By Melanie Furlong- Contributing Writer
Halifax NewsNet
House inspections are not mandatory and house inspectors are not regulated anywhere in Canada except British Columbia. Why should you have a house inspected before you buy? Doug Wheatley, of HouseMaster Halifax, says there are several reasons.
“The number one reason is for the comfort of clients,” says Wheatley. “We encourage clients to ...
| • Labour saving equipment is often difficult to use due to the physical limitations of many renovations. In those cases that means that only hand operated equipment can be used. Think of excavating a basement by hand using a conveyor belt or wheel barrel to remove the dirt. concrete by wheel barrel instead of pump truck, lumber by hand instead of by forklift or carrying drywall into the ho ... |
Older homes can be full of charm and character, but they may also have worn out systems and components - anything from ancient water heaters to sagging floors. The specific issues that will affect your older residence will depend on how well the home has been maintained. If the home has been well cared for you should only expect to perform some minor repairs, but in the majority of cases at l ...
Whether you are buying or selling a home, a professional general home inspection is a valuable tool because it gives you a clearer picture of the condition of the home, including important areas as heating and cooling, plumbing, foundation and electrical systems. In fact, the more detailed and specific the report, the better informed you will be.
A professional home inspection is a small inv ...
What are some typical structural concerns associated with a home’s foundation that I should be looking for when purchasing a home?
A home’s foundation is well, its foundation. A typical poured concrete foundation begins with a footing that supports the foundation wall. The footing is a concrete slab installed below where the foundation will sit and is poured on undisturbed or very well compac ...
"How do I determine the electrical capacity of my home? Will it handle my requirements?"
The electrical service provided to a home is measured in amps, which is a measure of the "flow rate" of electricity through a wire.Today’s average home is constructed with electrical service of 100 amps, which means that the large main wires entering the home can safely handle 100 amps of current before ...
"I am thinking of building a deck in mybackyard. What type of supports should Iprovide for my deck?"
There are many aspects of a deck that should be considered when discussing the structure. These include; joist, beam, and post size, support, and spacing; decking thickness; and guard/railing height and spindle spacing. These aspects are especially important when a deck is high off the groun ...
"Question: I received three quotes for performing a foundation repair in my house and they vary from $400 to $10000. Generally speaking, why do contractor quotations vary so much and should I select the lowest bidder to do the repair?"
Getting quotes from contractors can sometimes be very frustrating. Prices can vary significantly as can the suggested repair materials, means, and methods. It ...
"I have noticed that there are damaged bricks on my chimney above the roof line. What has caused this and what needs to be done to correct it? "
A chimney is designed to exhaust products of combustion from a fuel-burning appliance to the exterior of the building. A masonry chimney is typically built on its own footing and foundation with brick or concrete block on the exterior. Post 1940’s a ...
"I am doing renovations on my home and my contractor says there is asbestos in my home that has to be removed. Is asbestos really a concern and what types of building materials may contain asbestos? "
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral (a fibrous hydrated silicate) mined in many countries around the world, including large quantities in Canada. There are two main types of asbestos miner ...