Home Know-How
After you buy, maintaining your home matters just as much. Here we explain your home's structure and systems in plain language, along with how to assess and deal with common problems. Our articles are currently in Chinese, with English versions on the way.
Getting Started
Buying a home in Canada uses imperial units: square feet for floor area, feet for lots and acres for larger land. Yet everyday life, room sizes and municipal rules often use metric. This article explains the conversions you'll use most, how floor area is calculated, ceiling heights and lot frontage and depth, with worked examples.
Structure
Most homes in Canada up to four storeys have a concrete foundation and a wood frame. This article explains what a wood-frame house is made of, how older and newer homes differ, common misconceptions, key points on moisture, termites, fire and sound, and how to assess structural issues at showings and during renovations.
Home Systems
Many older homes still contain building materials that are no longer used. Some affect health, some affect insurance, and some become a replacement cost after closing. This article organizes the common ones by era and explains how to spot them at a showing, how to verify them during the conditional period, and how to deal with and negotiate them.
Home Systems
Most detached homes in Toronto use a gas furnace with central air; heat pumps are increasingly common, and some homes have boilers with radiant heat or electric heating. This article explains the pros and cons of each, what every piece of equipment in the basement does, buying versus renting equipment, routine maintenance, and the energy rebates and loans currently available in Ontario and Toronto in 2026.
Home Systems
Insulation decides how warm your home is in winter, how hot it gets in summer and how high your heating bills are. This article covers common insulation materials, what R-value means, priorities for attic and basement insulation, signs of poor insulation, the most common mistakes when adding insulation, and Ontario's current insulation rebates in 2026.
Home Systems
From lead, galvanized steel and copper to Poly-B, Kitec and today's standard PEX, homes from different eras use different pipes, with different risks. This article explains how to identify them by the home's age and appearance, where to look at a showing, Toronto's lead pipe testing and replacement program, sewer camera inspections and how to prevent frozen pipes in winter.
Home Systems
A water softener deals with scale and washing, while a water filter improves the taste of drinking water and filters it. They serve different purposes. This article explains how each works, whether you need one, renting versus buying, what to do in a home on well water, and how to handle existing equipment when you buy.
Basements
Basement leaks are one of the most common and frustrating issues in Toronto real estate. This guide explains where water gets in, how to tell a leak from dampness, how to choose between interior injection and exterior excavation, how to use Toronto's 2026 basement flooding protection subsidy, and how to handle it at showings, inspections and in negotiations.
Basements
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas from the soil. It has no colour or smell and tends to build up in basements. This article explains Health Canada's guideline of 200 Bq/m³, why a long-term test of at least 3 months is recommended, choosing between a DIY test kit and professional testing, what to do if levels are high, and how to arrange testing when buying or selling.
Basements
A sump pump removes groundwater from around the foundation to keep the basement dry. This article explains how a sump pump works, which homes need one, how it differs from a backwater valve, choosing a backup power source, routine maintenance, what to check at a showing, and how to use Toronto's 2026 basement flooding protection subsidy.
Attics
Attic mould and basement leaks are the two most common issues in home inspection reports. This article covers why attics get mouldy, how to judge how serious it is, the ways to deal with it, how to prevent it, and how to negotiate when the inspection report says "attic mould".
Roofs
The roof is one of the most expensive maintenance items in a home. This article covers the lifespan and pros and cons of common roofing materials, the parts of a roof, how to judge an aging roof at a showing, what causes winter ice dams and how to prevent them, and what to know about permits, choosing a contractor and insurance when replacing a roof.
Exterior Walls
Brick, stone, stucco and EIFS, fibre cement, vinyl, aluminum, wood... exterior cladding varies widely in lifespan, maintenance and risk. This guide compares each type, covers common problems with brick and stucco, what to check on the exterior at a showing, how the exterior relates to leaks and mould inside, and the process and permit basics for re-cladding.
Renovation and Finishes
A listing that says "Sub-Zero / Wolf / Miele" reflects a very different level of investment from one that says "Samsung / LG". This article explains how appliances are usually described in listings, where common kitchen appliance and bathroom fixture brands sit, how to judge the quality of a renovation from the kitchen and bathrooms, and how to spell out appliances in your purchase agreement.
Renovation and Finishes
Hardwood can be refinished but dislikes water, engineered wood is more stable, laminate offers good value, waterproof vinyl suits kitchens and basements, tile is the most durable and carpet is the most comfortable. This guide compares water resistance, wear, comfort, maintenance and lifespan, and covers basement flooring, what to know before replacing floors in a condo, how to judge floors at a showing, and the renovation process and budget.
Renovation and Finishes
Quartz is low-maintenance and stain-resistant, granite handles heat but needs regular sealing, marble is beautiful but delicate, sintered stone resists heat and scratches but its edges can chip, solid surface can be repaired seamlessly, and laminate is the most budget-friendly. This article compares eight common countertop materials, and covers how to judge countertops at a showing, the replacement process and everyday care.
Maintenance
Toronto winters are cold and long, and many winter and spring home problems can be prevented in the fall. This checklist is organized into three stages, September to November, December to February, and early spring in March, with why, how and whether to do it yourself or hire someone for each item, plus checks before travelling in winter and snow-clearing rules.
Maintenance
A leak can be fixed, but a fire rarely gives you a second chance. From 2026, Ontario's carbon monoxide alarm requirements extend to every storey. This guide covers the current alarm rules, wiring and dryer hazards, fireplace and kitchen safety, escape plans, and the checks to do when you take over a home.
Maintenance
A bang on the roof in the middle of the night, ducts thumping when the heat comes on, a crackling water heater, a toilet that keeps running... Most sounds come from expansion and contraction and are nothing to worry about, but a few mean it's time to fix something, and some call for immediate action. This article organizes them by system into one table, with how to tell them apart.
Maintenance
When the weather turns cold, mice look for a way into the house. This article covers how mice get in, how to tell whether you have them, choosing between traps and poison, how to clean up droppings safely, when to call a professional, and most importantly, sealing entry points and a prevention checklist.