CATEGORIES

• Consumer Protection
• Health & Safety
• New Homes
• Renovations
   

CANADA:

Consumer Advocacy and Support for Homeowners (CASH) Society
www.cashsociety.net

NEW HOME WARRANTY PROGRAMS (Canada):

Alberta New Home Warranty Program
http://www.anhwp.com

Atlantic Home Warranty Program
http://www.ahwp.org

British Columbia - Homeowner Protection Office
www.hpo.bc.ca
In BC all builders must be licensed, a complete list of companies is available.

Manitoba New Home Warranty Program
http://www.mbnhwp.com

Ontario - Tarion Warranty Corporation
www.tarion.com
Formerly the Ontario New Home Warranty Corporation

Quebec - Régie du Bâtiment du Québec
www.rbq.gouv.qc.ca
In Quebec all builders must be licensed.

Sask - New Home Warranty Program of Saskatchewan Inc.
http://www.nhwp.org


HOME INSPECTION ASSOCIATIONS:

UNITED STATES:

Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings (HADD)
 www.hadd.com

HomeOwners for Better Building (HOBB)
 www.hobb.org
 

Fighting asthma in your house

US Study (2005) finds that there is a need for specific standards to be adopted into law regarding housing and indoor air quality.

Draft report related to Indoor Air Pollution in California

ASBESTOS:

Asbestos - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=62029
From Health Canada regarding Vermiculite Insulation Containing Asbestos

CARBON MONOXIDE:

Carbon Monoxide - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=62046

Combustion Gases in Your Home - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=62028
 

LEAD:
Lead in your home
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/products/leadpaint.html
Provides information on how to remove lead-based paints without causing risks to your health

MOULD:

CMHC - Air Quality in Interior Environments - pdf document
https://www03.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/b2c/b2c/init.do?language=en&shop=Z01EN&areaID=0000000004&productID=00000000040000000005

Condominium Mold Guide - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=62341

Fighting Mould - The Homeowners Guide - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=60516

"Indoor Air Facts No. 4 (revised): Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)"
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html

PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER:

Pressure treated lumber
http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/home/lumber/index.html
While pressure treated lumber has been hailed as a boom to the construction industry, lengthening the life of lumber, saving new forests from being cut down, and ensuring your deck or playground fortress will be around for many years, did you know that it also often contains arsenic? Pressure Treated Lumber provides you with the information you should know about the dangers associated with this product.

UFFI:

Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=62032
A fact sheet in the About Your House series, answers questions about urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). You can learn about the history of UFFI, including its development, composition, its popularity in the 1970s as an insulation method, and the subsequent ban on UFFI due to health risks related to its installation and decomposition, as well as about the responsibilities of persons selling a home insulated with UFFI.

VERMICULITE:
(also see Asbestos)

Vermiculite - Health Canada
URL: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/iyh/products/insulation.html#1
Did you know that some vermiculite insulation may contain asbestos fibres? What are the potential health risks of these products? Health Canada provides you with a comprehensive fact sheet on Vermiculite Insulation Containing Asbestos. It provides you with information such as:
background on Vermiculite Insulation , the Health Risks Of Vermiculite Containing Asbestos, minimizing Your Risk , what To Do If You Suspect You Have Been Exposed To Asbestos

Vermiculite - Environmental Protection Association (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/insulation.html
 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Canada - Rate your Builder
http://canada.rateyourbuilder.info
A great new website where new homeowners have an opportunity to rate the quality of their builder. Also worth a look for those considering buying new.

The Canadian Consumer Information Gateway
http://www.consumerinformation.ca/cgi-bin/searchresult.cgi?QuickFind=1&MainPage=1&Language=E&SearchText=&TopSeqNo=7&x=13&y=20
One of the most extensive sites available for information on new homes or renovations, with every possible link you could imagine. You may specify your province to narrow your search.

Canadian Home Builders Association
http://www.chba.ca
Information on buying a new home from choosing what you need, the purchase process,  finding a builder, contract information to the actual building process. Their "Links" page has reference to Provincial Homebuilders Associations. Lots of goods suggestions about home renovations too!

How much is it going to cost?
http://www.ontariocontractors.com
This site was published in the Canadian Workshop magazine. It supplies contractor (ballpark) pricing for home building, renovations etc.

Home Buying Step by Step
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=60946
A guide to the home buying process, providing handy tips, illustrative stories, charts, graphs and hands-on work sheets.

Ontario Contractors
http:// www.ontariocontractors.ca
This site was published in the Canadian Workshop magazine. It supplies contractor (ballpark) pricing for home building, renovations etc.

Selecting a New Home Builder
http://192.197.69.104/en/burema/gesein/abhose/abhose_072.cfm
This About Your House fact sheet provides information on how to find and what to look for and consider when searching for the right builder to build your new home.

About Your House: Canada's Construction System 62966
This document explains the elements of the system of construction and operation of buildings and houses in Canada.

Understanding your new Home Sales Contract - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=63492

Underwriters' Laboratories
http://www.ulc.ca/products/construction/index.asp
Would you like to know the results of Underwriters' Laboratories testing of construction products? Would you like to know how your walls or roofing material rated? The Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada provides you with information on the testing results they obtained for construction products.

RESEARCH:
Concordia University leading building envelope research  

GENERAL INFORMATION:

A Sample Renovation Contract - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=62351
Good information on what essentials you need in a renovation contract

About.com
http://www.homerepair.about.com
A great site with answers to most questions on home repair

Bob Vila's Home Again
http://www.bobvila.com
From TV fame you'll recognize this name. A worthwhile site to visit

The Canadian Consumer Information Gateway
http://www.consumerinformation.ca/cgi-bin/searchresult.cgi?QuickFind=1&MainPage=1&Lang uage=E&SearchText=&TopSeqNo=7&x=18&y=19
One of the best resources on housing with every possible link you could imagine. You may specify your province to narrow your search.

Canadian Home Builders' Association
http://www.chba.ca/Renovation/index.php
Great information on renovations from planning to contracts

Doityourself.com
http://www.doityourself.com
The original Internet community of doityourselfers. How To's, Q&A Bulletin Board Forums: Repair, Remodel, Decorate, Household Hints and more. When you want it done right,

Get it in Writing (Canadian Homebuilders Association)
http://www.hiringacontractor.com
Probably the most extensive renovation sites around with all aspects of renovation from building permits, contract to payment arrangements. All your renovation questions should be answered here!

Hiring a Contractor - CMHC
http://www.cmhc.ca/od/?pid=62277
 Excellent tips on making the right choice of contractor

Holmes on Homes
http://www.holmesonhomes.com
Holmes on Homes is the series for anyone who's been duped during a home renovation with construction and renovation expert Mike Holmes to the rescue.

Home Time
http://www.hometime.com
As seen on TV - a great series with some useful tips.

Improvenet.com
http://www.improvenet.com
Not as good as some of the sites above
but still a lot of useful info to be found here.

Ontario Contractors
http:// www.ontariocontractors.com
This site was published in the Canadian Workshop magazine. It supplies contractor (ballpark) pricing for home building, renovations etc.

The Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services
A Home Owners' Guide to the Standard Renovation Process
A very complete listing of the process from start to finish.

theplumber.com
http://www.theplumber.com
The only plumbing resource that you'll ever need, this award winning site has answers to all of your plumbing questions and great do it yourself instructions