Localization Certificate

The localization certificate is part of the legal documentation which makes up the sales act. It is therefore important to safeguard it.

Earthworks

If you modify the level of your lot, remember that:

1. Water that falls on your lot must remain there.
2. Runoff water must be directed toward the street, ditches, or the lot's drains, if any.
3. The slope of the land must not go toward the foundations but rather away from them.
4. Water flow must not be blocked by flowerbeds.
5. Avoid circulation of heavy equipment (backhoe, riding lawnmower) along the foundation to avoid causing cracks.

Landscaping

Walkways and Driveways

• In winter, using salt or calcium can cause considerable damage to concrete surfaces. It is better to use sand or another more appropriate product.
• Cutting implements such as axes or picks to de-ice your walkways are strongly advised against.
• To keep your entryways in good condition, be careful of damage caused by bike supports, petroleum products leaking from your vehicles, or parking overly heavy vehicles.

Roof

• In spring and fall, carefully inspect the state of your roof. This check can save a lot of trouble and at the same time allows you to clean your gutters and repair any cracked seals.
• Make sure to keep your ladder away from any electrical wires.
• Avoid leaning the ladder against the gutters.
• Roofs are often damaged by the installation of items such as TV antennas. You should therefore be very careful and make sure that attachment hardware (hooks, brackets) are sealed to prevent water seepage.

Gutters

• When you need to use a ladder to get on the roof, avoid leaning it against the gutters to prevent warping them.
• Plan a seasonal cleaning of the gutters to prevent blockages that can be caused by leaves or other objects.

Walls of Foundation

Due to a normal and expected phenomenon of concrete walls, known as “efflorescence,” you may note the appearance of a white powder on the exterior portion of the basement foundation walls. You can easily remove this residue with a simple brush.

Facing

Do not insert tools into the empty joint left at the base of the first row of brick to avoid breaking the plaster filling.

Balcony

• Never use an abrasive on your balcony.
• To remove grease stains from a barbecue, use an appropriate cleaner or solvent.
• Do not store firewood on your balcony; it is not made for it.

Entry Door

• Some doors are equipped with a double system of glass and are, on occasion, more difficult to open: the simple application of aerosol silicone will correct this minor inconvenience.
• If you intend to add a glass door and your steel door is decorated with plastic or PVC pattern or appliqués, you should know that the heat build up between the doors may melt the pattern or appliqués.

Plumbing

• Do not empty abrasive products into the floor drains as they cause the valves to deteriorate.
• If you have to be away for an extended period, be sure to close the water main: this will prevent any potential flooding.

Bathrooms

• Every six months apply a liquid silicone sealant made for this end to all the joints.
• Baths and shower stalls are now made of acrylic and fibreglass: you should, therefore, never use scouring powder, a product that can scratch your fixtures.

Floor Drains

Add water two to three times a year to prevent odours if the siphon dries out.

Valves

• If you opted for a bathroom in the basement, the plumber installed a valve to prevent any backup of municipal waste.
• Located in the concrete flooring in the basement, the valve is accessible through a cleaning hatch.
• This valve should be cleaned at least twice a year to ensure its proper functioning.

Natural Gas

Whether you heat with oil or gas, take advantage of checking and general maintenance contracts offered by distributors. You will ensure your comfort and safety.

Safety Advice

If you smell gas in the house:

1. Do not smoke or light any fires in the house.
2. Do activate any electrical control.
3. Open the doors and some windows.
4. Leave the house and phone your gas distributor.

Condensation

To get an accurate reading of the humidity ratio in your house, get a hygrometer.

Sources of Humidity

• Maintaining an overly low humidity ration in the winder can control condensation on windows, but it can also cause other problems.
• For example, a 25% humidity ratio in the ambient air for a long period causes excessive shrinkage in hardwood flooring.
• You should therefore maintain a balance between excessive condensation on the windows and tracks beneath the window frames with serious damage to floor coatings.
• It is suggested not to lower the humidity ratio below 35%.

Drywall

Wait one year before undertaking any corrective work as it takes a year for materials to stabilize.

List of Normal Problems

• Fissures in the joints between sheets of drywall.
• Nail pops.
• Narrow fissures in carpentry pieces.
• Small spaces between the cabinets or counters and the walls.
• Fissures in joints of door and window frames, skirting and walls.
• Slight contraction of materials and drawing back of walls or joints.
• Separation of floorboards or slight depression in the floor skirting, baseboards or door uprights.
• Small space between stairs or stair mouldings and walls.
• Slight crackling in the floor.

Fireplace and Chimney

• Do not burn garbage, plywood, tinted wood, green wood, or synthetic materials: use only dry, natural wood.
  The use of very dry hardwoods (from furniture or other sources) produces an intense heat that can deform some fireplaces: use this type of wood only as a starter.