But what do they mean when they talk about efficiency? What is furnace efficiency?

Fireplaces 
– Fireplaces are no longer used as the primary source for heating homes, but the magic of a fire stills makes a fireplace a valued part of any home.

Technical - Exterior

Synthetic Stucco 
– EIFS stands for Exterior Insulating and Finishing Systems. It is sometimes referred to as Synthetic Stucco.

Brick Houses 
– What most people in Ontario don't realize is that there are two very different types of brick houses, brick veneer and solid masonry.

Technical - Electrical

60 Amp Services 
– Many homebuyers are discovering that insurance companies are not only concerned about knob and tube wiring; they are also worried about 60 amp services.

Knob Tube Wiring 
– A significant number of insurance companies now consider knob and tube wiring unsafe or a significantly higher risk. We disagree.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters 
– The outlets with the colored "Test" and "Reset" buttons are specially designed to better protect people than ordinary outlets. GFCI's have been used in houses since the 1970's. 

Technical - General

The Perfect House
– The engineers of Carson Dunlop & Associates Ltd. have conducted over 80, 000 home inspections and we haven’t found a perfect house yet. Since perfection is not an option, what should you expect? 

Household Glossary 
– Common Building Technical Terms Explained

Dating Houses 
– As home inspectors, we have some tricks for figuring out the age of a house.

Vague Real Estate Terms 
– Here are a collection of vague real estate terms that can get real estate salespeople into trouble.

Consumer Advice Re: Inspectors

No Guarantees 
– Over the last few years, we have seen a steady shift in clients' expectations. Their demands are higher, which is fine, but the number of clients with unrealistic expectations has grown from maybe one in a thousand to one in fifty.

When Things Go Wrong 
– Our mantra to homeowners about what happens after they move in to their new house.