Roof — 4 risks Chimney — 3 risks Gutters — 3 risks Doors & windows — 4 risks Plumbing — 4 risks Heating — 3 risks Electrical — 4 risks Basement & foundation — 4 risks Well & septic — 4 risks Deck & dock — 4 risks Trees & grounds — 3 risks Driveway & access — 3 risks Power line — 3 risks Fridge & freezer — 4 risks Pets — 3 risks Wildlife — 5 risks Click any part of the property.
Where to start? Every marker on the house opens the list of what can go wrong there in the season you picked — and what we do about it.
Roof 4 risks Chimney 3 risks Gutters 3 risks Doors & windows 4 risks Plumbing 4 risks Heating 3 risks Electrical 4 risks Basement & foundation 4 risks Well & septic 4 risks Deck & dock 4 risks Trees & grounds 3 risks Driveway & access 3 risks Power line 3 risks Fridge & freezer 4 risks Pets 3 risks Wildlife 5 risks ← All parts Roof Ice dams Winter
Snow melts over the heated part of the roof, refreezes at the edge and builds a wall. Water then backs up under the shingles and ends up in the ceiling.
Who we bring in: Roofer · Snow removal Heavy snow load Winter
After a big snowfall followed by rain, waterlogged snow gets heavy. A very uneven load is visible from the ground — if someone is there to look.
Who we bring in: Snow removal · Roofer Shingles torn off by wind Spring Summer Fall
A strong gust lifts a few shingles or shifts a metal panel. Nobody sees it, and the next rains get in through the gap for weeks.
Who we bring in: Roofer Leaks at the thaw Spring
The thaw reveals what winter damaged: a new stain on a top-floor ceiling, blistering paint around a skylight.
Who we bring in: Roofer Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Chimney Leaking flashing Spring Summer Fall
The seal between chimney and roof works loose with every freeze and thaw. Once it cracks, water runs down the chimney, inside the walls.
Who we bring in: Roofer · Mason Nest or animal in the flue Spring Summer
Birds and raccoons love an unused chimney. The first fire of the season then fills the house with smoke.
Who we bring in: Chimney sweep · Wildlife removal Chimney sweep forgotten Fall
Creosote builds up from one season to the next. We remind you before fire season and line up the chimney sweep.
Who we bring in: Chimney sweep Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Gutters Clogged with leaves Fall
A gutter full of leaves overflows at the first fall rain, then freezes solid — feeding winter’s ice dams.
Who we bring in: Exterior maintenance Torn down by ice Winter
The weight of ice and icicles pulls a whole section loose. In spring, water then pours straight down at the foundation.
Who we bring in: Roofer Disconnected downspout Spring Summer
A blocked or knocked-loose downspout sends water toward the house instead of away from it. The basement pays for it.
Who we bring in: Exterior maintenance Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Doors & windows Signs of a break-in All seasons
A visibly empty house draws attention. Pry marks, a damaged lock, footprints leading to a window: the sooner it’s seen, the shorter the list of what’s missing.
Who we bring in: Locksmith · Carpenter Broken window Summer Winter
A branch, summer-storm hail, ice sliding off the roof. A window open to the weather lets in rain, snow and animals.
Who we bring in: Glazier Frost and condensation Winter
Heavy frost on the inside of the glass, water pooling on the sills: the wood darkens, then rots below the window.
Who we bring in: Carpenter · Heating technician Door that won’t close Winter Spring
Frost shifts the frame: a door that rubs ends up not latching, and the wind does the rest.
Who we bring in: Carpenter Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Plumbing Frozen pipes that burst Winter
The costliest damage in an empty cottage: a pipe freezes, splits, and runs as soon as it warms up — sometimes for days before anyone arrives.
Who we bring in: Plumber Slow leak under a sink All seasons
A drip at a fitting makes no noise. Three weeks later the cabinet floor is swollen and mould has started.
Who we bring in: Plumber Leaking water heater All seasons
Rust at the base, water in the pan, drip marks under the valve: a failing water heater empties its tank into the basement.
Who we bring in: Plumber A rough water turn-on Spring
Turn the water back on too fast, without checking, and the fitting that split over winter starts to run — while you’re still in the city.
Who we bring in: Plumber Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Heating Furnace or heat pump down Winter
An error code, a cold baseboard, and the house slowly drifts toward freezing. It’s where almost every winter disaster starts.
Who we bring in: Heating technician Propane or oil tank runs dry Winter Fall
The level drops faster than planned, or the truck can’t get up a snowed-in driveway. No delivery, no heat.
Who we bring in: Propane or oil supplier · Snow removal Thermostat setting changed All seasons
A setting changed by a guest, a blank display after an outage: the house is no longer at the temperature you agreed on.
Who we bring in: Heating technician Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Electrical An outage nobody noticed Winter Summer
Ice storms in winter, thunderstorms in summer. When power comes back nothing looks wrong… except blinking clocks, a thawed freezer, and heating that didn’t always restart.
Who we bring in: Electrician Tripped breaker All seasons
The heating, water-heater or pump circuit. We spot it through the panel door and call you — nothing is reset without your go-ahead.
Who we bring in: Electrician Chewed wiring Fall Winter
Mice moving in for the winter chew cords and wires. A burning smell or a scorched outlet should never wait.
Who we bring in: Electrician · Pest control Silent alarms All seasons
Low battery, dark indicator, unit pulled off its base: the smoke or carbon-monoxide alarm no longer protects anyone.
Who we bring in: Electrician Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Basement & foundation Water in the basement at the melt Spring
Snowmelt and April rains saturate the ground. Water finds the smallest crack in the foundation.
Who we bring in: Drainage contractor · Plumber Sump pump failure Spring Summer
A stuck float, an unplugged cord, or an outage during the storm — and the pit overflows at the exact moment it should be pumping.
Who we bring in: Plumber Humidity and mould Summer
In summer a closed-up basement turns damp. Musty smell, spots on the lower walls, softened boxes: we track the hygrometer trend, visit after visit.
Who we bring in: Drainage contractor Pests moving in Fall Winter
With the first cold nights, mice and squirrels look for shelter. Droppings, disturbed insulation, chewed holes: better seen in October than in May.
Who we bring in: Pest control Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Well & septic Well pump cycling on its own All seasons
Every tap is closed, yet the pump keeps starting: there is a leak somewhere in the house.
Who we bring in: Well technician · Plumber Well water worth testing Spring
After the melt or a flood, well water can change. Cloudy or smelly water in spring deserves a lab test before anyone drinks it.
Who we bring in: Water-testing lab · Well technician Septic tank due for pumping Summer Fall
Pumping follows a schedule set by your municipality. Miss it and it ends in a backup — usually on the weekend the house is full.
Who we bring in: Septic contractor Frozen septic line Winter
Little water flowing, little snow to insulate the ground: the line between house and tank can freeze in winter.
Who we bring in: Septic contractor Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Deck & dock Dock shoved by the ice Spring
At break-up, moving ice lifts posts and twists any dock sections left in the water.
Who we bring in: Dock installer Dock and furniture left out Fall
Whatever stays out spends winter under snow and ice: dock sections, chairs, kayaks, a garden hose still full of water.
Who we bring in: Dock installer · Exterior maintenance Rotten boards, loose railing Summer Spring
Deck wood moves from season to season. A soft board or a wobbly railing is an accident waiting for your guests.
Who we bring in: Carpenter Snow piled on the deck Winter
Snow piles up against the patio door and melts at the threshold — the water ends up under the door.
Who we bring in: Snow removal Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Trees & grounds Branch on the roof or the lines All seasons
Ice storm, heavy snow, high winds: a branch comes down on the roof, the car or the power line. Someone from the team stops by after the storm, documents it, and you know.
Who we bring in: Arborist · Electrician Dead tree leaning in Summer Fall
A dead tree over the house will come down one day. Better the arborist in September than the roofer in January.
Who we bring in: Arborist Runoff toward the house Spring
At the thaw, surface water takes the shortest path — too often toward the foundation.
Who we bring in: Drainage contractor Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Driveway & access Driveway snowed in Winter
The propane truck can’t get through, nor can emergency services. And your Friday-night arrival ends at the side of the road.
Who we bring in: Snow removal Mail and parcels piling up All seasons
An overflowing mailbox and parcels on the step tell everyone that nobody’s home.
Blocked culvert, washed-out driveway Spring Fall
Leaves in fall, ice in spring: the culvert clogs and water carves up the gravel driveway.
Who we bring in: Drainage contractor Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Power line Branches brushing the line Summer Fall
A branch touching the wire will tear it down at the first ice storm. Nobody should trim near a line themselves: we bring in a qualified line-clearance arborist, and Hydro-Québec when it’s their network.
Who we bring in: Line-clearance arborist · Hydro-Québec Service mast torn off Winter
Ice weight or a fallen tree pulls on the wire and rips the mast off the house. The mast belongs to the owner: a master electrician repairs it, then Hydro-Québec reconnects.
Who we bring in: Electrician · Hydro-Québec Wire down on the ground Winter Summer
After an ice storm or a thunderstorm, a wire can end up in the snow or grass. We keep our distance, report it to Hydro-Québec and let you know — the house may have been without power for hours.
Who we bring in: Hydro-Québec Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Fridge & freezer Fridge or freezer failure All seasons
A dying compressor makes no noise. We open them and check they’re cold — the kitchen fridge and the basement freezer alike.
Who we bring in: Appliance repair Food spoiled after an outage Winter Summer
Power comes back and nothing looks wrong — but the freezer thawed and refroze. Meat and fish to throw out, and a smell that settles in for good if nobody empties it.
Food left behind Summer Fall
A bag of flour, fruit on the counter, a bin that didn’t go out: enough to draw mice and ants long before you’re back.
Who we bring in: Pest control Arriving to an empty fridge All seasons
Three hours on the road, the grocery store closed. The basics can be waiting in the fridge, with the heat already up.
Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Pets A pet that can’t come with you All seasons
The cat that lives at the cottage, the dog that hates the drive: we stop by to feed, refresh the water, clean the litter, walk — and the photo is in the report.
Who we bring in: Local veterinarian An outage with a pet inside Winter Summer
Heat out in January, air conditioning down in July: for a pet alone, a few hours matter. We stop by, fix the temperature, and call you.
Who we bring in: Local veterinarian Ticks, skunks and porcupines Spring Summer Fall
The countryside has its encounters: ticks after a walk, a skunk spray, porcupine quills. We spot it, we tell you, and we know where the vet is.
Who we bring in: Local veterinarian Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
← All parts Wildlife Bears and raccoons in the bins Spring Summer Fall
One badly closed bin and the yard is strewn with trash by morning. A bear that found food once comes back.
Who we bring in: Wildlife removal Skunk or groundhog under the deck Spring Summer
A hole dug at the foot of the deck or the shed, freshly turned earth: someone is moving in for the season.
Who we bring in: Wildlife removal Squirrels or bats in the attic Fall Winter
Noises in the ceiling, a damaged soffit, marks on the siding. Bats are protected in Quebec: we bring in a specialist, no improvising.
Who we bring in: Wildlife removal Porcupine chewing the wood Winter Spring
It loves the salt in treated wood: steps, deck, corners of the shed. The damage grows night after night.
Who we bring in: Wildlife removal · Carpenter Beavers at the shore Spring Fall
Trees gnawed near the shore, a dam raising the water up to the dock: by a lake, a beaver reshapes the landscape in a single season.
Who we bring in: Wildlife removal · Arborist Nothing in particular this season — but we still look at it on every visit.
Mr. Lantern runs it all: someone from the team makes the visit, and we connect you with the right pro — RBQ-licensed where the trade requires it.
