Chronicles from our experts
Our blog articles allow you to learn more about construction and renovation. How to prevent problems with your building and how to fix them? Where to invest money and properly maintain your house or building? What are the myths and urban legends on housing that you may have heard ? Our inspectors and experts share their knowledge to enable you to make well-informed decisions.
Change or repair your windows? See more clearly and make the right choice
If you live in a house where air drafts are part of it, you might think you’re literally throwing your money away. So you consider replacing your windows, but are they actually responsible for your discomfort and your high heating bills? If saving money is your main goal, there may…
Buying a condo: 5 important points to consider to avoid nightmares!
The acquisition of a condo has several aspects that must not be overlooked if one wants to avoid unpleasant surprises. When buying a condo, it is important to keep in mind that you are also getting the management of the entire building. In other words, you must ensure that the…
Home air quality test: do you really need it?
Frequent colds, bronchitis, skin irritation, itchy eyes, nosebleeds, etc. All symptoms that you or your family may be experiencing. Worried, you look for information and come to doubt the indoor air quality of your home and the potential presence of mold. You could then be tempted to ask for an…
Your house is airtight? Choose the best adapted ventilation
Winter is definitely here and the frequent presence of frost at the bottom of your windows suggests that you are experiencing a moisture problem in your home. You look on the web to find possible solutions, but this only brings you more questions... Incorrectly connected dryer, inadequate exhaust fan, poor…
In a real estate transaction? 3 tips to avoid common mistakes
In our previous column, we warned young shoppers about pitfalls they might encounter when buying their first home. This week, we are going for 3 additional tips, but that are this time for all property buyers. Based on our experience acquired through thousands of inspections and legal expertises, we present…
Mold… everybody’s talking about it
As we mentioned in a past column, summer is the most suitable season for mold formation in our homes, mainly in our basements. But what exactly is mold?
Buying a flipped house: are there skeletons in the closets?
Imagine: you buy a beautiful house, "completely renovated", as the announcement said, so your family and you move in. Everything is going for the best when, suddenly one morning, a stain on the ceiling of the basement catches your attention. You look and search for the cause without success so…
House flipping: pay close attention to hidden defects
You’ve been searching for the house of your dreams for weeks when you finally find the rare gem: the kitchen has just been renovated to today’s taste, the paint is trendy and the bathroom modern. The mandatory Declarations by the seller form mentioned major renovations were done, but you were…
True or false: 5 myths explained to maximize the life of your roof
Regardless of their composition, our blankets serve many functions; they protect us from the cold and snow while keeping us dry. It is therefore normal that we want to take good care of them. The experts at Legault-Dubois demystify 5 urban legends about roofs so that you can better direct…
Vermiculite insulation : Does your vermiculite insulation contain asbestos?
If your home was built or renovated before the 1990s, it is difficult to guess the method of insulation chosen as there were numerous options: fiberglass batt insulation, blown in cellulose, sprayed polyurethane foam or even vermiculite. This latter choice, popular between the 1940s and 1980s, may prove problematic depending…
What if your balcony isn’t safe?
The design of a balcony, patio or raised deck has strict rules to ensure the safety of all the users. Also, did you know that there is a difference between a handrail and a guardrail? Listen to our video to see how each one is used and to help you…
3 solutions to solve your indoor air quality problem
The presence of contaminants and the general poor quality of the air you breathe can have a negative impact on the health of your loved ones and yourself. These effects can be felt in the short, medium or long term, depending on each person. Therefore, it is important to take…
Do you have any doubts about the quality of the air you breathe?
In a report published in 2016, the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec told us that Canadian citizens spent an average of 90 percent of their time indoors, mainly in residential buildings. Listen to our clip to find out how an indoor air quality assessment can dispel your doubts…
Moisture problem in the basement: 3 easy to identify symptoms
The Insurance Bureau of Canada revealed that more than $630 million is paid out annually to respond to water damage claims in Quebec alone. Today, we are focusing on problematic situations in basements related to the presence of water and excessive humidity.
Enjoy your pool… in complete safety!
Although the numbers are steadily declining, there is still an average of 73 people each year who dies of drowning in Quebec. Listen to our five tips (in french with english subtitles) to increase safety around your pool and, together, lets bring down this sad statistic.
How well do you know your house? 3 situations to watch to avoid problems
To protect your house and avoid problems, you must first know what is going on. Knowing your house will allow you to better plan the renovation and maintenance work that will be needed in the long term. This will also help protect your interests and allow you to make the…
5 points to optimize your spring cleaning task list
Springtime is here and the moment has also come for small seasonal work to be done around the house. Listen to our video while we present five things to check in order to better understand your building and plan your interventions according to its needs.
Do you have the skills to do your own renovations?
According to a survey of Canadian homeowners conducted in 2019, 64% of respondents were planning to renovate in the coming year. Stay with us as we take a look at the world of renovations and ask if you currently have the skills to undertake such work yourself.
3 building problems that can be diagnosed remotely
Which problems can our building experts diagnose remotely on the phone or via teleconference? Read our article or watch our video (with english subtitles) and see the most common building problems that our experts and inspectors can help you with without having to go to your home.
Something wrong? Should you call a renovation contractor or a building expert?
When to call in a building expert and when to call in a contractor when you notice a problematic situation with your building? Read our article or watch or video (with english subtitles) to find the answer to this question and better understand the difference between these two distinct roles.
Because you cannot pick your home inspection randomly
An web search yields 116,000 results for the term home inspector. Keep reading or watch our video (with english subtitles) as we look closely together at how to choose the best home inspector.
3 signs of problems in your attic visible from outside
There are three signs visible from the exterior of the building that allow us to suspect if there are problems inside the roof or the attic. Read our experts' article or view our French (available with English subtitles) home improvement blog to learn how to recognize them.
Attic problem: Symptoms associated with too much humidity
According to a study by the University of Chalmers, 72 per cent of our attics and roofs have moisture-related problems. Read this article or view our french home improvement capsule from our building experts to learn more about the types of symptoms that can be found inside the attic that…
Condo and fire prevention: when a fire is anything but magical
What a joy to be with your family around a good fire after a cold March day of playing in the freshly fallen snow. On the other hand, in the case of a condominium building, this small moment of family relaxation can quickly turn into a serious problem for all…
Does the area where your home is located has an impact on your health ?
In our second article on indoor air quality, we invited you to do a little introspection and briefly analyze your habits, your decisions and all the elements that could influence your indoor air quality: recent work, new furniture, exterminator services, etc. But since no house is completely cut off from…
Cannabis and condo: a foul odor of problems on the horizon
With the legalization of cannabis, condominium associations are faced with an important choice: how to regulate the use of this substance without inconveniencing condominium owners. It is normal that health risks and the fear of the diffusion of odors between units should be at the heart of the debates. Yet, did…
Frozen pipes: avoid unpleasant surprises when you return from vacation
Winter is upon us! This means that many of us will soon take refuge further south. But during our cold season vacations, what happens to our water heater and all the piping? To avoid unpleasant surprises upon your return, some preventive interventions on your plumbing network and your water heater…
Offer subsidies as a gift!
Your electricity bills are high and your spouse plans to review the insulation of the house? Your daughter has just acquired her first home and plans to do some work? Your mother feels cold drafts while sitting in the living room? This year for Christmas, put aside unnecessary gifts and…
Mold in the attic: 3 signs visible from the outside!
An article in the online magazine Realty Times mentions a drop between 17 and 23% of the market value of homes when they contain mold. Your attic can quickly become a breeding ground for mold growth if its humidity level becomes too high or if water infiltration occurs. It is…
Water Heater: Avoid complications with a top-quality installation
Nowadays, no one marvels at seeing hot water flowing from the tap with a simple flick of the wrist. But even though this small miracle is now taken for granted, did you know that nearly 50 plumbing and electrical technical points from the building code apply when installing a water…
Marijuana grow-op: when cannabis isn’t that relaxing anymore…
With the many stories on the subject shown on TV or heard on the radio, we are savvier than ever when it comes time to acquire a home or a condo. The seller's declaration, the pyrite test result and the pre-purchase inspection: we take all the means at our disposal…
The average home in Quebec 5 revealing figures
Year after year, evaluators, inspectors, technicians and other Legault-Dubois building specialists assess numerous cases. We’ve had the opportunity to visit commercial buildings, construction sites at various stages of completion, apartment buildings and condominiums of two, three and even 300 units. But for this article, we had to make some hard choices…
Savings of 20 % in energy costs thanks to dual energy heating systems?
Dual energy heating systems are still little known in Quebec. Some of you may be using it, but for others the term is not even familiar. Yet all homeowners would benefit from knowing more about these systems because they could benefit from DT pricing, a more economical rate. Effective use…
3 ways to minimize damage related to your water heater
Every morning you jump in the shower. Without thinking, you call upon an essential element of our modern comfort: the water heater. Often neglected by homeowners, the water heater is responsible for most water-related damages in our basements. And you, can you tell the age of yours? Do you know…
Home renovation: avoid ending up all upside down
"My brother will help me with these renovations. He knows what he’s doing; after all, he built his house himself!" Far from us the idea to contradict you or to question your brother’s skills, but too often in our profession do we see building problems arising directly from renovations made…
Fire barrier: why do fires spread so easily in buildings?
In March, a fire broke out in a building in Pierrefonds, causing damage estimated at more than $100,000. In May, another fire forced the evacuation of 68 families while yet another in Sainte-Adèle threw forty residents on the street. More recently in Laval, twenty people were left homeless after a…
Sidewalks and stairs: eliminate the risk of dangerous falls!
The BBQ season is fast approaching and many of us are planning to review the layout of our backyards. The Quebec Construction Code gives us rules to follow to ensure the safety of all, but have you ever consulted it? If so, were you able to understand it all? What is…
Dry rot: can you protect yourself from this building cancer?
The sun rises on your home, its rays warming you through the window. You admire the squirrels as they rummage through your garden while thinking back with obvious pleasure to the day you purchased your home. Little do you know that, as you’re taking a sip from your cup of…
Buy a heat pump or an air conditioner? Stay cool and make the right choice
It's 1:25 am and you are having trouble falling asleep. If only you had a heat pump to cool you off, you might fall asleep. Or an air conditioner, which can just as well cope with this task at a lower cost. But the latter cannot be used as a…
Home inspection: Don’t get caught by surprise
Your nephew has just received his driver's license. Confident, he asks you to lend him your new $ 50 000 sports car for the weekend. Of course, you hesitate to give him the keys to your shiny new toy. Why? Simply because your nephew lacks the skills of a more…
Maintain the integrity of your concrete balconies
As all of us can see by surveying the countless streets that crisscross the province, concrete balconies are present in Quebec because they offer a sustainable surface. However, some products such as de-icing salts and tools such as metal shovels can contribute to their deterioration. It is not uncommon during…
Struggling with electrical problems?
It is surprising how often our inspectors, during their pre-purchase inspections in particular, notice inadequate outlets in bathrooms and kitchens. Why inadequate? Well, given the presence of water in these two rooms, the electrical outlets must be of a specific type in order to ensure the safety of the occupants.