Home Inspection

Home Inspector in
Dollard-des-Ormeaux

DDO, as residents call it, is one of the most populous cities on the West Island. Its diverse housing stock — bungalows, cottages, townhouses — reflects three decades of intensive suburban development between 1970 and 2000.

Housing Profile

DDO: residential
diversity.

Dollard-des-Ormeaux offers a complete range of housing types. Older areas to the south feature 1970s bungalows, while northern and eastern neighbourhoods contain more recent 1990s construction. This diversity demands an in-depth knowledge of each construction era and its characteristic materials.

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1970s bungalows

DDO's earliest developments feature bungalows with finished basements. These 50-year-old homes often have their original roof, windows and mechanical systems. Basement finishes sometimes conceal chronic moisture problems.

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1980s-90s cottages

Two-storey homes from this period use wood framing with brick or vinyl cladding. Multi-slope roofs create valleys prone to ice buildup in winter and to leaks.

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Standard suburban systems

Mechanical systems are typical of the suburbs: gas forced-air heating, central air conditioning, gas water heater. Copper and ABS plumbing is standard, with lifespans now reaching their limits.

Soil & Foundations

The ground beneath
DDO.

DDO sits on glacial deposits of clay and till. Some areas developed in the 1970s-80s used backfill containing pyrite beneath basement slabs. This mineral swells on contact with moisture and oxygen, heaving floors and cracking foundations — a costly problem that still affects some DDO properties.

✓Pyrite risk — Some backfill beneath basement slabs contains pyrite. Swelling causes floor heaving, wall cracking and damage to finishes. An IPPG test can confirm the risk.

✓Clay soil — Champlain Sea clay beneath the till layer swells and shrinks seasonally. This movement causes foundation cracks and progressive differential settlement.

✓Perimeter drainage — Weeping tiles from the 1970s-80s are reaching end of life. Sediment buildup and tree roots reduce their effectiveness, increasing water pressure on foundations.

✓Sump pump — Many DDO homes rely on a sump pump to evacuate groundwater. We check its operation, age and whether a battery backup is installed for power outages.

Common Findings

What we find
in DDO.

After numerous inspections in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, here are the problems we identify most often in this city's properties.

✓Slab heaving (pyrite) — Bumpy basement floors, basement wall cracks and doors that no longer close are classic signs of pyrite swelling in the backfill beneath the slab.

✓Multilayer roofing — Some homes have had multiple layers of shingles applied over the years. Excessive weight and lack of underlying ventilation accelerate deterioration and can overload the structure.

✓Deficient attic ventilation — Homes from the 1970s-80s often have insufficient attic ventilation, causing condensation, mold on roof sheathing and ice dam formation.

✓Aging exterior cladding — Vinyl from the 1980s-90s becomes brittle, while brick may show cracks and deteriorated mortar joints requiring repointing.

✓Aging central air conditioning — AC compressors over 15 years old lose efficiency. Units using R-22 (Freon) are obsolete and expensive to recharge since the refrigerant was banned.

✓Basement insulation — Basements finished in the 1970s-80s often use a polyethylene vapour barrier on foundation walls, trapping moisture and fostering hidden mold growth behind finishes.

Neighborhoods Served

DDO,
in detail.

We inspect properties in every area of Dollard-des-Ormeaux, including:

South DDO

Older area, 1970s bungalows, near Sources Boulevard

North DDO

1980s-90s developments, cottages and townhouses

Westpark

Family residential neighbourhood, single-family homes, quiet streets

Brunswick Area

Near shops, diverse housing, recent condos

Our Services

Inspections available in
Dollard-des-Ormeaux.

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Pre-Purchase Inspection

Starting at $650 +tax

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Condo Inspection

Starting at $550 +tax

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Pre-Sale Inspection

Custom quote

FAQ

Questions about
DDO.

What types of homes are found in DDO?+

DDO offers great variety: 1970s bungalows, 1980s two-storey cottages, townhouses and more recent condos. Each type presents its own inspection challenges related to construction age and materials.

Do DDO homes have pyrite problems?+

Some DDO areas were affected by pyrite swelling in foundation backfill. Pyrite swells on contact with moisture, causing slab heaving. We check for signs of heaving and recommend testing if necessary.

How long does an inspection in DDO take?+

A residential inspection in DDO takes between 2.5 and 4 hours depending on property size. DDO single-family homes being medium to large, allow approximately 3 hours for a complete inspection.

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