Home Show
Mike Holmes made an appearance at the National Home Show in Toronto. I had a chance to meet and get a signed copy of his new magazine. It was a pleasure meeting a man who is inspiring me to be a great Home Inspector. Click Here to subscribe to his magazine.
Home Inspection Safety Concerns
Radon: Radon comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks and water and gets into the air you breathe. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation.
Asbestos: Asbestos has been a part of the building materials since the 1970s. The mere presence of asbestos in your home is not hazardous. The danger of it is the material becomes damaged over time and can release asbestos fibres that present a health problem. Studies show that people exposed to high levels of asbestos fibres have an increase risk of cancer and asbestosis.
Mold: Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. The way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
Carbon Manoxide: Carbon Manoxide is produced by the incomplete combustions of the fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires.
Asbestos: Asbestos has been a part of the building materials since the 1970s. The mere presence of asbestos in your home is not hazardous. The danger of it is the material becomes damaged over time and can release asbestos fibres that present a health problem. Studies show that people exposed to high levels of asbestos fibres have an increase risk of cancer and asbestosis.
Mold: Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce. When mold spores land on a damp spot indoors, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. The way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.
Carbon Manoxide: Carbon Manoxide is produced by the incomplete combustions of the fossil fuels - gas, oil, coal and wood used in boilers, engines, oil burners, gas fires, water heaters, solid fuel appliances and open fires.
Ikea Kitchen Remodelling
Get Insider Tips to Help You Plan, Design, Organize, and Install Your Ikea Kitchen Project Like a Professional - Even If You're a Complete Remodeling Rookie with No Skills and Have Never Swung a Hammer.
Questions You Should Ask A Home Inspector Before Hiring Them.
1. What standards do they follow?
2. How long will the inspection take?
3. What will be inspected?
4. When will the report be ready?
5. Can you join them on the inspection?
6. How much will the inspection cost?
7. What other services do they offer?
8. How long have they been in the business?
9. What will be included in the report?
10. Do they have a sample report?
11. What will happen during the inspection?
12. Are they insured?
13. What kind of equipment do they use?
14. Do they belong to any associations of home inspectors?
15. Do they have any training?
2. How long will the inspection take?
3. What will be inspected?
4. When will the report be ready?
5. Can you join them on the inspection?
6. How much will the inspection cost?
7. What other services do they offer?
8. How long have they been in the business?
9. What will be included in the report?
10. Do they have a sample report?
11. What will happen during the inspection?
12. Are they insured?
13. What kind of equipment do they use?
14. Do they belong to any associations of home inspectors?
15. Do they have any training?
Electrical Terms
Amps: The unit of measure of current
Circuit: A complete path of an electric current
Double Tapping: Adding wires at fuses or breakers for the purpose of adding more circuits to the electrical system. Not allowed, except with breakers approved for double tapping.
GFCI: An abbreviation for a ground fault circuit interrupter, a monitoring device that will trip after a ground fault is detected, stopping the flow of electricity in a circuit.
Grounding: The process of electrically connecting electrically conductive items to the earth by which means excess electrical current is absorbed into the ground.
Main Panel: A metal box holding overload protection devices and/or disconnects for the home's electrical circuits.
Subpanel: A panel connected to a main panel for the purpose of providing more circuits and better distribution of electricity of the home.
Circuit: A complete path of an electric current
Double Tapping: Adding wires at fuses or breakers for the purpose of adding more circuits to the electrical system. Not allowed, except with breakers approved for double tapping.
GFCI: An abbreviation for a ground fault circuit interrupter, a monitoring device that will trip after a ground fault is detected, stopping the flow of electricity in a circuit.
Grounding: The process of electrically connecting electrically conductive items to the earth by which means excess electrical current is absorbed into the ground.
Main Panel: A metal box holding overload protection devices and/or disconnects for the home's electrical circuits.
Subpanel: A panel connected to a main panel for the purpose of providing more circuits and better distribution of electricity of the home.
Foundation Cracks
There are many types of cracks that can occur on your home. The location and pattern of the crack can give you a clue on what is going on with the foundation. Here are 4 different types of cracks.
1. Vertical Cracks - This is most often caused by settlement of the structure, soil compacting, or soiling washing away under the footings.
2. Angled Cracks - These types of cracks appear when there is a major difference in the soil under the house from one location to another, heaving of the soil, and resulting footing failure.
3. Horizontal Crack - This is pressure being applied from the outside. The cause can be soil pressure against the wall, improper backfilling and surface problems such as poor down spouts that increase the amount of water pushing against the wall.
4. Shrinkage Cracks - Can appear in foundation walls as part of the curing process. This is possible by too much moisture added in the blocks when they were set.
1. Vertical Cracks - This is most often caused by settlement of the structure, soil compacting, or soiling washing away under the footings.
2. Angled Cracks - These types of cracks appear when there is a major difference in the soil under the house from one location to another, heaving of the soil, and resulting footing failure.
3. Horizontal Crack - This is pressure being applied from the outside. The cause can be soil pressure against the wall, improper backfilling and surface problems such as poor down spouts that increase the amount of water pushing against the wall.
4. Shrinkage Cracks - Can appear in foundation walls as part of the curing process. This is possible by too much moisture added in the blocks when they were set.
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