Nalliah Thayabharan's (expertinspector) Blog

To gradually make an existing lawn a low-maintenance lawn, rake it to expose whatever bare soil you can. Then, if needed, topdress with a suitable material, such as compost, and overseed with low-maintenance species). Follow the watering instructions noted for seeding in the previous section. Dep...

Although there is a growing trend towards alternatives, lawns remain the dominant landscape feature of many homes. Lawns provide open views and a wear-tolerant soft surface for active recreation and they are relatively inexpensive to install. However, lawns can be a lot of work. You can reduce th...

A small satellite dish, of the type that has recently arrived on the home market, is certainly an excellent, new way to improve the image on your TV screen. However, when such a dish is attached to your electric service entrance mast, as shown in certain televised commercials, it creates a life-e...

Thee following two types of radiant ceiling heating are dangerous and caused some fires. There was a major problem with Flexel, Thermaflex and some Flexwatt electric radiant ceiling heating panels.FLEXWATT -- installed after 1975.  Look for "Flexwatt electric radiant ceiling heating label" on the...

There are sustainable features in urban, suburban and rural neighbourhoods across Canada. In urban areas, sustainable neighbourhood features are likely to be found in “urban villages” like the Kitsilano area in Vancouver, Corydon Village in Winnipeg, the Beaches in Toronto, the Plateau Mont-Royal...

One of the most common problem in new homes is window sill seems to be bowing away from the window frame at the corners. Every window in the new houses has this deficiency to some degree. Most probably window sills weren't shimmed properly when they installed it in the jamb. The installers just w...

VELUX..........it's the only damn skylight that has a hope of standing up to our winters. They are the only ones I see as an inspector that don't show any signs of leakage.  They have the best flashing systems in the business. As long as they're installed correctly and maintained, VELUX is the o...

  Walking and cycling improves your physical health. Less stress from traffic congestion is also healthier, and less driving means the air is cleaner. Nature is preserved forests left in their natural state are part of the community, with trails to make them accessible. Because these neighbourho...

A friendly neighbourhood means that people look out for each other. Homes close to the sidewalk with porches and windows out front allow you to keep an eye on the street.A mix of homes, shops and offices means that the neighbourhood is active throughout the day and evening. Also, traffic is less...

Streets are for people, not just for cars.The human scale of the streets and slow speed of the cars make them comfortable, safe and pleasant places to walk. Homes and shops have a friendly face to the street. You can stop and chat with neighbours at the shops, by the front porch or at a nearby p...