​We all know that major earthquakes can cause serious damage to buildings, but what about minor ones? Were you aware that even minor tremors can put our properties at risk? The reason for this is because, in locations that do not experience a lot of seismic activity, houses are usually built with less strict earthquake preparedness building codes, so if there are smaller tremors, the home could experience some damage. Let’s look at a few potential weak spots your home may have and ways you can reinforce those areas:
 
Let’s start with the foundations of the home. Your home needs to be firmly fixed to its foundations. You will also want to check for signs of deterioration in cement foundations such as cracking and crumbling of the cement.
 
A common and serious problem that can occur after an earthquake is leaking gas. If you have any appliances that run of natural gas, it’s a good idea to fix them securely to a wall or floor. Also, unless the home has an automatic shut off valve, you need to know the location of the home's manual shutoff valve, have it clearly labeled, and be able to access it easily if the need arises to shut it off quickly.
 
A chimney can become extremely unsafe if it is damaged in an earthquake as it runs the risk of falling into the house itself. With this in mind, make sure you do not set up children’s playrooms near the chimney. You may also want to use angle bracing and sheet metal straps to secure an unreinforced masonry chimney.
 
Freestanding water heaters could become another potential hazard in a minor earthquake so you may also want to secure this to a wall using metal straps.
 
These are just a few of the potential weak spots in a house that may be affected during a small earthquake. It is good to have an assessment done on your home to find areas that may need reinforcing and protect it from damage.

​As a homeowner you may be looking for different ways to lower your household energy bills, but how easy is it to do? One thing that can significantly increase the energy efficiency of a home, especially if it is older, is sealing and insulation. Let’s look at some of the areas in your home that may benefit from doing this:
 
A good place to begin is the attic. Because heat rises, this is a space where you would notice air leaking the most. Start by plugging up any big gaps and holes. You will most commonly find these in dropped ceiling areas, where the attic meets the floor, and under or behind attic knee walls. Next, you will want to seal up smaller holes. If you are wondering how to detect small air leaks, one indication is that patches of insulation may become darkened so look out for this. Another area of the attic that you will want to check is the attics access panel. For this, you can use a foam board insulation or weatherstripping.
 
Other than the attic, where else may benefit from being sealed and insulated? Here are a few of them, window or wall mounted air conditioning units, electrical receptacles or outlets, doors, window frames, baseboards, and piping.
 
Sealing and insulating can help to not only reduce your monthly cooling and heating bills but, when a home is tightly sealed you will also find it improves indoor air quality and comfort and, best of all, it is a job most homeowners can do themselves.

When light is skillfully used in a home it can make a space warm and inviting. Perhaps when you think about using light to brighten up a dark space in the home, you think about some kind of electrical lighting, but have you considered the possibility of daylighting? This method uses natural light to brighten an area. It’s also energy efficient. We are going to look at a couple of ways daylighting could be used in a home.


As we have mentioned, daylighting is a word used to describe the use of natural light for illuminating the interior of a home. There are various ways to do this. Perhaps one of the more well-known methods is with the use of skylights. If you decide, however, to install skylights in your home, make sure they are double-paned and that the flashing has been done properly.


Another natural lighting option is clerestory windows. These are short, wide windows set high on a wall. This allows the sun to pour into a room during winter months, adding needed light and heat while at the same time, because of the roof overhang, it protects against the sun during the summer.


Light tubes are one more daylighting option. They use a special lens that amplifies low-level light and reduces the intensity of the sun's light at midday. The tubes themselves are coated with a highly reflective material that channels the sunlight through it. The light then enters the interior of the home through a diffuser that will evenly distribute the light.


While we have only mentioned a few ways natural light can be used to brighten a home, it's clear to see the benefits of doing so.
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​DIY jobs are not for everyone, however, with the current changes in circumstances meaning that more people are staying at home, now is a good time to tackle some of those projects you may have been putting off. To do a job well, though, usually requires having the right tools. So, what kinds of tools do you have in your tool kit? If you are just starting to put your at-home tool kit together here are a few basic tools you will want to start with.
 
One DIY task you may take on is hanging pictures or shelving.  The basic tools you would want for a task like this are a hammer, tape measure, and a level to check that your picture is straight.
 
Self-assembly furniture is very popular nowadays, but even the simplest items to assemble may still require tools such as a screwdriver.  When shopping for a screwdriver set, check that it includes both Philips and flat head screws.
 
At times, you may have to tackle some rather unpleasant tasks like unblocking a toilet or sink.
While this may eventually involve calling out a plumber, a lot of the time the problem can be taken care of with a plunger. 
 
Here are a few more basic tools you will find useful; a flashlight, wrench set, duct tape and safety equipment which should include, gloves, safety glasses, and a breathing mask. We have only mentioned a couple of possible DIY jobs you will need tools for. Of course, there are many other jobs and tools you may need, we have simply listed a few to get your tool kit started.

​Have you decided to sell your own home without the aid of a realtor? If so, then here is some advice we think you will find helpful:
 
A lot of homeowners want to sell their homes themselves to save money, however, it is important to know the areas you can save money on and the areas that you shouldn’t skimp.
For example, one thing you shouldn’t skimp on is a pre-listing inspection.  Why is this? Because it will allow you to discover any problems your home has that may affect its value, giving you the opportunity to fix the issues before putting it on the market.  Knowing a recent inspection has been done on the home will also be appealing to a prospective buyer.
 
While you may not want to use a real estate agent to sell your home you can still learn a great deal from them.  It’s true you won’t have as much knowledge and experience as them but it’s important to do your research.  Find out how much properties are selling for in your area and be realistic about the price you can get for your home.  Otherwise, you might waste a lot of time and energy by asking for an unreasonable amount of money.
 
Are you familiar with all of the legal requirements for selling a home? You will also need to know what kinds of contracts are needed as well as any other rules and regulations related to the sale.
 
So, be sure to enter the process as prepared as possible, otherwise, you may find it very stressful and wish you had just used a realtor in the first place.

During the long winter months dry air can become a real issue for us, not only does it cause problems such as skin irritations and static shock but even our homes may see the effects of excessively dry air like peeling wallpaper or even wooden furniture beginning to warp.  If you are looking for a solution to this, then a central humidifier may be the answer.  So, how does a central humidifier work and would it be a good option for you?
 
Central humidifiers are generally attached to the forced-air system of the home and fed water via a connection to the home's plumbing system.  This way the entire home experiences dry air relief. 
 
It’s clear that a central humidifier works well in combating dry air but are there any downsides to installing one? If you do not take time to maintain the humidifier you could encounter problems related to an excessive amount of condensation.  This may cause harmful fungus or other bacteria to grow and you may also inadvertently create the perfect environment for mold and mildew which we know to be hazardous.  
 
Before you make the decision to install a central humidifier, do a little research and become familiar with how they work, this way you will know the right way to keep it well maintained.
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What if you already have a central humidifier installed in your home? Check when the last time was that you had it inspected.  If it has been some time, you may want to have it inspected.

​As we often highlight on our website mold is a problem you do not want in your home and can lead to a number of health complaints. Identifying mold in the home is very important so you know the best way to treat it. When inspecting a home, a visual inspection for mold can be done as well as surface sampling, in conjunction with these tests, air samples can be taken as an additional way to detect mold. How is this done?
 
Air sampling is one way to find a mold source that has yet to be detected. As mold spores cannot be seen with the naked eye, an air sample is sent to a laboratory and analyzed there. Results will, not only reveal whether mold is present in the home but will also show how severe the problem is.
 
Air samples are generally taken in places where mold is already visible and areas that have experienced water damage or moisture intrusion. If there are musty odors in any parts of the home, which would suggest the presence of mold, it is also a good idea to take air samples in these areas.
 
Can air samples be taken at any time? A variety of factors can affect an air sample reading such as changes in air pressure which could affect mold spore levels and severe thunderstorms or extremely high winds. When taking an air sample, it’s best to have all doors and windows closed and any indoor-outdoor air exchangers switched off.  Further air samples will also be taken after mold remediation to ensure all mold has been removed.
 
To summarize, then, air sampling is a good additional test for mold and can help determine mold spore levels.

​2020 is almost upon us and with that comes plans for the coming year.  Maybe you’re thinking about the projects you’d like to take on.  For example, will you be redecorating or remodeling any areas of the home? When was the last time you had your home inspected? For many, the last time was probably when the home was purchased.
 
The following video will help you understand why having an annual inspection performed on your home is an essential part of home maintenance.  If you would like to schedule your annual maintenance inspection for the coming year, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to help you and answer all your home inspection questions.

​If you are currently thinking about buying a home to renovate it's important you prepare yourself for the problems you may well encounter in older homes. One of those problems is asbestos. Let’s briefly discuss what it is and why it is so bad.
 
Before the dangers of asbestos were known, it was used in building materials because it added strength, delivered fire resistance and provided heat insulation. Asbestos is a mineral fiber.  These fibers are very small and can be released into the air. Being very small, asbestos fibers can also be inhaled easily and here is where the danger lies because prolonged exposure to asbestos has resulted in some very serious diseases. Among them are Asbestosis which causes fibrous tissue to scar the lungs and, Mesothelioma which is a type of cancer affecting the chest lining and abdominal cavity.
 
If the home you are planning to renovate was built during or before the 1970s and has not been touched since it's likely you will encounter asbestos. If you start to tear up flooring and walls, etc. you could release asbestos fibers into the air, producing a hazardous environment. So, what should you do before you begin renovations? Firstly, get the home inspected to find out if asbestos is present. If it is, you mustn’t try to remove it yourself, instead hire a company qualified to safely remove and dispose of it for you.

​While many of us are not yet ready to think about snow and freezing temperatures, October is a good month to start preparing for it. There are several jobs we should take care of in our homes and around our properties to make sure they are ready for the cold. Here are a few of them:
 
We spend a lot of time doing yard work during the fall months. One important job to get done is cleaning out the gutters. If this is not taken care of before the temperature goes way down, any debris in the gutters will freeze and become heavy which may damage the guttering. The sprinkler system is another thing to take care of. Make sure there is no water and air left in the sprinkler system as this can create cracks. You will also want to protect outdoor furniture by storing it in a dry place or covering it.
 
Test the home's heating system. Now is a good time to do it, before you really need it. An easy way to test if it’s working well is to turn the thermostat up and observe how long the system takes to respond. If it is taking an unusually long time, it may need to be serviced. This is also a good time to replace air filters and, if your home is heated with oil or propane, get the tank filled so it's ready to use. If you have a fireplace, have it inspected to make sure it is still safe to use.
 
When outside temperatures are particularly low pipes are prone to freeze and burst in the unheated parts of the home which can damage the home's plumbing system. Cover pipes in the attic, crawlspaces or any other areas which are not heated with foam or fiberglass insulation to protect them from freezing and keep the temperature of the home high enough so that pipes will not freeze even in these areas.
 
These are just some of the ways you can ensure your home stays warm and free of damage during the long winter months.