Blog

A wood burning fireplace can be a beautiful thing.  It can create a mood, feeling, a scent and a wonderful sound, particularly on a cold winter night.  However, if not properly maintained, it can also deteriorate quickly.  Here are a few helpful points about fireplaces. Did you know that about 90% of the heat generated from a fireplace goes up the chimney? Improper use of a fireplace can cause a...

What is a GFCI? They are often electrical outlets with the colored "Test" and "Reset" buttons. GFCI is an acronym for Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter and  have been used in homes since the 1970's Why Are They Important? GFCI's are designed to shut power off if there is a very small leak of electricity (a ground fault). Generally speaking, normal outlets are shut off by a fuse or breaker if more...

Look before you jump A professional home inspection by a qualified and registered home inspector can help you separate the NEEDS from the WANTS. If you are considering the prospects of undertaking a renovation project, you may wish to also consider having a professional home inspection conducted. It may seem a little strange or counter intuitive to have your home inspected before you do a renovation,...

Serious structural problems are a considerable undertaking and a substancial expense. Some can’t be fixed at all. Here are a few of the common indicators. Uneven Floors Leaning House Uneven floors are typical, particularly in older homes. Here is a trick to help distinguish between a typical home with character and a structural problem.Floor sags to the middle of the home is fairly common in...

As home inspectors, we need to approximate the age of the homes we inspect.  We have a variety of techniques that can assist us in attempting to make this determination. For example, in newer subdivisions dates from manhole covers are stamped with the year the infrastructure was installed.  Sometimes the year is also stamped onto sidewalks, and curbs. Another method is to look at the windows of the...