Frequently Asked Questions
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"Just prior to the drywall being installed,
Barr homes takes the client through the home
so they can get a feel for the room sizes and
to make any changes the customer may require."
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Are my
telephone & cable lines
finished off? |
Yes, your telephone and cable lines
are finished off with proper plates. The connecting ends
are terminated where the underground services come in so
connections of both of these services are quick and easy. |
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When is the
landscaping finished
with my new home? |
Landscaping and sod are done as
weather and conditions of the subdivision allow. We try to
get it done as soon as possible but there are sometimes
delays. |
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What do you do to help control
squeaks in my new floor? |
During construction we use 3 methods
to help control squeaks. We use plywood sub-floors, we
glue each sheet down and then finally we screw each sheet
down while the glue is still tacky so there is a better
connection. Even though we follow all these steps to help
control noise issues, due to the Canadian climate and
drying out of lumber it is not always possible to obtain a
squeak free floor and they are a natural part of our
Canadian climate. |
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How do I set up my
postal service &
get my postal code? |
Please contact Canada Post at
www.canadapost.ca |
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What system do you use for
waterproofing the foundation? |
We use the BullDog Waterproofing
system, which is not a “damp” proofing but an actual water
proofing system. |
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Can I
customize my house? |
Absolutely. We can accommodate small
changes or complete customization of your new home. For
more information on that please contact us at
info@barrhomes.ca |
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My windows have
condensation on
them. What should I do? |
If your house has an HRV installed
just use your controls to lower the humidity in the house.
If not, please click here for helpful tips to prevent
condensation.
If warm moist air inside the house comes in contact with
the window glazing on a cold day, moisture may condense on
the windowpane at the edges of the glass near the frame.
On very cold days, condensation may freeze, forming ice.
You need to ensure moist air in your home is removed at
its source. Run the HRV or bathroom fan on high for 15
minutes after a shower and use the range hood when
stovetop cooking to lower humidity levels. |
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Why is the
foundation cracked? |
As is the case with floor slabs,
concrete foundation walls crack as a result of shrinkage
and/or settlement. Generally cracks do not indicate a
defect, and do not leak. If you detect leakage at a
foundation crack, contact the Service Department. |
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Why is the
garage floor or porch
floor starting to flake? |
Salt, combined with the winter
freeze/thaw cycles, can cause serious erosion to concrete
surfaces. Most often the front edge of the garage floor is
affected. It is important to keep these areas clean and to
apply a suitable sealer to the concrete once a year to
prevent salt damage. |
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AIR CONDITIONING |
My air conditioner does not work.
The house is not cooling down.
Ensure that you check the following before calling:
* Thermostat is set to “cool” and at least 5 degrees below
the house temperature.
* Breaker switch is fully in the “on” position.
* Exterior wall switch (located near the A/C unit) is on.
If the unit still does not start up, please contact your
service rep. Remember that the air conditioner takes time
to cool off the house. Sustained high outdoor temperatures
will cause the indoor temperature to rise temporarily. You
can save on cooling costs by closing window coverings
during the day. |
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FIREPLACE
Why is the fireplace giving off a burning smell? |
The burning smell is normal for a
new fireplace. It is the oil left on the unit from the
manufacturing process and it needs to burn off. The best
thing to do is leave your fireplace on for six hours
continuously to burn the oil off. You may need to open
some windows to keep the smoke alarms from sounding. The
fireplace pilot light went out and I can’t get it to
light. The proper instructions for relighting the pilot
light are located on a plate behind the lower grille of
the fireplace. |
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ELECTRICAL |
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Why are the
outside plugs not
working? |
The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
(GFCI) has probably tripped. The GFCI outlet is located by
the front door or in the garage. Reset it by pushing the
small reset button on the outlet. If the GFCI is not
tripped, check the circuit breaker in the main electrical
panel. |
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Why is the plug not working in the
Main Bathroom or Ensuite Bathroom?
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The GFCI in the powder room has
probably tripped. The reset button needs to be pushed to
restore power to all three bathroom plugs. |
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Why is the
ESA sticker on the
breaker panel not signed? |
Once the Final Electrical Inspection
has passed, the ESA will forward the paperwork to Barr
Homes’s
electrician. The sticker on the panel is not normally
signed as part of this process. |
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FOUNDATION
Why has the front porch slab (basement floor slab, garage
floor slab) cracked? |
As the concrete cures and hardens, it shrinks and may
crack. Settlement and changes in temperature also
contribute to cracking.
Generally cracks do not indicate a defect and do not
require repair. Floor slabs are not a structural component
of your home. |
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EXTERIOR
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Why has my front
walkway sunk down a few inches after the
snow melted? |
This is due to the normal settlement of the backfill
around the house. Barr Homes will repair this type of
settlement, once, at the
time of the year-end service repairs. If your year-end
repairs happen during a winter month, the repair will be
delayed until the
following spring. |
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Why are there no survey
pegs on my lot? |
Survey markings may no longer be visible after the lot is
graded and landscaped. Please do not use wooden stakes as
evidence of lot lines. A survey certificate, included in
your Sales Agreement, may be helpful. Alternatively a
surveyor can accurately mark
out your lot lines. |
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CLOSING DAY
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Where do I get my house
keys? |
Keys will be available from your lawyer on closing day.
You will also need to bring the Certificate of Completion
and Possession (Tarion Warranty Certificate) given to you
at the Pre-Delivery Inspection. |
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Where are my
garage door keys? |
If your lawyer did not give them to you, they are hanging
on a nail inside the garage beside the door. |
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Can I
schedule things such as movers, phone connection,
appliances etc. for closing day? |
We recommend that you do not. The closing process and
transfer of the keys normally happens in the afternoon of
closing day. It may save you time and money to schedule
these things a day or more later. |
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Where do I pick up my
mail? |
Canada Post will provide you with this information on
their web site or by calling them at 1 866 607 6301. |
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Where can I get a set of
plans or blueprints for my house? |
Barr Homes does not provide working drawings or house
plans. If you require this type of information, plans are
available for your viewing at the sales office. |
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REPAIRS |
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I just moved in and the
repairs from my Pre-Delivery List
are not complete. When will they be rectified? |
Unless they are of an emergency nature, we would prefer to
wait until you submit your 30 day list. |
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If I want to hire a Private Home
Inspector, whom should I
get? |
Selecting a home inspector is an important decision. We
suggest you to select someone registered with the Ontario
Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) who is trained and carries
proper insurance. The OAHI sets qualification
requirements, regulates its members and grants the
“Registered Home Inspector” designation to qualified
inspectors. Registered members of the OAHI have achieved
the highest standard of training, education, and expertise
in the home inspection industry. A list of qualified home
inspectors is on their website at
www.oahi.com |
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INTERIOR |
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Why are there gaps between the hardwood
floorboards? |
Hardwood is a natural wood product and changes in
dimension with changes in humidity. Lower humidity levels
may cause the boards to visibly shrink. |
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Why are the hardwood
boards puckering and showing ridges? |
Hardwood is a natural wood product and expands in width
when the environment is humid. If the boards do not have
room to expand, they push upward with a visible pucker or
cupping. Proper control of the indoor humidity levels will
prevent this from happening. |
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Who should I call if I have
questions about the
construction or service at my house? |
Your primary contact is always your Customer Care
Representative at 613-542-4922 |
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Why is there no air return
duct in all the bedrooms? |
The KVAC Contractor calculates the size and location of
the supply ducts and air return vents after the floor
plans are drawn up by the architect. The location and
number of actually installed vents does not always
correspond to what is show on the architect’s floor plans. |
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CONSTRUCTION |
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Can I
visit the house during construction?
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No. For safety and insurance reasons this is not allowed.
You will have an opportunity to visit the home with our
site supervisor prior to installation of the drywall, and
again with our inspector prior to closing. |
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There does not seem to be any
progress on the construction
of our house lately. Why? |
Construction progress is affected by factors such as
permit availability, trade schedules, material delivery,
and weather.
There may be times when progress appears to be at a
standstill, and other times when a lot of progress is made
very quickly. |
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When can I pave my
driveway? |
The backfill around the house needs time to settle. It is
best to wait for close to a year before paving in order to
avoid future settlement problems. Normally, driveway
paving begins in the month of June each year and finishes
by October. |
