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Home inspector in North Vancouver
Watch House is based in North Vancouver. The City and the District are home ground, from Lower Lonsdale to Lynn Valley, Edgemont, Seymour and Deep Cove.
What we see in North Vancouver homes
Much of the housing here went up between the 1950s and the 1970s: bungalows, split-levels and post-and-beam houses on sloped lots, many of them since renovated and given a suite. Newer townhouses and condo towers have filled in along Lonsdale, in Lower Lonsdale and around Lynn Creek.
- Water and slope. Heavy rain and hillside lots put the load on perimeter drains, retaining walls, grading and gutters. We follow the water from the roof to the street.
- Trees and roofs. Tall cedars and firs mean moss, needles in gutters and damp roof edges.
- Suites. Added basement suites often come with changed framing, added plumbing and extra electrical load.
- Oil heat. Many older homes once heated with oil. We look for signs of a tank and recommend a scan where it fits.
Condos and townhouses on the North Shore
Lonsdale and Lower Lonsdale have a mix of 1970s and ’80s low-rises, rainscreened buildings from the 2000s and new towers. In Lynn Valley, Seymour and around Capilano, townhouse complexes from the 1980s and ’90s are coming up on roof, window and deck renewals. For these, the strata documents are often where the real information is: what the depreciation report says is due, and whether the strata has the money for it.
A typical finding here
Downspout discharges beside the foundation
Observation: The rear downspout ends at the base of the wall with no extension. Soil next to the foundation was saturated and the basement wall inside shows light efflorescence.
Implication: Roof water concentrated at the foundation is a common source of basement dampness on sloped North Shore lots.
Recommendation: Add a downspout extension or connect to the storm system so water discharges at least 1.5 m from the house. Upon possession.
Questions we hear in North Vancouver
Do North Vancouver homes need an oil tank scan?
Many houses built before the 1970s heated with oil. If we see signs of past oil heat, such as a fill pipe, vent or cut-off lines in the basement, we recommend a scan by a specialist before subject removal. Newer homes usually don’t need one.
Why does drainage come up so often on the North Shore?
Steep lots and heavy rain mean a lot of water moves past every house. Most basement moisture we see here traces back to gutters, downspouts, grading or old perimeter drains, which is why the report follows the water from the roof to the street.
Services in North Vancouver
Neighbourhoods
- Lower Lonsdale
- Central & Upper Lonsdale
- Lynn Valley
- Edgemont & Capilano
- Seymour & Blueridge
- Deep Cove
- Canyon Heights
- Norgate & Pemberton
Or call or text 604-315-9600
Send the address. We’ll take it from there.
Most inspections are booked within a day or two. If you’re in a subject-removal window, say so.