Elevation Home Inspections

Beautiful view from this mornings inspection, wishing @whistlerblackcomb was still open.

Washer drain hose retainer is supposed to go on the drain hose to secure it, not used to hold clothes washer lid open from a shelf

Not a bad view from today’s inspection in Whistler @whistlerblackcomb #homeinspection #homeinspector #drone #realtor #realestate #squamishrealestate #whistlerrealestate

Did you know that if you live in a dwelling with a shared attic space or Crawlspace such as a townhome or condo it requires a fire stop wall? These walls are typically continuous between the dwellings and made of of gypsum board and taped and mudded at the joints to provide a non-combustible fire stop which slows the spread of a fire. Building Techniques like this are key to slow the spread of fire to to help allow occupants time to exit the dwellings safely. This attic space will be brought to the Strata’s attention for evaluation and repairs. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #whistlerrealestate #squamishrealest

Rodent droppings in the home can cause many problems for the health and safety of the occupants. One of them being Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome which is an infectious disease characterized by flu-like symptoms that can progress rapidly to potentially life-threatening breathing problems. Several types of hantaviruses can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. They are carried by several types of rodents. If you have pest droppings in your home they should be safely cleaned up and the rodent problem taken care of. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #squamishrealestate #realestatesquamish #whistlerrealestate #realestatewhistler

A good reminder for everyone, Make sure if you have any gas Appliances in your home that you install a CO2 detector and if you already do, check it’s expiry date.

Check Out Our Newest Blog Post on Lighting Saftey for the Holiday Season.

How is your bathroom ventilation fan operating? A common issue I come across is when a bathroom fan is not providing adequate ventilation as they are not operational or is simply not used. The excess moisture created in a bathroom can cause moisture damage and corrosion of metal as well as lower air quality. I recommend maintenance of ventilation fans and the installation of humidity control switches to prevent this, this is a simple fix that will save you money in costly repairs in the long run.

As an inspector one of the things I look for vulnerable areas which could lead to water ingress, while outside I noticed this window touching a roof surface. In the winter this roof will hold a lot of snow against this vulnerable location. Once inside it was obvious this was an on going issue due to the poor design, with paint peeling off the wall. A moisture meter was used as well as a thermal camera without a obvious result, but just because it is not currently moist does not mean it won’t become moist again when the conditions change such as large snow fall or a rain event. What can we take away from this? A inspection is a small view into how a home is preforming on the day of inspection, And sometimes things need to be monitored before repairs can occur, being aware of these items is what helps give my clients piece of mind.

It Always fun when the drone comes out for a roof inspection, although walking on the roof is always the best method, when the conditions are not right for access or safety reasons it’s nice to have the tools to provide my clients this service.

It’s never a good idea to have your downspouts discharge next to your home, The excess water will eventually lead to water ingress. Unfortunately this home may have some hidden water damage in the wall structure and this situation is easily preventable by extending downspouts 4-6 feet away from the home.

This Iconic house in Whistler was definitely on the bucket list Thanks to my wonderful Clients and @coastaldesigncontracting for the opportunity to inspect this property for them, Excited to see what they have In store for this property.

Today’s Inspection... Almost 10,000ft. What a Day!

When getting a home inspection a thorough inspection of the Electrical Panel is very important. Certain size breakers allow for certain gauges of wire. Typically you will see a 14 gauge wire on a 15amp circuit as the wire is able to safely Carry the electrical load. Unfortunately I commonly come across 14 gauge wire on 20amp circuits, this can become a problem as the wire cannot carry the load safely and will overheat which could cause a electrical fire. Luckily my client hired me to inspect their home where I found this issue, it already showed signs of overheating, but now it can be repaired and they can sleep soundly. #getinspected

Before listing a home a lot of homeowners like to prepare for the sale by cleaning the roof surface to make it look newer. So home owners will get up in the roof and think to themselves, wow that’s a lot of moss growth, I should pressure wash that off... PLEASE DON’T DO THIS! High pressure water can damage the asphalt shingles by removing the granular surface which protects the asphalt/fibreglass layer under it from UV damage which can prematurely wear roof surface, which w...ill ultimately require it to be replaced sooner. The roof in the photos has obvious signs of pressure washing on the shingles which has caused premature wear. There is many options for cleaning your roof surface like moss killing sprays and soft wash options. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #realestatesquamish #realestatewhistler #realestatevancouver #homeowner #homesales

How hot it your hot water? The current BC Plumbing Code requires that hot water temperatures at fixtures be at 120F or 49c. This is for safety reasons, any fixture downstream of the heater, at the tub, faucet or shower head. This lower temperature reduces the chance of somebody being scalded by Hot Water, especially small children. This fixture was putting out water at 142F which could easily burn somebody. Hire an inspector before you purchase a home so you have the information to keep you and your family safe. #Homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #vancouverrealestate #whistlerrealestate #squamishrealestate

When you notice the outside of a Condo building looking like this, it’s not surprising to find moisture ingress and cracks in the parkade. This Strata is trying to mitigate the cracks with epoxy injections and sealing cracks but a long term plan on water diversion and waterproofing is needed in the outside of the building. when buying a condo or townhome in a Strata your investment is in the building itself, Get your Investment inspected! #homeinspection #condoinspection #realtor #realestate #whistlerrealestate #squamishrealestate #homeinspector

You can find out a lot about a home when you enter the attic, that’s why I always get access to any attic space whenever possible. This particular attic really gave a lot of information about the home, no only was there poor ventilation which caused bacteria growth on the underside of the roof sheathing due to poor food ventilation, I also came access a snapped rafter in the roof structure. A rare deficiency to find and something that needs to be addressed immediately. Let me help you get more information about your home or next purchase and book a home inspection with Elevation Home Inspections. #homeinspector #homeinspectors #homeinspection #realestate #squamishrealestate #vancouverrealestate #whistlerrealestate #realtor

Why get a home Inspection on a brand new build? Reasons like this, the builder forgot to hook up the range hood ventilation. Although not a overly serious issue, it is commonly overlooked, many deficiencies can be found which you will want to be found and dealt with before occupancy. You also want these issues found and fixed by the builder in the warranty time frame so the costs of repairs don’t come out of your pocket. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realtor #realestate #homebuying #builder #realestatesquamish #reealestatevancouver #realestatewhistler

We Have a Blog! We will be updating our blog regularly, so check out our blog posts over at elevationhomeinspections.ca which will be full of information that you may not know about your home and what clues to look for when buying a home as well as tips and tricks to keep your home safe for your and your families. Chekc out our first blog post: https://www.elevationhomeinspections.ca//the-importance-of

Let’s talk about Fire Separation,A lot of my clients don’t know or think about it when buying a condo or townhome, and that’s fine because that is why I am here to help. Fire separation techniques have been used when building multi unit dwellingsu for many years and have only got better with time. This photo of a dryer vent shows missing Fire separation from a recent renovation. Fire Separation is the method for protecting buildings from the spread of fire into adjoining are...as for designated time periods by the introduction of fire resisting walls, floors, doors, ducts and so on. These time periods are set out in the BC Building Code. If your looking to buy a home, Call Elevation Home Inspections to help you by finding the things not noticed by the #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #realtor #vancouverrealestate #squamishrealestate #whistlerrealestate

A lot of people wonder if they need a home inspection on a brand new apartment, my answer is always yes! As much as I inspect the unit itself I spend just as much time inspecting common areas and the building itself, because you and every other homeowner in the building is responsible for the costs of the repairs of these areas. Here are a few photos of a 2 year old parkade showing signs of moisture transfer through the concrete walls, even causing the rebar to rust inside the concrete with heavy efflorescence which is the salt deposits left after water has transferred through the concrete, proactive action must be taken to prevent serious damage to the parking structure. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #parkade #squamishrealestate #vancouverrealestate #whistlerrealestate @ Squamish, British Columbia

Did you know you can get a post or mid construction Inspection? Whether it’s a Kitchen or Bathroom remodel, or even a New Deck like this one. Let Elevation Home Inspections make sure your project is being built using proper building practices and make sure it’s done correctly and will last many years. This Deck unfortunately has some problems that will hopefully be corrected before completion. #lovewhatIdo #construction #realestate #homeinspector #homeinspection #squamishrealestate #whistlerrealestate @ Squamish, British Columbia

Did you know most exterior siding needs to be 6-8 above grade to prevent moisture damage? Wood siding will wick up moisture quickly resulting in wood rot to the siding and even sometimes the structure behind the siding. Sometimes re-grading of the souls is needed maintain this gap and prevent damage do your Home. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #realtor #whistlerrealestate #squamishrealestate #vancouverrealestate #homemaintenance @ Whistler, Canada

Did you know that most Laundry Washers and Dryers can be levelled with adjustable feet and most can be stacked with the manufactures stacking kit designed for this purpose? This set up is shimmed in many places with wood and ties together with string, this is dangerous if it were to fall into someone and could cause a lot of damage. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #squamishrealestate #whistlerrealestate #vancouverrealestate @ Squamish, British Columbia

This is why I do this! Helping customers gather information by conducting a thorough home inspection and passing on my knowledge of a Home in a way they can understand so they can make a informed home buying decision that works for them. Thanks for your support Joshua. #testimonial #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate # realtor #squamishrealestate #whistlerrealestate #vancouverrealestate

Tip of the Day! keep your mechanical Intake & venting points clear of storage, This means anything from Clothes Dryers, Bathroom Fans, Fresh Air Intakes for appliances, Etc. Not only will your appliances work better, and prevent damage, it will also stop potential fire hazards. This Laundry vent was blocked by garbage cans and has not been damaged and not allowing the hot moist air to escape. #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #realtor #realestatevancouver #realestatesquamish #realestatewhistler #whistlerrealestate #squamishrealestate @ Squamish, British Columbia

Attic Venting Issues, very common in the West Coast and venting practices vary throughout the country depending on Climate. But as a General rule The ratio of soffit vents to the Roof or ridge venting intake should be at least 2:1 in favour of soffit venting, to avoid unnecessary heat losses from the attic. Soffit venting helps draw fresh air into the attic space and push air out the roof space. This particular attic space had venting issues which created mold which was treat...ed 4 years ago but has started to form again due to the venting issue not being corrected. This is a Townhome complex which luckily has a heathy contingency fund to deal with the issues, but just because it’s the Stratas responsibility it does not mean it’s not your problem, if the contingency was not large enough special assessment would be issued to each owner to fix the problem. Know your home before you buy and get inspected! #homeinspector #homeinspection #realestate #squamishrealestate #vancouverrealestate #whistlerrealestate @ Squamish, British Columbia