Adding underlay with new roof shingles is always beneficial

Question: Our house needs to be re-shingled and after speaking with a few contractors we have received conflicting information. Some say drip edge and an underlay are essential, another says not to bother with either. Can you outline what elements are . . .

Posted: 2020-04-25

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Location of smell key to finding odour cause

QUESTION: I have been a homeowner for the last five years. We own a 22-year-old bungalow. My laundry room is on the main floor inside the kitchen. Our main washroom is adjacent to the laundry room and we have another . . .

Posted: 2011-12-10

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Some attic frost nothing to worry about

QUESTION: I consider myself a fairly attentive homeowner and have noticed something in my attic that has me concerned. We recently installed a wood-burning fireplace insert in our 1980 home, retrofitted into the brick fireplace with a stainless chimney liner installed. . . .

Posted: 2012-03-03

ASK THE INSPECTOR: Fortify your garage to keep squirrels out

QUESTION: A few years ago, you did a house inspection for me, and I think the one thing I forgot to ask was how to get squirrels out of my garage. I am sure you have probably done a column . . .

Posted: 2012-08-18

Roof snow removal typically dependent on its condition

Question: I own a small apartment building with six suites. We have had a lot of snow this year. Should I get the flat roof on my building shoveled? A roofing company advised that I should. Please let me know what . . .

Posted: 2022-02-12

Reducing humidity key to solving condensation issues

Question: I live in Louisiana and have been trying to solve a moisture issue. I was Googling and stumbled across one of your columns on your site. When the temperature drops outside, we have had moisture accumulate on the back . . .

Posted: 2021-09-04

MIKE HOLMES: Spotting the cold

You can usually feel drafts around windows, doors and fireplaces. Or, sometimes you can feel a cold spot along a wall. Feeling a draft or a cold spot is one thing; finding exactly where the cold is coming from is . . .

Posted: 2013-01-26

Unheated spaces can be made comfortable

Proper insulation, venting may do trick

111Your assistance with this matter would be greatly appreciated. -- B. Van Norman, e-mail QUESTION NO. 2 -- We live in 90-yearold home that has a full-width concrete veranda on the front. There is a room under this veranda . . .

Posted: 2008-11-02

Heat-recovery ventilator integral to home comfort

Question: I just had my basement done into a lovely living space. I have a forced-air electric furnace and heat-recovery ventilator (HRV). I was told, when the HVAC guy was here, to shut the HRV off during the summer months. . . .

Posted: 2016-04-30

No need to remove existing attic insulation prior to upgrades

I have a home built in 1950 with just two inches of what I believe is rock wool, wrapped in a waxy paper, in my attic. To pull this out and install a continuous vapour barrier and then re-insulate with . . .

Posted: 2020-01-25