Radon in granite counter tops?

On occasion, I have been asked about the possibility of radon being emitted from granite counter tops. Up until recently, I wasn't sure myself. It made sense, but I wanted to know more. So I took a Radon measurement and testing course and learned many interesting things about where it comes from, what it is and the hazard it presents to us. The following is taken from Health Canada's site regarding the question regarding radon in granite counters.

Q. What about radon and radioactivity in granite counter tops?

Radon is produced from the natural decay of uranium found in rock. Granite used to produce commercial products, such as counter tops, can contain varying amounts of uranium. Some granites could contain more natural uranium than others, and thus possibly show higher than expected radiation or radon levels, however, in the vast majority of cases, these levels are not expected to be significant. Health Canada completed a study in February 2010 of 33 types of granite commonly purchased in Canada and none were found to have significant levels of radon.

At this time, Health Canada expects that the main source of radon in a house will be soil gas (containing radon formed by the decay of uranium found in rock under the house) which is drawn inside naturally by differences in pressure between the indoor environment and the outside. Our recommendation is that you reduce your radon risk by first testing the air in your house to determine the radon level.

Please feel free to leave comments, or share this with others.
Thanks for reading this article,
Darren
http://www.nookncranny.ca/

EMF's - Electro Magnetic Fields

EMF's, or Electro Magnetic Fields are all around us, but where you live and what equipment is nearby, can influence how much EMF is or could become, an issue. Can the electric and magnetic fields (EMF) to which people are routinely exposed cause health effects? What are sources of EMFs, and when are EMFs dangerous?


EMF (or ElectroMagnetic Field) is a broad term which includes electric fields generated by charged particles in motion, and radiated fields such as TV, radio, hair dryer, and microwaves. Electric fields are measured in units of volts per meter or V/m. Magnetic fields are measured in milli-Gauss or mG. The field is always strongest near the source and diminishes as you move away from the source. These energies have the ability to influence particles at great distances. For example, the radiation from a radio tower influences the atoms within a distant radio antenna, allowing it to pick up the signal. Despite the many wonderful conveniences of electrical technology, the effects of EMF on biological tissue remains the most controversial aspect of the EMF issue, with virtually all scientists agreeing that more research is necessary to determine safe or dangerous levels.


To read more of this article, please click the following link that will take you to a page in my website. CLICK TO READ MORE


Thanks for reading..
Darren 

Snow is here! Are you ready?

Ah yes, the white stuff is here or has been in some areas for a while. Are you ready? Below is a checklist of things to get or do so you're not left 'in the cold' so to speak. In some respect, it's being prepared for the worst situations. Extreme weather can shut down utilities, stores, banks and so on. Having some spares such as food, water, gasoline, money (cash), and means of heating and cooking are recommended.
*De-icing salt for the walks and steps. Remember: You are legally responsible if somebody slips or falls on your property, like the mail or newspaper carriers.
*Have at least one snow shovel and consider buying a steel shovel for ice and packed snow.
*If you have put off installing snow/ice tires on your vehicles: Get them on now. They are proven to stop you in shorter distances and provide traction to get through snow.
*PLEASE SLOW DOWN! You gain only seconds by driving quickly, but could possibly waste a lifetime (yours or someone else's) by being in an accident!
*Have some emergency supplies in your car, such as a collapsible shovel, blankets, spare gloves, mitts and hats, bottled water, chocolate or cereal bars.
*Buy one of those emergency kits for the vehicles.
*If power outages are common in your area, consider getting a gas generator. Make sure to keep a full gas can in the shed. They are easy to operate and could keep you warm by providing electricity for heaters and to heat food and water for days!
*Most home phones will only work with household power, so if you don't have one- buy a basic cellphone. These can also be bought used for a few bucks!
*Remember your pets, they suffer in the cold as well.
*Have ready to eat foods and bottled water on hand, including powdered milk.
*Have your furnace serviced if its been over 3 years since the last time.

These are just a few suggestions to help guide you in the right direction but I'm sure you get the idea.

Stay safe and warm!

Darren

Energy efficiency for homes

Saving energy should be a goal for all home owners, businesses and governments. Not only to save money, but to reduce the ongoing damage to our planet in some way. This doesn't always mean an expensive retrofit of the home, or replacement of major equipment and appliances. Although newer energy star rated items, such as furnaces, AC's, refrigeration and cooking equipment are far more energy efficient today, than most over 10 years and worth considering for replacement in the near future.

One very useful publication I really like is "Keeping the heat in", provided by the Office of Energy Efficiency- Natural Resources Canada.  Below is a link to their website, where you can read the book.

Link to book online.

Radon. Why aren't we more concerned about it?

For many years, we have been conscious of the very real and unhealthy effects of Radon. (The 2nd leading cause of lung cancer behind cigarette smoking) Through professional inspection, testing, building practices, public awareness programs and the support of the many real estate associations, steps could be taken to educate the public and mitigate the issue for the health and safety of millions of home owners in Canada. For some reason, this very real health concern doesn't seem to be much concern or mentioned very much. Does it mean Canada doesn't have Radon? Nope, that's not it, as we do. According to many publications, it would appear that Canada has radon, and depending where you test, readings could be higher than that from only down the road.

So why don't we hear very much about it? What can be done about it? Well, apparently there is already a being being tabled in front of the government to possibly make pre-listing inspection and testing a requirement of selling a home, with the results and any repairs made available to prospective buyers. As of right now, home buyers can request a test of a home being sold is carried out, or present home sellers could be proactive and have the home tested and provide the test results to future buyers.

For more information and solutions from CMHC and Health Canada, Please click the following links.
CMHC on Radon.
Health Canada on Radon.

Ten Tips to Speed up Your Home Inspection

Home sellers can speed their home inspection by following these suggestions. The inspection will go smoother, with fewer concerns to delay closing. If access to items normally inspected is not possible, it creates a sense of unknown and could cause concern for the buyer, whom is normally already nervous about what might be found.


1. Confirm that water, electric and gas service are on, with gas pilot lights burning.


2. Ensure pets won't hinder the inspection. Ideally, they should be removed from premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home.


3. Replace burned out bulbs to avoid a "Light is inoperable" report that may suggest an electrical problem.


4. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries.


5. Clean or replace dirty HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning) air filters. They should fit securely.


6. Remove stored items, debris and wood from foundation. These may be cited as "conditions conducive" for termites.


7. Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces.


8. Unlock areas the inspector must access - attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces.


9. Trim tree limbs to 10' from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow access.


10. Attend to broken or missing items like doorknobs, locks and latches; windowpanes, screens and locks; gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.

Checking these areas before your home inspection is an investment in selling your property. Your real estate agent will thank you!

Darren

No moisture meter? Really??

I got a call yesterday from a sales agent that has referred me previously, asking me if I could help her out with something.
It seems that clients of hers used a home inspector they found and during the inspection, he saw some stains under a couple of windows and declared they were wet.
The agent asked him if he had a moisture meter to test them, but he didn't have one.... Really?
A home inspector without a moisture meter is like a piece of bread with nothing on it... quite useless!

I tested the areas he noted first with my infrared camera, then with a moisture meter. Nada. The areas were as dry as an interior wall- 6-7% moisture.

A person that calls themselves a home inspector should have the basic tools of the job and properly back up all suspicions with testing. This one needs more training and should invest in some proper tools before they really mess up a deal and give out poor information.

Good, Bad & Ugly

During most home inspections, I find typical issues such as maintenance items or general improvement suggestions. But on occasion, I find some concerns that clients don't want to deal with, or just can't afford to. These types of concerns could be structural issues, moisture penetration in the basement or electrical items.
One such inspection comes to mind; I recently did an inspection on a home with a crawl space that was wet. It also did not have a proper foundation, but had a wood skirt around the exterior made of different materials, nearly all was rotting! The house was being supported by concrete blocks sitting on bare ground under the floor joists. Bare wet earth will cause the floor and framing system to rot over time, as the moisture will evaporate upwards into the building. There was some bowing of an exterior wall that was worrisome but this was just another of many issues with the house, much to the relief of her trying so hard to be supportive dad, my client walked away from the deal.
Incredibly though her sales agent seemed to be upset with me for delivering the news and was, in my opinion, quite rude and confrontational. At the end of the day, I sleep sound knowing I do my job as honestly and thoroughly as I can.
Home inspectors are trying to help people with what is usually the most expensive and long-term purchase of someones life. We need to be conscious of the ramifications of not doing this to the best of our abilities. A smart person once said "If in doubt, Bow out". Good advice in my opinion.

Home Inspections for the home seller.

Pre-Listing / Home Seller House Inspections
It is typical that a potential home buyer will conduct a home inspection on your house prior to the final signing of the agreement. And sometimes the home inspection can reveal issues that jeapordize the deal, very often because of a bunch of minor repairs that could have been remedied before you listed the house. It is also possible that a larger, more serious issue is present that you may not be aware of and could be fixed right away.

You may as well know what their inspector may find, by getting your home inspected before you list it, or even just after you list your home.
Having a home inspection performed ahead of time can help you in many ways:

• Relief of buyers suspicions and concerns.
• Will help with pricing the home.
• Repairs can be done ahead of time.
• Avoid negotiating over defects.
• Encourages buyer to waive their own home inspection condition.
• It may alert you to items of immediate personal concern.
• Allows you to see your home through the eyes of a critical third-party.
• Reduces liability by adding supporting documentation to your disclosure information.
• Alerts you to immediate safety issues before agents and visitors tour your home.
• Studies show pre-inspected homes can sell twice as fast!
• Copies of the report along with receipts for repairs can be made available to potential buyers.
• The inspection process is as thorough and detailed as our Pre-Purchase inspection.
• You can also choose to upgrade their inspection to include an infrared thermal imaging scan.

Visit our website: http://www.nookncranny.ca/ to read more about this and other servics offered, or contact me today to book an inspection.

Hamilton home inspections

A recent inspection shows why wood burning stoves and fireplaces should be checked and cleaned annually.

When I opened the damper to look up the flue, three dead birds fell out. Not nice, but more importantly, it indicates that the screen at the top is compromised and could easily allow birds to build a nest, blocking the flue. Which of course could cause smoke to billow back into the house.

Vermiculite insultation



Vermiculite insulation found during a recent home inspection.


There have been many ads running lately on television and radio regarding Vermiculite insulation and the health concern that it may contain a type of asbestos. Some people say remove it, others say leave it. It's difficult to know the right thing to do and unfortunately, your home inspector is not allowed to answer this question for you either.
The best thing you can do is educate yourself on the matter. If you or your home inspector does find vermiculite insulation, you have some options. The first and most important option is to have it tested to see if it does contain asbestos. If it's your own home, send a sample to a registered lab. If it's a house you are buying and the inspector finds it, then you could ask the home owner to have it tested, or ask permission to take a sample for testing. Not all vermiculite does contain asbestos, so it may be a worthwhile exercise.
The next option you have is whether you want to have it removed, or live with it. There are pros and cons in each case and you should weigh your individual situation out carefully. Think about the potential issues you may have with re-sale for instance, or if you have a young or soon to be born family... these are important considerations. You might be OK with it, but I have had clients that walked away from the house after it was found- they just didn't want to have anything to do with it, even if the seller offered to have it professionally removed and replaced with new insulation.
Anyway, I have included some links on my website: http://www.nookncranny.ca under asbestos in the homeowner information tab, that will lead you to two reputable publications regarding the potential health concerns and what steps can be taken.
As always, please don't hesitate to contact me or post a comment if you have time.

Darren

Hamilton home inspections. When you gotta go...

Every now and then on a home inspection, I come across something strange or just not right.

This is a picture I took of a garage that was transformed into a "man cave" and had a urinal installed on the wall.
Of course, this is not allowed and doesn't meet any plumbing codes I'm aware of. The urinal was 'plumbed' to the exterior through a pipe beside the garage wall. My client wasn't too impressed by this and was going to ask for it to be removed. However, he ended up walking away from the house, due to some serious issues with the foundation walls that were bowing in and would cost more than he wanted to pay for repairs.

: D