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.
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.
Is your water heater agonizing?
Generally speaking, the service life of a domestic water heater varies between 10 and 15 years. Several factors can influence this lifespan including the quality of its fabrication, the particularities of the water circulating within (iron, limestone, pH ...), the environment in which it is installed (temperature, humidity, frequent passages,…