Even though we’ve had it pretty so far this fall, old man winter is coming. And it’s almost time to close up the cottage and say “goodbye” until next spring. Check these 10 steps off your list to prepare to leave your home-away-from-home for the season: Inspect your septic tank. If your cottage has a septic tank, be careful to follow the manufacturer’s guide book. If your system is due for an inspection, call in a professional to make sure it’s functioning properly before you close up to avoid any problems in the spring. Keep the sump pump, pumping. If your cottage has a sump pump, make sure it stays in good working order all winter long, or you could experience flooding when the snow starts to melt. Drain your pipes, turn off your water supply and drain your pipes. Drain all water containers to prevent them from freezing or bursting. Clean your gutters. Clogged up gutters can cause water to back up under your shingles, leading to a leaky roof. Clean out your gutters so ra...

  GUS Expands Into Saskatchewan as Inspect It All Posted on Monday, October 22, 2018 http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/gus-expands-into-saskatchewan-as-inspect-it-all-services-j oins- network-1068983.htm Established restoration network adds location in Regina. Markham, ON -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/22/2018 --René-Charles Landry, President of GUS ( www.gus.ca ), is pleased to announce a successful partnership between GUS and Inspect It All Services ( www.inspectitall.ca ) of Regina, further expanding GUS's growing portfolio of full-service  restoration companies in the west. Inspect It All is the first company in Saskatchewan to partner  with GUS as the damage restoration network continues its rapid nationwide expansion. Founded in 2015, Inspect It All Services is a family owned, multifaceted business that has quickly  become an important part of the Regina community. Initially focusing on providing home inspections  and mold inspections t...

Winter can be especially harsh on a house's roof, and it’s almost never a good idea to simply wait for spring before addressing the issues that the presence of snow and ice on your roof can cause. Five of the main winter roof damage problems t hat homeowners should be aware of are listed below, along with some advice on how to best manage them. 1. Ice Dam Formation When warm air rises from your heated living spaces, it warms the shingles of your roof and the snow that covers it. This leads to snow melting and dripping down to the colder edges of the roof where it refreezes as ice. Once the ice grows thick enough, it backs up further snow-melt behind it, causing water to seep under the shingles, and eventually into your home through leakage points. Leaks are made the more likely when backed up water freezes and thaws, working its way into nooks and crannies and expanding them. The number one way to prevent an ice dam is by insulating and ventilating your attic, bu...

Have you ever seen black mold in your home? Were you concerned that it was the “ Toxic Black Mold” that we have been hearing about in the news? These are common questions that people are asking, and desperately looking to find the answers.  It has been well documented that mold spores are common indoors and outside. Mold requires moisture, an organic food source, timing, and the right temperature to thrive. Any type of mold infestation can be devastating when it invades our homes, so why is this particular Black Mold so hazardous… yet intriguing? Here Are 10 Facts About Stachybotrys Mold That You Need to Know 1. The “Toxic Black Mold” People Are Most Concerned About Is Called Stachybotrys Chartarum or Stachybotrys Atra. For the purposes of this article I have interchanged the names Stachybotrys, Black Mold and Stachy to mean the same thing. Yes, exposure to this specific type has been linked to several health issues, such as headaches, vomiting, nausea, fatigue...

Junior Construction Manager Inspect it All Services is a locally owned and operated business. We specialize in Disaster clean up, property restoration, construction, air quality testing and residential & commercial building inspections. We are a family owned business that is expanding and growing rapidly. We are looking for a reliable and experienced trades person for rebuild and construction work. We want that person to be a part of our family and the right fit is important to us. We want someone that is skilled in multiple trades. We want you to be able to frame, insulate, drywall & tape and paint as well as be a skilled in carpentry work. This job will require a variety of skills and a hardworking attitude. Applicants must meet ALL the following requirements: Minimum 5 years experience in construction and or property restoration and mitigation (An asset but not required would be trades and IICRC certificates) Strong work ethic / self starter Abil...

Spring is on the way! And the warmer temperatures provide the perfect conditions for melting snow on lawns and driveways. As much as we are jumping for joy for this, hiding beneath larger piles of snow is a less than welcome sign of spring – a fungus called snow mould. Spores from the mould can cause sneezing, wheezing, itchy eyes and, in more severe cases, trouble breathing. Spores are the reproductive cells of the mould. It’s something that comes around every year. It likes the cold. It thrives in the zero-to-seven-degrees temperature range and it likes environments where there is plenty of organic material. The trick is to get the snow to melt quickly. As soon as the snow is exposed to good temperatures, the mould doesn’t survive. Snow mould spores are not in the snow but grow in the moist soil underneath. Once the snow melts, the mould leaves circular grey or pink patches of unhealthy looking grass. But by that point, the spores have escaped into the air. Is snow mould pr...

The storm has passed, but its dangers haven't. Here's how to keep your home, your property and even your neighbors safe and sound after a blizzard. In addition to beauty, quiet, and days off from school, a heavy snowstorm brings a range of hazards to homes and property, some of which can cause expensive damage or endanger your family. These five steps will help you keep your home and your family safe. 1. Lighten the load on the roof Head outside and walk the perimeter of your house, looking at the roof line. Are your gutters and eaves decked in icicles? Your roof may be forming an ice dam, where ice freezes into hard ridges that prevent snow melt from draining off your roof. Without anywhere to go, water will find its way into your home. Extreme snowstorms can also stress the roof through the weight of the snow. This is especially true as old snow compacts under fresh snow in subsequent storms.  If you live in a single-story home, you can help prevent ice dams and re...

Employers or employees, we sometimes forget that half our lives are being spent in a workspace that is enclosed, and without any exposure to the outside environment. In short, employers and employees are breathing office air for eight hours or more during the day. And when that indoor air is poor quality, health is impacted. Allergy symptoms can be aggravated, worker performance can be diminished, and sick days can start to rise. For all kinds of reasons, it makes good business sense to keep employees healthy in their work environment with excellent quality indoor air. Air quality professionals often pinpoint poor ventilation as a major problem in the workplace. It simply means that fresh outside air isn’t circulating properly throughout a given space. Even worse, a poorly performing HVAC system might be circulating air pollutants instead of cleaning the air, as it should be doing. Optimum air ventilation in any living space is critical in providing fresh air, while reducing the p...

Some people may not be aware of this but there are appliances that do leak. These are those appliances that produce moisture and use water in order to work, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers. These home appliances rarely leak when installed properly and when they are brand new. However, when time passes or when dishwashers and washing machines are not connected to the water source properly, leaking is a huge possibility. When appliance leaks happen, water damage can occur if the problem is not handled immediately. When you suspect that one or more of your appliances has a leak, here are some things you should do immediately to minimize the damage caused by the situation: Turn off your water main – you can turn off the water main in your home or simply turn off the water connected to the appliance itself. This will stop the leak and you can have the appliance serviced or the connection fixed. Remove the appliance from its power source – if it is your ref...

During the winter months and extremely low temperatures, we see many home and business owners turning to alternative sources of heat. 50% of home heating fires occur during the months of December, January, and February. Whether to save on energy costs or to warm up a drafty room, space heaters are best used with caution. Follow these safety tips to keep your home or business warm during the winter months and prevent fire damage. Electric Space Heater Safety Tips When purchasing a space heater, look for a safety certification from a well-known source, such as Underwriters Laboratories Canada (UL). Auto shut off features are beneficial to prevent overheating and hazards if the space heater tips over.  Maintain 3 feet of space around the space heater. Take care to remove flammable materials such as curtains, bedding, and clothing. The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) estimates that space heaters placed too close to combustible materials are the second leading cause ...