RJ Miller Building Professionals Inc. - Inspection & Design

01/06/2026

You may be surprised to know that fake Google reviews are a real thing. I receive emails every week promising “guaranteed positive reviews” that promise to push me to the top of search results. As a small business owner, I find this deeply frustrating—not just because the practice is dishonest, but because it actively misleads the public, and the security of their own homes is at stake.

I suspect I know which home inspection companies are participating in these review scams, and I have scrutinized their reports (missing 75% of information and serious misses at that). In an industry where trust, competence, and accountability matter, gaming the system to hide poor service is especially troubling. I refuse to take part in this behaviour. My business relies on real work, real clients, and real feedback.

12/12/2024

Where does your home's rainwater go, and how much is it?

Looking at our recent weather data, the St. John's area has accumulated a 1/2 metre of rain: 163.8 mm in October, 325.4 mm in November, and, as of yesterday, 77.4 mm in December. An average home with a 1300 sq. ft. building area and 16" of overhang, would collect approximately 74 630 litres of water during this period. That's enough to fill ~10% of the interior volume of the same home, 500 bathtubs, or 7 tanker trucks.

If your home collects water from the gutters and redirects it below grade, it may overload the weeping tile system which is typically designed to handle only groundwater seepage. An overloaded system may have consequences for the property as well as straining local infrastructure, with resulting storm surge contributing to backups and flooding.

Redirect your downspouts to a grade sloping away from the foundation. If this is not possible, consult with a qualified designer for alternatives to disperse water or use a catchment system.

10/13/2024

Moving past traditional builds makes a lot of sense.

While the newly developed storm-proof homes have endured a few storms since people moved in last year, Hurricanes Helene and Milton put those features to the test.

10/16/2023

The Province has announced programs to improve the availability of affordable housing. Key points:

1. Removal of the GST/HST on new purpose-built rental housing.
2. Low interest financing program for rental construction projects.
3. A first-time home ownership assistance program.
4. (Pilot Project) A secondary suite (apartment) 50% loan up to $40k for renovations.

The Provincial Government today introduced a five-point plan designed to increase the availability of housing that is affordable in Newfoundland and Labrador by helping stimulate private sector development and stabilize or reduce housing prices. Through the targeted actions, valued at more... Read M...

12/08/2022

The standard of care among home inspectors has a wide range; take steps to find a good one.

1. Check sample reports for unambiguous written explanations. Does it drive home the implications of each deficiency? Are the recommendations clearly stated.

2. Check what education and experience the inspector has. Is it relevant?

3. Ask if the inspector will review the final, written, report. Is the inspector invested in your experience and available to support you when questions arise?

4. Ask if they follow the Canadian Standards Association home inspection standard (CAN/CSA A770-16).

5. Ask if they are a member of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors.

Stephen Densmore faces lawsuits and an unpaid judgment but defends his work.

06/27/2022

Schneider Electric has announced a product recall affecting a popular distribution panel, manufacturer between 2020 and 2022, originating from one specific manufacturing plant. Follow the instructions to check if your panel may be included and to request free servicing.

https://www.se.com/us/en/work/products/local/safety-notices/2022/qo-pon-loadcenters/

09/10/2021

This is both a caution about extreme winds, and a nod to the engineers who have so many considerations when designing safe and durable buildings: nature is extremely powerful and engineering is absolutely essential.

Our residential build environment is designed using maximum hourly sustained wind pressures, for either 1 in 10, or 1 in 50 year periods. For the St. John's area, that is 0.6 kPa and 0.78 kPa, respectively (or approximately 110 and 125 km/h sustained winds). For example, the maximum area for factory-sealed insulated glass units (i.e. glazing in vinyl windows), for which the 1 in 50 year hourly wind pressure is less than 1.00 kPa, is 1.31 square metres (NBCC Table 9. 6. 1. 3.-C). Therefore a typical 3' 6" high window, with 4mm glass, should have sealed units roughly no greater than 4' wide. (Don't panic, larger windows may have thicker glass.)

What about faster winds? There are also tables for 0.75 kPa and 0.55 kPa, which represent less windy areas, but there are no generalized tables available for greater hourly wind pressures. If we experienced wind speeds above 141.48 km/h (not adjusted for air density), the wind pressure would be greater than the 1 in 50 year table for 1.00 kPa. If such wind speeds were in fact part of the current 1 in 50 year maximums, all window glazing would have to be designed using the CAN/CGSB-12.20-M,
“Structural Design of Glass for Buildings,” and the wind load provisions in the National Building Code Article 4. 1. 7. 3, for each window. In other words, every window must be engineered. But that is not currently the case.

There are similar 1-in-50 hourly wind pressure criteria for roof rafters and trusses, fasteners, wall and roof sheathing, wall to foundation anchor bolt spacing, etc.

What does this all mean? If the wind speeds are higher, the storm is going to damage things that were expected to withstand the wind pressure. Not just the things that were in poor condition or inadequately constructed, but the good stuff.

It doesn't hurt to be prepared; please do so.

09/09/2021

With Hurricane Larry set to travel across the Avalon Peninsula with tropical storm force winds, here are my thoughts on potential damages to asphalt shingle roofs, and recommendations, including on what you should specify if a replacement roof should be necessary.

In 2010, Hurricane Igor caused 120 km/h winds and Insurance Bureau of Canada described Igor as one of Newfoundland’s most damaging storms: losses were about $65 million. As of 9:22 AM, Thursday, September 9th, Hurricane Larry is expected to deliver sustained winds near 120 km/h, with gusts up to 130 km/h.

Obviously we can expect this storm will bring extreme, damage causing winds. Roof planes with the most exposure to winds are at the highest risk, and shingles that are not laying flat are more likely to be damaged.

1. If your roof is at greater risk, take additional precautions to protect property that may be damaged due to the loss of the roof's ability shed water, such as covering or moving property.

Typically manufactures have exclusions in their limited warranties. For example: "Exclusions and Limitations: 1. Any damage that occurs during or after any improper application process, including one that fails to follow [the manufacturer's] printed application instructions." This means that your warranty may not be valid if the contractor does not follow both the manufacturer's directions, as well as that required by the National Building Code of Canada, and other applicable standards.

Unfortunately some roofs may require replacement. When hiring a contractor to install a new roof, it is important that the home owner verifies the contractor will follow the installation instructions. Furthermore, the homeowner should specify that high wind installation methods must be followed because this may also limit roof warranty, and also because it is uncommon for installers to do so. (If you lived in Newfoundland for any amount of time, you know the average windy day can blow the milk out of a cup of tea.)

2. Specify that the installer must follow application instructions (this may also include requirements for underlayment, high wind installation methods, starter strips, and additional adhesive).

3. Specify that the installer must follow the National Building Code of Canada, current edition (especially Section 9.26 - Roofing).

4. Specify that eaves protection is installed as per the NBCC 9.26.5.1, and extended, if required by the manufacturer. (Typically this is 300 to 600 mm beyond the interior surface of the exterior wall.)

5. Specify that shingles are installed following the optional directions for high wind installation methods. (See CASMA Technical Bulletin #11.)

6. Specify an underlayment is installed for the entire roof. (See CASMA Technical Bulletin #3.)

7. Specify the installation of a drip and rake edges. Note: This is often absent from roofs, and may require coordination with an eavestroughing installer to make the metal brake shapes. (See CASMA Technical Bulletin #25.)

8. Specify open valley installations where two roof planes meet. This is more durable than a closed valley (where shingles run continuously across the intersection of two roof planes). (See NBCC 9. 26. 4. 3)

9. Specify step flashing--not a continuous strip--at all raked roof to wall intersections (often this is where a sloped garage roof meets a second floor wall). Step flashing is required by the National Building Code, sentence 9. 26. 4. 5 (3).

10. Specify that a kick flashing is used where the bottom of a sloped roof ends before an adjacent wall. Water must be directed away from the wall such that it doesn't enter behind the cladding.

11. Obtain permits. Your municipal building inspector is your first resource should serious deficiencies in the installation be found.

12. Get it in writing.

13. Be prepared to pay more. The generally accepted standard roof installation, in this region, may not meet or exceed the requirements set by manufacturers or code requirements. Contractors may have increased costs in order to install the roof according to these specifications (correctly).

14. Let your friends and family know, especially #13. Our windy rainy province needs better roof installations.

If you have any questions, write them below. Good luck weathering the storm. - Robert Miller

11/13/2020

TL;DR Digital thermostats are great, and you can get them for cheap.

A bi-metal manual thermostat has a ±2º to 5ºC temperature swing, while a digital thermostat is just 0.5ºC. The occupant's perceived greater thermal comfort results in lower temperature set points; you're comfortable so the thermostat doesn't get turned up. It is that lower setting that is the greatest factor in energy savings.

Another way to look at heat loss (Q) is by using the general heat loss formula: Q = u-value * area * Δtemperature. A typical 2x4 wall assembly has a u-value of 1/2, or 0.5 W/(m^2⋅Kelvins), so for a given 1 sq. metre. area, heat loss increases linearly as such:

Δ1ºC = 1/2W
Δ2ºC = 1W
Δ3ºC = 1.5W
Δ4ºC = 2W

What you may have noticed is that rolling back a thermostat can result in savings, because you change Δtemperature, and re-heating does not consume all your savings because you don't heat beyond you thermostat set point (in a simplified model). In reality, the wall temperature above the heater is much higher when re-heating, so the Δtemperature does increase.

In short, you can save some money here, but be modest about your roll back temperature. I'll post again some day and discuss the risk of condensation, relative humidity, and dew point (i.e. excessive roll backs cause their own problems).

A maximum of 4ºC is my personal observation from reviewing hundred's of properties. Less, or none, if the property is relatively humid (see what I did there?).

* An R-12 wall has an RSI of 2.11, and the u-value is a reciprocal, 1/2.11.

The average home has over 25 light bulbs. If you switch your whole home from incandescent to LED bulbs, you could save about $60 a year.

03/23/2020

RJ Miller Building Professionals Inc. is excited to announce supporting COVID-19 medical research by contributing to the Folding@home distributed computing project. Everyone is welcome to join the team.

March 22, 2020. Supporting Medical Research RJ Miller Building Professionals Inc. is supporting the Folding@home distributed computing project—that is working hard to develop new simulations of COVID-19 proteins—by donating idle computer time from its web and mail servers, and desktop computers....