Building inspector in the
West Island

Montreal's West Island occupies the western tip of the island, bordered to the south by Lac Saint-Louis and to the north by the Rivière des Prairies. The terrain features varied geology: Canadian Shield rock outcrops in some areas (Beaconsfield, parts of Kirkland), marine clay in flat areas (Pierrefonds, Dorval), and sandy deposits along the shores. This geological diversity, combined with a housing stock dominated by 1950s-1980s bungalows and cottages, creates unique inspection conditions. West Island lots are typically larger than Montreal-average — longer French drain runs, more roof surface area, and bigger attic spaces to inspect. Several West Island municipalities demerged from Montreal in 2006, which means different permit regimes and building code enforcement than Montreal boroughs. Water runoff on bedrock lots behaves differently from clay-soil drainage: instead of absorbing into the ground, water follows the rock surface toward foundations, making grading and surface drainage critical. Homeowners considering a sale should look into preparing for a pre-sale inspection early.

West Island properties present specific challenges related to their age, water proximity and mature lots. A thorough pre-purchase inspection is especially important for these mature properties. Here are our most frequent findings.