A former working-class borough in full transformation, Verdun blends 1920s shoebox houses, brick duplex rows and modern condos along the Lachine Canal. Its proximity to the St. Lawrence River dictates the inspection challenges.
Verdun has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Its housing stock reflects this evolution: compact worker houses from the 1920s-1950s now sit alongside new condos along the Lachine Canal and Wellington Street. Understanding both eras of construction is essential for a thorough inspection.
Verdun's position along the St. Lawrence River creates an exceptionally high water table. The soil is composed of marine clay and silt, retaining water and exerting constant hydrostatic pressure on foundations. Spring floods and heavy rain events significantly amplify these risks.
Our inspections in Verdun reveal issues specific to this gentrifying borough, where aging buildings and recent construction coexist.
We inspect buildings throughout all of Verdun, including:
Century-old shoebox houses, working-class homes, Île-des-Sœurs (Nuns Island) waterfront condos, duplex conversions — Verdun mixes Old Verdun heritage, Wellington-de-l'Église density, and new waterfront developments.
Verdun is one of Montreal's most diverse sectors. Buyers will encounter: century-old shoebox houses (1900-1940) in Old Verdun, working-class homes and attached duplexes, high-end condos and apartment towers on Île-des-Sœurs (Nuns Island), duplex/triplex condo conversions, and a few new waterfront developments. The architectural mix and riverside moisture issues are specific concerns.
Our pre-purchase inspection in Verdun covers more than 400 inspection points: foundation, structure, roofing, electrical, plumbing, ventilation, insulation, windows, cladding and grounds. We pay particular attention to stone or old-concrete foundations in shoebox houses, knob-and-tube wiring and galvanized plumbing of the era, potentially asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, end-of-life flat roofs on duplexes/triplexes, and Île-des-Sœurs waterfront properties (water table, basement infiltration). Report delivered within 24h*.
Single-family homes in Verdun are primarily century-old shoebox houses — the small attached worker's homes typical of the neighbourhood (1900-1940). Stone foundations, old wood framing, period plumbing and electrical modernised in successive layers. A few plex-to-single-family conversions and more recent townhouses round out the picture. On Île-des-Sœurs, single-family homes are rarer but high-end.
A home inspection in Verdun takes 3 to 4 hours on site and includes a full visit of every accessible level, the attic, the crawl space and the exterior. For shoebox houses, we document the evolution of components across more than a century. Report within 24h*.
Verdun has the largest condo stock in south Montreal, particularly on Île-des-Sœurs (high-end towers with river views, underground garages, shared pools and gyms) and along Boulevard LaSalle. Duplex/triplex conversions into co-ownership are also numerous in Old Verdun. Common tower findings: shrinkage cracks, poorly balanced centralised ventilation, deteriorating window seals, underground garages with concrete deterioration.
Our condo inspection in Verdun covers the interior of the unit (kitchen, bathrooms, windows, electrical panel, plumbing, ventilation) as well as the visible common areas. For Île-des-Sœurs towers, we recommend a detailed review of the contingency fund study and the maintenance log. See also what a condo inspection can — and cannot — reveal.
Verdun has a significant stock of duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes, primarily in Old Verdun and along Boulevard LaSalle, Verdun, and Église. These buildings often date from 1900-1960 and present typical findings: stone or unreinforced concrete foundations, galvanized and cast-iron plumbing, partially modernised electrical (knob-and-tube sometimes present), multi-layer flat roofs, exterior spiral staircases, worn wooden balconies. Buildings of 5 units or more fall under commercial / multi-unit category.
A plex and multiplex inspection in Verdun examines each accessible unit, the common areas, structure, roofing, all mechanical systems, foundation and exterior. Custom quote within 24h.
Verdun hosts thriving commercial activity: revitalised Wellington street ("Wellington de l'Église"), Old Verdun shops and restaurants, Île-des-Sœurs office buildings (technopark, Solar Uniquartier), suburban shopping centres, and former industrial buildings undergoing conversion. Commercial buildings span a wide range of ages (1900-2025).
A commercial inspection in Verdun covers the structure, building envelope, roofing (often flat membrane), electrical service, mechanical systems (HVAC, plumbing, sprinklers if applicable), accessibility, signs of code compliance, parking and grounds. Custom quote.
Available 7 days a week. Report within 24h*. Expertise in worker houses and waterfront condos.