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Saint Lazare, QC Real Estate News

By Robert Butler, Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection
(Aspect Inspection)
It's Atomic!   It Might Nuke The Sale, But The House Is OK.     I just got back from a consult. I was called in for a second opinion for an issue to do with a garage floor. In this case I was working for the sellers. The buyers were asking for a price reduction because their inspector had identified the garage floor as being defective and in a substandard state. I did not get to see that inspectors report, but the garage floor is cracked and heaved upward in much of its area. These are large cracks that radiate out from raised areas of the floor and only the central core area near the drain is unaffected. It is still a functional garage in that you can drive cars in there and park them as well as store the usual collection of tools, bicycles and materials. However as a garage floor tha...
Comments 6
By Robert Butler, Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection
(Aspect Inspection)
  Just A Handful Of Nails?   On A Million Dollar House? Yup! A handful of nail is the answer to "what's holding the deck on?" That's pretty shocking on a building valued at a million plus. The nails are Ramset type, a heavy duty concrete nail that is shot into place with a 22 cartridge. They are thick and hardened to do this but they are not for permanent use out doors. The will and are rusting. They are not made to transfer weight, and certainly not live loads like people walking on decks. They are made to attach wood framing to concrete but the framing (vertical) parts are supposed to carry the weight. In the photo above the ledger is 'shot' on to the brick. This is not a brick wall. It's a wood framed wall with a single facing layer of brick (called veneer) on the outside. So if late...
Comments 14
By Robert Butler, Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection
(Aspect Inspection)
WATER In the Frame and on Display. Most people put up framed photos or art work of some kind, under glass to protect it. Photos are usually people, places or events  that are memorable to the residents. Art is put up for decor, colour or effect. This sort of framed wall decor is rarer. In fact it's the only one I've seen to date.  This 'picture' is memorable to the owners here because they had a plumbing accident and needed to shut off the water. But they couldn't find the valve!. Somebody had enclosed it in the wall! Now its been located, framed and on display 'under glass'. So it's art to those who live there. As it was, it was hidden and because this hardware has a necessary function and was hidden, it was a kind of 'hidden defect'. Most hidden defects are more complex and do not in...
Comments 6
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