​January is a time when many people make their plans for the upcoming year.  What plans have you made? Maybe you’re thinking about remodeling a room of your home or have some home maintenance projects you’d like to get done.  There is one thing, however, that often gets overlooked when it comes to home maintenance and that’s a yearly home inspection.  For example, do you remember the last time your home had a home inspection?  Most would likely say it was when they purchased the home.
 
Please enjoy the short video accompanying this blog.  It explains the reasons why an annual home inspection should be part of your home maintenance routine.  We are here to help you with any home inspection needs you may have so please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you have. 

​Who doesn’t love coming home to a beautiful cozy fire? The thing is, not every house comes with a traditional fireplace. A popular alternative to this is the factory-built fireplace. But, are they a good choice and how easy are they to install in an already existing home?
 
As may be obvious by the name, a factory-built fireplace is constructed in a facility and is not part of a home’s construction, it is then stored until needed. Many factory-built fireplaces are used for new construction homes; however, this is not a requirement and they can be installed in most pre-existing homes.
 
Comprised of a firebox enclosed in a steel cabinet with a steel chimney or flue attached, factory-built fireplaces are a great choice since they are lightweight, efficient and safe to use. Another advantage to a fireplace like this is that it has very small safe-clearance requirements (although the clearance level varies depending on the manufacturer so check this before installation) and can be installed near wood framing. This means you can install them on any floor of the home.
 
Factory-built fireplaces have a superb safety record, but it is still very important that you take all the necessary fire-safety measures, the same as you would with a traditional fireplace. A monthly chimney inspection should also be included during the cold season to make sure that creosote is not accumulating.