Quartermaster Blog
Toronto's Wet Summer: How to Protect Your Basement from Flooding and Mould
The bad news: Toronto's in for a wet, storm-interrupted summer. Most years your big worry is keeping cool, but this year it's keeping water out. Here's how to tell if your basement is at higher risk for flooding or mould, what it costs if you ignore it, and the mostly cheap fixes that head off the damage.
Toronto Tree Removal: 4 Mistakes Homeowners Make (And How to Fix Them)
In Toronto, you usually need a City permit to cut down a tree, even your own tree on your own property, once the trunk hits 30 cm across. Most homeowners don't find that out until they're mid-project, when the mistakes turn expensive: fines, months of delay, a neighbour who stops speaking to you. Three Toronto arborists walk through the four assumptions that cause the most grief, the permit process nobody warns you about, and the one job you can still do without a permit.
Summer storms in Toronto and the GTA: what to do before and after
Rain you can mostly plan for. Wind is the part that catches people out, and around here the first casualty is usually a tree. Most of what protects your house costs very little and takes an afternoon, the trick is doing it at the right time.
Squirrels and raccoons in the attic: what to do and what not to do
Scratching above the bedroom ceiling at five in the morning, or the heavier shuffle of something pacing the eaves at dusk. Two common assumptions about getting rid of squirrels or raccoons in an attic can both lead you wrong. A Toronto wildlife removal guide to timing, DIY pitfalls, and the part most homeowners underestimate.
Door-to-door home maintenance scams come back every year. Here's how they work.
Door-to-door home service scams ramp up every spring, and they follow a familiar playbook. Pressure tactics, cash-first demands, and urgent safety claims are designed to get you to act before you think. Here's what to watch for, how to vet anyone you hire, and what Ontario law lets you do if you've already signed something.
What to check on your HVAC before summer arrives (and what to leave alone)
Another stretch of heat is coming, and your air conditioner may not be ready. Two GTA contractors break down the simple maintenance any homeowner can do, the DIY mistakes that end up costing far more than a service call, and the warning signs that mean you should pick up the phone today.
Toronto will now pay up to $6,650 to flood-proof your basement. Here's whether you qualify.
Toronto doubled its Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy on May 1, 2026. The maximum payout is now $6,650 per property. The updated program covers backwater valves, sump pumps, battery backups, and a new home plumbing assessment. Here's what qualifies, what each device does, and what you need to know before you apply.
Why Snow Blocking Furnace and Water Heater Vents Is Dangerous and What To Do About It
Heavy snow can block furnace and water heater vents, especially in cold climates in the GTA. This article explains what external vents are, why snow buildup matters, and what usually happens when vents are obstructed. It also outlines how homeowners typically handle it.
How Blue Bin recycling now works in the GTA and Toronto (2026)
A simple explanation of Blue Bin recycling changes in Toronto and the GTA for 2026, including who manages pickup and where to reach out to if something goes wrong or if you have any questions.
Where to Go if you need help with Blue Bin Recycling Issues in Toronto and the GTA (2026)
Who to contact for missed Blue Bin pickup, damaged bins, and recycling questions in Toronto and the GTA as of the 2026 update.
What Can Go in the Blue Bin in the GTA and Toronto (2026)
A guide as to what can and can’t go in the Blue Bin in Toronto and the GTA in 2026, including new recyclable items.
Last Yard Waste Pickup 2025: Toronto and GTA
What counts as yard waste, non-bagging options, and key rules by municipality in the GTA. Plus, Find your last yard waste pickup date in Toronto and the GTA for 2025.