We hope everyone has their stock of Vitamin D supplements in the general absence of sun this spring/early summer.   The BC Inspector would like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer.

We now have 270 subscribers spanning each of the inspection organizations in BC. Thanks for helping us become the number one CPD publication for BC home inspectors.

Please point any friends/colleagues in the business you think would be interested in this publication to our website and suggest they subscribe

We also encourage you to check the seminar calendar located on theBCInspector.ca today and see what seminars are available in your area. Check back often as new seminars are added weekly (contact us if you need assistance logging in).

Industry Numbers

Current list of Licensed Inspectors per CPBC (June 30, 2011).

Note: The 'independent' provisional licenses are no longer available.

Changes will Make LiveSmart BC More Efficient

Originally launched in May 2008, the LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive program provides information and cash incentives to help BC homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their homes.  In April of this year the LiveSmart program has been upgraded with changes to incentives levels and requirements.

The new incentives put more emphasis on building envelope upgrades including insulation, windows, doors and air sealing. Changes to the program are intended to help homeowners do upgrades that address how their home uses energy as a system, considering how the building envelope and heating equipment work together. Changes to the program also encourage homeowners to use certified installers, thereby improving the quality and value of the work done through the program. More information about incentive levels and eligibility criteria can be found at www.livesmartbc.ca/rebates.

Through the next two years, B.C. households will be able to access $30 million in funding to undertake work to improve the efficiency of their homes. Starting April 1^st, 2011 homeowners can have initial energy efficiency evaluations through the program as the first step to access the new incentives. Incentives are available for insulation, draft-proofing, windows and doors and space and water heating.

The LiveSmart BC: Efficiency Incentive program is run in partnership with BC Hydro and FortisBC.  The program is intended to be a one-stop shop where homeowners can access incentives from the Province and Utility partners through one easy informative process.  For more information on the program visit our website at: www.livesmartbc.ca/rebates

theBCInspector would like to thank Emily Eng - Program Coordinator and the staff at LiveSmart BC Efficiency Incentive Program at the Ministry of Energy for their support of this publication and submission of this article.

Residential Construction Performance Guide – An Essential New Tool for Homeowners and Builders

For many consumers, owning a home is both a financial and a lifestyle investment that they can enjoy for years to come. It brings pride of ownership, a sense of security and responsibilities. Understanding the basics of a well constructed home and how it should perform during the warranty insurance period is an important part of homeownership.

That’s where the Homeowner Protection Office (HPO) can help. A new Residential Construction Performance Guide, available for free on the HPO website, is an essential reference tool for homeowners and builders. It explains how new homes should perform and which defects are covered under home warranty insurance in British Columbia.

This user-friendly guide is easy to understand, easy to use, and was produced with homeowners in mind. It’s designed to help you better understand how warranty providers in B.C. evaluate claims for possible construction defects in new homes with home warranty insurance. This includes possible defects in design, materials or workmanship.

Homeowners are using the guide to make more informed decisions and to self-evaluate possible defects. Finding out what is and isn’t covered under home warranty insurance helps create realistic expectations when it comes to the performance of a new home.

For most consumers, buying a new home is one of the largest financial investments they will make. So it’s essential that homebuyers can make that investment with confidence, knowing that they will not be faced with additional unforeseen expenses to repair defects after they move in,” said Tony Gioventu, executive director of the Condominium Home Owners’ Association and an advocate for consumer protection.

“It’s also important for homebuyers to clearly understand what the expectations are on the performance of the new home and all the components within a new home,“ he explained. “This reference guide provides homeowners with a better sense of what they should expect from their new home, how their new home should perform, and what they need to do if there is a problem or a defect.” more

theBCInspector would like to thank the staff at the Homeowner Protection Office for their support of this publication and submitting this article.

Ask the Inspector

This heading has been expanded to also sponsor discussions regarding the best way to report specific deficiencies. We are still looking for you to submit specific questions, but will post photos and ask for viewer submissions on how to write up a deficiency presented in the photos on months we have not received any direct requests. We will publish the anonymous responses and also provide follow up by a firm who specializes in the component(s) being shown in the photo. It is hoped that through these discussions, we will ALL be able to learn from the experts on what language is preferred to correctly identify and present a defect.

The next photo surrounds a tape applied to the joints of a forced air furnace. How would YOU right this up?

For a high resolution of this image click here

Please submit your responses to theBCInspector.ca.

Past Topics:
2010-10: Face Sealed Stucco - Single Family Dwelling (Stucco Photo). Inspector Responses (Industry Response expected shortly).
2011-01: Shingle Roof - Single family dwelling (Roof Photo).  Inspector & Professional Responses

Please submit your questions for future Ask The Inspector to theBCInspector.ca.

Inspector Photo Gallery

Which direction do the predominant wind driven rains come from?
(Photo submitted by ASTTBC inspector: John Kostelnik)

The water gets dizzy going through this maze!
(Photo submitted by ASTTBC inspector: Terry Neyedli)

Have a picture you think others would like to see? Submit to theBCInspector.ca

CPD Corner

Online CPD calendar identifying seminars and courses in your area (Agenda View is best as it shows venue cities). This is a free resource to subscribers of this newsletter. Please contact us should you have any difficulty in logging in.

ASHI Reporter Article: Flat Roof Inspection – Focus on Modified Bitumen

ASHI Reporter Article: How a plumber inspects toilets

ASHI Reporter's, The Word discuses the meaning of Fireblocks

ASHI Reporter Article: Review of judgement against a BC Home Inspector

WorkSafeBC Ladder Safety

Upcoming Courses of interest to Home & Property Inspectors

BC Building Envelope Council Past Seminar Presentations

Green Building Advisor

Building Officials’ Association of BC

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in 3^rd Party articles may not align with those of SENWI Services Inc. or theBCInspector.ca, but are being presented to provide differing viewpoints that can lead to discussion and an overall better understanding of the topics involved.

Typical Bad Practises & Materials Calendar

Materials and Practices of caution organized by year.

Email in your additions to what will be an excellent resource for our subscribers.

Grow-Op Resources

Policies listed by City/Municipality

Other Useful Links

Have a resource not listed? Send us an email

Industry News

Latest Home & Property Inspection Industry News is available at theBCInspector.ca (Check back often for updates).

Have a news story of interest. Let us know

Recalls and Safety Alerts

Health and Safety Information for common household products
CSA Product Recalls & Alerts
Other Links

Inspector Fun

Home Inspection Nightmares X (published by This Old House)

Find the defects VIII

A very silly game and time waster – but fun.  Your editor ended up as a sad ape.

Got a Suggestion? Let us know how we are doing?

theBCInspector.ca wants to be the best learning resource in BC for Home and Property Inspectors. Let us know what we are doing right and what we can improve by taking this quick survey.

About Us

At theBCinspector.ca, you will find the latest house and property information; educational resources and industry news that will help raise your professionalism and that of the house and property inspection industry as a whole. Sean Wiens of SENWI House Inspections is the editor and publisher of the newsletter and has been involved in the home and property inspection industry since September of 2006.

Note: The Views expressed herein represent the opinions of the editor and SENWI Services Inc. only and do not form any opinion, position, or policy of any organization outside of SENWI Services Inc.

Copyright (c) 2011 SENWI Services Inc.