BC firm's materials in space
$10K discrimination ruling
Quesnel pulp mill sold
Inquiry into B.C. port strike
Is decaf coffee bad for you?
Ex-cop tries to quash charge
PM pledges deportations
Trump trial arguments begin
Ghost guns to high court
Nude Beverages sells line
Wealth gap widening
Canadian Honda EV plant 
Leafs even series
Cristall gets pro look
Warriors even series in OT
Swift breaks Spotify record
Cudi Coachella set cut short
Bon Jovi 'hasn't been a saint'
About the House
Hugh Cairns: The perfect house
People are often curious to know what kinds of conditions are found during home inspections. In older homes, the inspection report often leads itself to...
Hugh Cairns: Attic frost
Q. How much attic frost is too much? A. After sticking my head into hundreds of attics every year, I can tell you that seeing some frost low on the underside...
Hugh Cairns: Mouse!
When I’m out inspecting it’s not uncommon to find evidence of rodents. Evidence can be found year round, but just like us humans, in the winter,...
Hugh Cairns: It’s not going to be perfect
In my book, there are three primary outcomes from home inspections and they are all categorized as good. There are the inspections where a significant existing...
Home inspection fees could soar
If you have had a home inspection or are about to have one, in probability it will be conducted by a member of BC’s predominant association of home...
Hugh Cairns: Excessive dryer lint build-up
A quick look at your dryer venting can be very illuminating. Up on the roof and out of the way this dryer vent is causing problems. Notwithstanding long drying...
Hugh Cairns: Do this before winter
For homeowners, the end of Fall means that your home should be prepared for winter. Beyond yard cleanup and irrigation blowouts, homeowners should be completing...
Hugh Cairns: Your aging hot water tank
How old is the hot water tank? Does it need replacing? These are some of the hot water tank questions that I am routinely asked while conducting a home...
Hugh Cairns: Hot topic - WETT reports
Nothing beats a toasty fire on colder days. Wood burning inserts, wood stoves and fireplaces provide a house with warmth and ambience. It is estimated that...
Five reasons to service your furnace
In most homes, the furnace is the primary heat source. There is a lot at stake should break down or require replacement. Furnaces are a big investment, new...
Hugh Cairns: Irrigating crawlspaces
Not every home is built with a crawlspace, but if you have one and an irrigation system it’s best to poke your head down there a few times a year to see...
Improved home inspector standards announced
The home inspection profession in BC continues to be the leading edge in consumer protection and home inspector standards across Canada and North America, and...
Hugh Cairns: Gutter drainage problems
Gutter Drainage Problems -What are the Signs? If you’ve had a Hugh Cairns Home Inspection then you know that water is the number one enemy of any home....
Hugh Cairns: TPR valve leaks
As you can imagine a leaking hot water tank is not good news. Small leaks are a clear sign of a looming larger problem. When water is heated it expands. This is...
Hugh Cairns: Hot water tank failure
A leaking hot water tank is not good news. While a small leak may seem somewhat of a nuisance, it can quickly turn into a big problem. Hot water tanks often...
Hugh Cairns: Carpenter ant damage
To read last week's article, Carpenter Ants, click here. In this case of this home, Camponotus vicinus have made themselves at home. The vicinus species...
Hugh Cairns: Carpenter ants
Carpenter ants are the most visible—and perhaps the most intimidating—of the wood destroying pests encountered in the Okanagan. Carpenter ants, as...
Hugh Cairns: Vegetation against house
Sure vegetation increases a home’s appeal, but it might add other things too. Vegetation growing on the house attracts insects to the house and they will...
Hugh Cairns: Inspection friends
It seems that most homes that I visit have animals. On the outside we see mice, rats, raccoons, snakes, chickens, horses, cow, critters and birds regularly....
Hugh Cairns: bleach vs mould
Common bleach is cheap and readily available at our local supermarkets. When it comes to killing mould most consumers reach for bleach first. Household bleach...
