Cooper Admin & Consulting

03/17/2025

With the sun peeking out more these days and spring on the horizon, it reminds us that our house might need some TLC. I created this list based on inspections I have done over the years and what are necessary to keep your home in optimal shape. Happy Maintenance!

02/16/2025

Remember to grab that shovel and keep those vents clear from snow at the side of your house people, stay safe and sound!

07/06/2023

When you have an older home, keeping up with its maintenance is important. In one month alone, we replaced failing windows, replaced a furnace, and updated the railing stain. Sanding the railing from its clear coat look is an important step or else the new stain won't adhere. I learned some new life hacks along the way to speed up the process. ...now to finish this last stretch!

02/08/2023

If you've ever thought about using spray paint to refresh your vanities, here are my notes. It will look nice....eventually. But, prepare yourself for the smell and the spray. Even with protecting the surfaces, that mist will find its way onto the walls, windows, etc. And even with proper ventilation and a room filtration device, doing it in the winter is not advised. The next one I do will be straight painting...in the spring.

02/08/2023

Don't forget to clean out your washer traps! It matters. I found tags, hair elastics, and money in this last cleaning.

03/28/2022

I graduated! I am a Certified Home Inspector!

10 modules, 33 case studies, 10 mid-terms, 10 finals, and over 30 field exercises in Roofing, A/C and Heat Pumps, Heating I, Heating II, Electrical, Plumbing, Insulation & Interiors, Exterior, Structure, and Communication and Professional Practice. Where do I begin to thank all those who helped me get here!

Thank you to the Ontario Coalition for Indigenous Peoples who granted me the scholarship to apply and sharpen my skills in residential construction, an industry that I love!

Thank you to my family-Casey, CJ, and Emily for your unwavering encouragement.

Thank you to the school-Carson Dunlop, and especially Khalida and Paul for your guidance.

Thank you to the many others who helped me with the practical components:

Rick Claeys-my brother, who helped with the first course of roofing, and helped me overcome the first exam jitters.

Wm. Green Roofing-for letting me be a part of your workshop.

Rona-Aaron, Jason, Steve, Lisa, Robbie, for letting me ask you lots of questions and letting me loiter in the store researching materials.

Oosterveld Heating and Air Conditioning-probably the toughest of all of the modules, and you guys lent your expertise without hesitation.

Priority Mechanical-such a great bunch and would pass along my questions to whoever was the best person to answer it.

Worton Homes, and by extension Chris Johnson, the site super-who let me go into the homes and just "inspect".

Core Electric-Corey and his team were more patient with me than I deserved.

Tricar trades and service team-your continued support in my learning is unconditional.

Kris Bartlett-so rare to find a plumber who has a spare minute to help answer basic questions.

Chris Catteau-City of Guelph Building Inspector and so much more, your knowledge about all things housing are invaluable.

Joanne Cofell-my mom, who has the best learner house and let me pick her house apart:)

Jackie Curtis-realtor and friend, who gave me insight along this journey.

Andrew Somerville-realtor and friend, who gave me opportunities to learn about accessory apartments in old homes.

If I have missed anyone for their support, my heartfelt apologies. I share this accolade with you all.

01/13/2022

Yesterday, I had an unsettling conversation with the guidance counselor at my daughter's school, John F. Ross. She had sent an email to my daughter saying her welding and manufacturing class had been cancelled and to pick something else. Since the pandemic, this is the third time that Emily has had to choose something else or settle with a spare (no other solutions offered). She has missed an intro to welding, fine woodworking, and now this!

I had had enough and reached out to the teacher directly, Mr. John Rota. He was upset on my behalf and went above and beyond, to his union leader, and the head of his department and said he would take Emily into his grade 11 class and teach her the grade 12 curriculum. When I asked the guidance counselor why she wasn't pushing harder for our skilled trades classes to go forward, she said it was all about "the numbers" for the superintendents who made this call to "collapse" this skilled trade course. There were 12 other kids signed up with Emily. Thirteen kids, this would mean a construction site would have enough bodies to finish a build on time. How can they say that number is insignificant?

The school boards are not listening to the reports, they are not getting the information from the right places or their funding model is badly broken in order to make sound decisions.

And all I can think about is what is going to happen to other kids who didn't have a parent fighting for their child's right to a skilled trades class? Why aren't the schools listening to the dire straits we are having in the trades? We need to do better, to help with our deficit, but also because it will help with affordability issues, with mental health, and so much more!

I am disgusted by the superintendents' decision that will alter the trajectory of those young lives. Covid or not, we need our youth in skilled trades classes! And they most likely patted themselves on the back because they saved a couple of thousand of dollars in their budget. If it's about money, our Ministers needs to support the schools so classes don't get collapsed because "only" 13 kids signed up for it.

Monte McNaughton Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development

Ontario faces a labour shortage in the skilled trades that the provincial government hopes can be filled in part by high schoolers and other young peo...

10/03/2021

WHAT IS YOUR WEEKEND WARRIOR STORY?

For me, I was busy today helping rebuild the boardwalk at Preservation Park, then I changed out a GFI switch because it had years of paint all over it (oopsy), cleaned up the baseboard paint at the back door (destroyed by the dog over the years), and then I finished installing the last outdoor light fixture.

All in all, a very good day and now my muscles are telling me I will pay for it tomorrow :)

Have a great weekend!

09/17/2021

DON'T FORGET TO CLEAN YOUR HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator) or ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator)

If you don't have one of these in conjunction with your furnace, then at least make sure you're changing that furnace filter.

My HRV is the original one with the house. It's super easy to clean and I've only had to replace the two smaller filters in 16 years. I turn off the switch at the side, open the latches, and slide out the 3 filters, rinse them out gently, let dry, and re-insert. I wipe down inside and vacuum out the spiders.

If you aren't doing this, then you aren't letting the machines serve the purpose for which you bought them, which is to deliver cleaner air into your home.

If you need help, just ask!

08/29/2021

SCHOOLS RE-OPENING, YEAH!

I can't wait for the kids to get back to an in-person learning environment. The skilled trades were in serious jeopardy before the pandemic hit, and without the kids getting to practice on the tools in the Tech Room, we have an even bigger disparity of young people entering into trades.

Try to get your kids involved in activities like this one from Skills Ontario:

Mark your calendar! International Day of the Girl
International Day of the Girl Series - October 4th – 11th

The International Day of the Girl was established by the United Nations in 2012 and is recognized as a day to acknowledge girls and their rights, education, and opportunities. Let's seize the opportunity to reimagine a better world inspired by girls – energized and recognized, counted and invested in.

Skills Ontario is offering a series of free online events to celebrate the International Day of the Girl. We expanded beyond the official date of October 11th, 2021 to offer various opportunities for girls and their parents/guardians and family members to participate in! Skills Ontario will be celebrating through a three-part series:

1. A week of at-home challenges to try out the skilled trades and technologies for chances to win prizes!
2. A virtual hands-on workshop kids can do with their family to learn new skills!
3. A For Girls, By Girls! virtual conference, where viewers can hear from girls and learn about the skilled trades and technologies!

Check out more at www.skillsontario.com

08/21/2021

It's my 16th year in business! Thank you to everyone who has supported me and made it possible to do what I love.

08/12/2021

APPRECIATE A TRADESPERSON!

Some jobs around the house can be easy for some of you to do. I suppose it depends on who you are, the particular task, and what skill set you have. You're one of the lucky ones.

But, speaking from someone who sees and works with the trades and sees how effortless they make it, you need to appreciate anyone who comes to your house to install an air conditioner, rewires your electrical panel or paints your powder room for the third time. They make it look so easy!

Tonight, I want to appreciate painters! I finished painting my accent wall (don't ask me how long it took or why it looked like such crap from the last time : P) Now I am prepping for the next accent wall, but oh man, between the prep work and the actual painting, I'm spent! I salute all of you painters out there. You have my admiration!