Attics on the pacific west coast can be prone to organic growth (mold/mildew) on the roof sheathing. The main cause is high relative humidity and usually inadequate ventilation. You should also check the attic for evidence of roof leaks. Watching out for these deficiencies enables minor repairs to be completed before they escalate, and become […]
#1: Puts safety first Your new home should be a haven – a place that provides comfort, functionality and safety for the entire family. Why put the wellbeing of you and your loved ones at risk if you can avoid it? At House Sound Home Inspections Inc, we take your safety very seriously. That’s why […]
Routine Preventative Maintenance for Unfinished Basements and Crawlspaces If your home has an unfinished basement or crawlspace, a good preventative maintenance activity after winter is to check it for water ingress and look at the systems visible therein (plumbing – waste and piping, heating ducts etc). Houses that are built on hillside lots, or those […]
Homes built before 1990 are more likely to contain asbestos products. The only method to confirm the presence of asbestos is by means of a laboratory analysis. This is beyond the scope of a visual home inspection. Asbestos is only a health hazard if it becomes friable (airborne) and this will only become problematic if […]
Congratulations! You are about to put an offer on a new house. But before you sign on the dotted line, you will want to do all that you can to make the best property purchasing decision possible. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or an experienced investor, here are the top reasons to hire […]
The definition of a roof, according to Wikipedia is: “Part of a building envelope. It is the covering on the uppermost part of a building or shelter which provides protection from animals and weather, notably rain or snow, but also heat, wind and sunlight. The word also denotes the framing or structure which supports that […]
Using Infrared Thermal Imaging for Home Inspections Anyone can buy and use an infrared camera. Many Licensed Home Inspectors are using infrared cameras as part of a home inspection. The term for using infrared cameras and correctly interpreting the results is known as “Infrared Thermography”.
Remember to check your attic!! Checking your attic should form part of a routine house maintenance program. The attic is a great way of checking for roof leaks and doing this on a regular basis means that any leak will be detected before it can do major, and costly, damage to your roof structure. Especially […]
What is it? Vermiculite is a granular material used as a loose fill insulation in homes. It was most prevalent in homes built during the 1950s and 1960s and is usually found in the attic. It was marketed under the brand name of Zonalite. What are the concerns? It was found that some vermiculite, specifically […]
With the end of Summer approaching, it’s always a sensible idea to check your property for any maintenance issues. Here’s a helpful link: http://charlesandhudson.com/your_end_of_summer_home_maintenance_checklist/ If buying a condo/apartment or other home managed by a strata, we recommend that you examine management records to assess what repairs and maintenance issues you are responsible for.
Installing an above-ground pool? Check this info: http://www.zillow.com/blog/above-ground-swimming-pool-guide-155527/?utm_content=buffer8f095&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer Safety in the home: make sure you have fire extinguishers on every floor of your home – the one located near your kitchen should be suitable for grease fires. Also plan fire escape routes from your home, especially from the upper stories. Home maintenance tip: check the […]
SLIDING DOORS AND WINDOWS: ensure their tracks are cleaned every three months and also, to reduce the risk of water damage to your home, check that the drain holes are open. FOR THE SPRING: remove leaf debris from gutters and the screen at the top of downspouts. If you don’t have screens, it is recommended […]
Summer maintenance: have your heating system serviced during the summer months on an annual basis. Summer maintenance: complete exterior house painting during the fine summer weather in time for the onset of winter. Summer maintenance: check caulk condition at window trim and frames to ensure that wind driven rain cannot penetrate. Repair in time for […]
With winter upon us, isn’t it great to return to your warm cozy home? Please remember that with the long hot summer, it may be some time since your furnace last ran, and now it’s likely to be running frequently. Here are a couple of tips that you may have done already, but let’s consider […]
Do you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace with uninsulated water pipes running through these spaces? Check them and ensure they are insulated. If not, try some of the foam wrap available in most home improvement stores. The foam simply clips around the pipe and protects the water in the pipe from freezing, leaving you […]
Do you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace with uninsulated water pipes running through these spaces? Check them and ensure they are insulated. If not, try some of the foam wrap available in most home improvement stores. The foam simply clips around the pipe and protects the water in the pipe from freezing, leaving you […]
HOME MAINTENANCE TIP: test ground fault circuit interrupters monthly to make sure they work if there is an electrical problem.
MONTHLY: to reduce energy costs and reduce the risk of fires caused by grease, clean range hood filters.