In the News

$2 million in water damage not covered by insurance
Courts uphold insurance ruling that water seepage through foundation walls is not covered under homeowners’ policy.

Home Maintenance and 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 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.

Grow Houses 
With an estimated 50,000 grow houses in Canada, there is growing concern about health, fire, safety, and structural implications for home buyers. But what risk is there in owning a grow home? 

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.

Pre-Listing

Pre-Inspected Listings 
Home inspections have traditionally been for the benefit of the purchaser. Pre-inspected listings benefit all parties - purchasers, vendors and Realtors. 

Consumer Advice

Alan Carson: Never Skip the Home Inspection  
Buying a house is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make and skipping the home inspection dramatically increases your risk of significant unforeseen expenses. Here is why going in blind can end up costing you a lot.

Alan Carson: Rapid Inspections 
Every buyer wants a home inspection, but many feel pressured to skip the inspection or get a Rapid inspection, 5-point inspection, Quick inspection or Walk-through. We have heard different rationales for these – faster, less expensive, allows for a clean offer. The truth is these are not home inspections; they are dangerous and may cost your clients a lot over the long term.

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.

Fifteen Questions to Ask 
When shopping for a Home Inspector