Category Archives: Environment

Rental properties continue to be a popular method for a family to bring in a second income, and yet these properties are not without their risks. Damage to the property is possible as well as incidental costs that can add up are a regular occurrence. But, the worst possible scenario for a homeowner is dealing with a marijuana grow-op in the property. With this in mind, here are 7 things to look for in your property if you suspect a marijuana grow-op.

– Ductwork

If you have never noticed ductwork before, now is the time to take a look up. Ductwork that is irregular and seemingly does not make sense in its current state could be a big hint that something is up with the property. read more

Demolishing a house can be a great thing when making room for a new home to go in its place. Whether it’s bigger, better or just plain new, it can be a great thing. With that in mind, here are the best reasons why demolishing your home to make room for a new one is a solid idea.

1. Location:

When someone owns a plot of land on a lake, it is sometimes easier to remove a house and rebuild on the same spot. Whether it’s a bigger house that’s needed, or just the location that is perfect, by demolishing the house and building the perfect one in its place, demolition makes things much easier. read more

Your roof is a principal component of your home, and if you live in a single family dwelling – it’s your roof alone. You’ve bought it,paid for it, and we imagine you’d like to get as many years out of it as possible. Needless to say, re roofing a home is an expensive venture. But when you get to that point, it’s not an optional one. You have to replace it!

As a premiere home restoration service provider here in Vancouver, those of us here at Urban Environmental have learned a thing or two (or two hundred) about what it takes to properly maintain a roof, so we’ll share some of that with you today. read more

It’s that time of year again in the Lower Mainland, and with this year’s recurring snowfalls that are often followed by rain when the temperatures sneaks back above zero (a very common trend in the Southwest corner of BC) there’s going to be more than a few flooded basements before spring arrives. We understand the concerns. We’re property restoration experts in Vancouver, but most of us are homeowners ourselves.

Naturally, homes in low-lying areas with subterranean basements are going to be most at risk, and we imagine the owners of those types of homes really don’t need to be appraised of this fact. There’s nothing we can do to convince Mother Nature to cease with blankets of snow followed by the deluges of rain, but smart homeowners will be proactive in taking steps to ensure their basement isn’t flooded. Or is flooded much less significantly than if they were to do nothing at all. read more

Asbestos continues to be public-enemy #1 when it comes to building material contaminants that property owners want to quickly identify and be thoroughly rid of when it comes to their properties and the air quality within it. That’s perfectly natural given the health risks associated with breathing in asbestos fibres, but there’s another potentially airborne contaminant that was incorporated into building materials in far previous decades that needs some attention paid to it as well.

PCBs, or Polychlorinated Biphenyls, were found in building materials used between roughly 1950 and 1979 in North America, both in Canada and the USA. As is the case with asbestos, one of the more common locations for them was in schools and other public-utility buildings and offices. read more

Mold, it is one of the biggest issues that many homes face on the West Coast, and yet you can avoid this expensive and dangerous issue. We here at Urban Environmental have brought together some of the top tips on how to avoid getting mold, and how to deal with water within the home.

• Remove those items that may cause mold

This seems simple, but yet many who have mold tend to forget to remove problem items from their home. Take a look in your basement, and make sure to limit the amount of stored materials within it. If you have badly damaged items or ones that reek of must, throw them out. Avoid storing firewood within the home; try the side of the house, or a simple shed to place it in. If you have carpet that is damp, remove it and that goes for bathrooms and basements especially. Finally, do not store things in cardboard boxes on your basement floors; it just simply avoids future issues that may arise. read more