FYI

Mortgage insurance: Not always a sure thingIf you have a mortgage on your home, chances are good you also have mortgage insurance. The idea is that if you should become seriously ill or die before paying off the mortgage, the coverage will kick in and pay it off for you. It's meant to offer peace...

    Government of Canada and Province of Saskatchewan Break Ground on New Affordable Housing Project in Prince Albert PRINCE ALBERT, SK, August 25, 2009 - Ten low-income families will have access to quality, affordable housing with the development of five new duplexes in Prince Albert. The $1.2 ...

November 14, 2007 OTTAWA -- Buildings in Canada will become safer than ever for Canadians and their families as a new professional certification program for Building Officials gets underway.For the first time, Building Officials -the people who review all plans and inspect homes, apartments, hosp...

Corrugated Stainless Steel Gas Lines: A Hidden Danger Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) has been used since 1989. It replaces the traditional iron pipes for plumbing natural and liquid petroleum (LPG) gas throughout the house.  CSST is flexible, easier to install due to fewer connections, ...

Green Lumber by Nick Gromicko, Rob London and Kenton Shepard      "Green lumber" is another term for wet lumber, which is wood used in construction that has a moisture content of more than 19%.   Moisture Content   Green lumber is more commonly used in arid regions of the United States, such as A...

New article on modular and manufactured homes You are a home inspector, but do you know the difference between a manufactured home and a modular home? The two terms are often used interchangeably but they could not be any different! Modular homes, once assembled, are practically identical to trad...

New article on efflorescence Efflorescence can be unsightly and it is important that inspectors can explain to their clients how it can be removed and prevented. While it is harmless it may indicate the presence of a more serious condition - excess water. Too much water in a residence can lead to...

New Article on Defensible Space Did you know that in rural parts of California homeowners are required by law to have 100 feet of defensible space around their house? This is done to protect houses from wildfires and some level of defensible space is recommended virtually everywhere. These spaces...

 Central Humidifiers August 20th, 2009 Many homes are equipped with central humidifiers, which are devices hardwired into the home's heating and plumbing systems so that the indoor air stays moist and comfortable during the dry winter months. Inspectors and homeowners should be aware that under t...

Chinese Drywall I'm sure at this point you've heard about imported Chinese drywall and how might cause health problems in homes. Class action lawsuits against builders, importers, and manufacturers of the material have been filed by people, mostly in Florida, who say their appliances are breaking...