A couple of times a year, our office receives a call from a contractor trying to figure out what grade of shingle should be used on the side of a house. One of the reasons for this lies in the fact that some installers have…
Here are the requirements for sheathing thickness and nailing (plus patterns) for wall and roof sheathing. Required thickness of wall sheathing 40 cm (16") OC 60 cm (24") OC Fibreboard (insulated) 9.5 mm (3/8") 11.1 mm (7/16") Gypsum sheathing 9.5 mm (3/8") 12.7 (1/2") Lumber…
The National Building Code sometimes requires the exterior walls of some buildings built near a property line to be constructed differently, and the closer to a property line a building is, the more restrictive the requirement. In Code, this is called “spatial separation.” The intent…
The exit requirements for correct construction of exits from second-storey residential suites (duplexes, apartments, hotels) can be particularly complicated. It’s important a property owner or builder understand the requirements before work is undertaken, be it new work, or a repair of an existing assembly. It's…
For many homeowners, the construction of a deck is the ideal do-it-yourself project: but sometimes, decks aren’t as simple as they look. Our building inspectors have gathered some pointers and tips to help homeowners and contractors build better decks. Throughout this guide it is assumed…