​Lighting is extremely important when it comes to setting the right tone for your house as it can be the difference between a look that is warm and inviting or one that is cold and unappealing. Incorporating natural light into a dark space may seem like a difficult task, especially if there is no room for traditional windows but let’s look at some other ways natural light can be used.
 
Perhaps one of the most common daylighting methods is with the use of skylights. They are a very effective way to add a maximum amount of daylight to a dark space. If you decide to install skylights, however, just remember to use double-paned windows and be sure the flashing is done properly, otherwise, this could create several issues.
 
Light tubes are another way your home can benefit from natural light. Light tubes are covered in a highly reflective material that effectively channels sunlight; they are also fitted with a lens designed to increase low-level light whilst also minimizing the intensity of the midday sun. A diffuser then helps to evenly distribute daylight.
 
Clerestory windows are also a very good way to add natural light. Clerestory windows are designed to be wide but short and fit high on a wall. This permits lots of natural light to enter the room but because they are high on the wall the roof overhang prevents too much sun from coming in during the hot months.
 
If you are looking to add natural light into your home, why not see if these methods would be a possibility?

Wood decay, also known as wood rot, can present a big problem for a homeowner and, if it is left untreated, can end up being very expensive to fix. So, what parts of the home might be more susceptible to wood rot?


There are several reasons why wood can become damaged in a home and you will want to find out exactly what the problem is before knowing how to treat it, as in the case of carpenter ants or termites, for example. Wood rot, however, is a type of wood-destroying fungus. To survive, wood rot simply needs a few basic things, oxygen, moisture, and a food source and while it can survive in many conditions it particularly enjoys a warm, damp environment.


So, what areas of a home are most likely to experience wood rot? Here is a list of some of them:
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• Decking. Particularly support posts and ground floor exterior decking.
• Beneath windows or sliding doors that have been fitted incorrectly.
• The surrounding subfloors of toilets and bathtubs.
• Areas surrounding leaking or corroded plumbing fixtures.
• Roof penetrations that have incorrect or damaged flashing.
• Wood that comes into direct contact with concrete, soil, or masonry.
• Cracks in foundations or areas that collect water around the foundation because of inadequate grading.

As we have highlighted, wood decay can become a serious, not to mention, expensive problem. If you feel concerned that areas in your home have wood rot, don’t hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
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​A lot of time is being spent at home at the moment, so you may be finding yourself with a bit more time to tackle some of those jobs around the house that you’ve been meaning to get around to, like cleaning out your garage, for example. Clearing out your garage might also help you see any potential fire risks. Why do we say that?
 
The garage is often the area where we store items we do not want inside the home such as gas canisters, cleaning supplies, used paint cans and decorating materials and outdoor machines and equipment, etc. All these items can be highly flammable so it's clear there is a greater risk of fire in a space like this.  Here are a few steps you can take that will minimize this risk.
 
Make sure that you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed in the garage and test them every month to check if their batteries need replacing.
 
If you are doing work in the garage like fixing machinery or working on your car, always leave the garage door open to prevent a build-up of toxic fumes.  Clean up any oil or other combustible liquids immediately if they spill and do not leave garbage or oily rags on the garage floor for any length of time as this will increase the fire risk. It’s also extremely important to never leave a vehicle running with the garage door closed as dangerous fumes will accumulate very quickly.
 
If your garage is attached to the home, there is an even greater need to assess its potential for fire.
Have a close check of the door and door frame that connects the house to the garage.  Look for any gaps or cracks which would allow hazardous fumes to enter the home.
 
If you have any questions or concerns about your garage’s safety, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to advise you.

​At a time when our elderly loved ones will have to spend a great deal of time at home, we may be thinking about different ways we can assist them.  Apart from the day to day needs, one area we may want to look at is home safety.  How can we ensure their homes are not a safety hazard?
 
If it is possible, go through the home and assess the areas that are high risk for slips and falls.  The bathroom is one of the most common places for this.  Is the bathroom equipped with sufficient grab bars and anti-slip mats for both inside and outside of the tub or shower?
 
The staircase is another area where there is a high risk of slipping and falling.  Make sure staircase handrails are sturdy and fitted to either side of the staircase.  Stair carpeting should be checked to make sure there are not areas coming loose.  Also, if the home has rugs, be sure they have a good rubber backing so that they do not move easily.
 
Check that corded appliances are not a tripping hazard.  Electrical cords that stretch across walk through areas are a real danger and, if they have been covered over with rugs, etc. they also pose a fire risk.  Fix these cords up against walls to keep them out of the way.  It might be a good idea to have the room arranged so that any electrical appliances are situated close to an outlet.
 
By looking for ways to reduce the risk of home-related accidents, you will be helping your loved ones stay safe while they are indoors.

The majority of us go about our everyday lives without giving a second thought to one of the most essential areas of the home or workplace, the toilet.  However, seeing that the average person flushes the toilet approximately 2500 times per year, perhaps the toilet is worthy of a little care and maintenance once in a while.  Here are a few ways you can tell if your bathroom toilet is falling into disrepair:
 
The toilets flush will let you know how well the toilet is working.  For example, you can perform a simple test by flushing the toilet and observing how long it takes for the tank to refill.  If it seems to take a long time, the toilet may not be working right.  In the same way, if the toilet seems to take a long time to flush, it might require some maintenance.
 
A common issue toilets experience is constant running water.  While you may have become used to this and don’t notice it anymore, this is not only a waste of precious water but it's costing you money as well, especially if you use a private well because it will be putting extra strain of the pump.
 
You should also perform a visual inspection of the toilet bowl to look for signs of damage.  Did you know that if there are chips or cracks in the porcelain, a home inspector could list the toilet as faulty?
 
So, why not take a little time to perform a simple toilet inspection and make sure this essential but often overlooked part of the home is working as it should.

​If you discover a patch of mold in your home you may be wondering if it's okay just to clean up the area yourself. Although there is a number of factors that will determine this if the area the mold is covering is less than 10 square feet it should be something you can take care of yourself. Here are a few suggestions you might find useful:
 
It's important to find out why the mold has begun to develop in the first place, otherwise, the mold will keep coming back even after you have cleaned the area. An undetected leak or other water-related problem may be causing the mold to grow which, if not fixed immediately, will create big problems.
 
Mold can generally be cleaned using water and detergent. If you need to repaint a wall where mold has been present, make sure there are no traces of it left and that it is completely dried out before attempting to apply paint. The same principle applies if you are re-caulking a surface.
 
Mold is often found in carpets and, although you can try to have them cleaned, in most cases it is better to replace them as it is very difficult to remove mold completely.  Soft furnishings can also be cleaned, however, it’s likely that a permanent stain will be left on the fabric from the mold or mildew.
 
Another important step when cleaning up a mold problem is to wear protective clothing, including a respirator mask to prevent you from being exposed to the hazards associated with mold spores.

​If you are someone who likes to make your plans in January for the year ahead then you likely already have an idea of the projects you want to accomplish in 2020.  Do you have any home improvement projects on your list? Home maintenance is very important so, a good question to ask yourself is when was the last time you had the home inspected? The majority of homeowners would probably say it was when they purchased the home.
 
Please enjoy the following short video that will highlight the reasons why having an annual inspection performed on your home is so important when it comes to home maintenance.  We are happy to assist you with all of your home inspection needs so, if you would like to schedule your annual maintenance inspection for 2020, please feel free to contact us.

​As children grow their desire to explore and climb increases which means that making sure the home is secure and childproof is a necessity.  One area of the home that can be extremely dangerous for children is windows. With this in mind, here are a few of the simple, low-cost options available for childproofing your windows:
 
Installing window latches is a good way of preventing a child from being able to open a window. It's also important that you choose latches that are easy for adults to open as well as stopping a child from doing so.
 
To prevent a child from gaining access to the window at all, window guards are a good option. These are normally built with bars designed to stop the child. While all new window guards should meet the correct safety standards, it is still a good idea to check that the bars are spaced no more than 4 inches apart. Any more than this and a child could get their head, or another body part trapped.
 
If you still want to open the window but only to a certain width, then window stops are a good choice. As mentioned, do not set the window opening to more than 4 inches.
 
Another way you can help to childproof your home is by positioning furniture away from windows. Its also important to keep in mind that even if a window has a screen in it, this will not provide any protection against a fall so, additional safety measures will still need to be taken.

​When taking on a home renovation project there are many issues you need to be prepared for, especially if you are fixing up an old home that has not been previously updated. One of those issues is asbestos. Although you probably know that this is not something you want to discover in a home, maybe you don’t know very much about asbestos and why it's so bad so, let's look at why.
 
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was used in construction right up until the 1970s. It was added to materials to provide heat insulation, fire resistance and to give added strength. Asbestos fibers are very small and easily inhaled. This is where the danger lies because these fibers stick to the lungs and stay there for a long time causing serious health problems. Among the diseases linked to prolonged exposure to asbestos is Mesothelioma which is a type of cancer that affects the abdominal cavity and chest lining and, Asbestosis, a scarring of the lungs with fibrous tissue.
 
If asbestos is in a home, how easy is it to become exposed to the fibers? If materials containing asbestos are disturbed in any way by scraping, sanding or just general handling, asbestos fibers can be released into the air, increasing the risk of inhalation.
 
What should you do? You should not try to handle and remove asbestos yourself, instead, contact a company that specializes in the safe handling and removal of asbestos. A home inspection will reveal whether your home could contain asbestos so please feel free to contact us if you have questions.

​Did you know that your homes indoor air quality may be worse than that of outdoor air?  Considering that we spend a good amount of our time indoors, its worth looking at ways to improve the air we are breathing.  One way to do this is by regularly changing filters on air conditioning units or the HVAC system.  So, how often should these be changed to maintain a good indoor air quality?
 
While the answer to that question depends on a number of different factors, in general, the filters should be replaced every 3 months.  But, let’s look at some of those situations where changing the filters even more frequently than that would be a good idea.
 
In larger households which include pets, you may find that dust and pet dander accumulate quicker, this is one instance where changing the filters more regularly would be beneficial.  Another example is in homes where one or more family member suffers with allergies or if there is a smoker in the house.  It is not just what goes on indoors that should determine how often the filters should be replaced, the homes surroundings also play a role.  For instance, if there is construction going on in the area or if you live in an agricultural zone, this would affect your homes indoor air quality so changing the filters regularly is a good idea.  This should also be considered if there have been wildfires in the area.
 
It should be noted that, if you find filters have become damaged in any way or are wet or damp, it is important to replace them immediately.  This could greatly affect your homes indoor air quality by releasing harmful toxins such as mold spores into the air.