Huron-Perth
Radon testing and mitigation in Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is a railway and theatre city on the Avon River, with a Victorian downtown, a big stock of brick homes, and farm country in every direction. Here’s what’s known about radon in Stratford, and how to find out about your home.
- Region
- Huron-Perth
- Population
- about 33,000
- Public health
- Huron Perth Public Health
- Local factors
- 5 reasons to test
Is radon a problem in Stratford?
Radon can exceed Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in any Stratford home. Cancer Care Ontario’s table of Health Canada survey data put Perth at 12.0% of homes at or above the guideline. Across Ontario, about 1 in 8 homes tested at or above the guideline in the 2024 national survey. Locally, Shield-derived glacial soils, sandy or gravelly soils and century-home foundations are reasons to test. A 91-day test is the only way to know your home’s level.
Radon in Stratford
Stratford is a railway and theatre city on the Avon River, with a Victorian downtown, a big stock of brick homes, and farm country in every direction. In the Health Canada survey data that Cancer Care Ontario tabulated by public health unit, 12.0% of the homes tested in Perth were at or above Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline. That is a county figure from a limited sample, and it is a good reason to test.
The ground under Stratford
Stratford sits on a glacial till plain with moraine ridges, and sand and gravel along the Avon River valley. Till includes ground-up rock carried south from the Canadian Shield, a source of uranium, so radon can form close to the footings even where the bedrock itself is low in uranium. Sand and gravel deposits in the valley let soil gas move more freely.
Stratford’s homes
The housing here runs from Victorian brick homes near the downtown and the river, many with stone or early concrete foundations, to post-war bungalows and newer subdivisions on the edges. Around Stratford, farmhouses and acreage properties are common in Perth County, many with drilled wells.
What the data says
Of homes tested in the Perth health unit area were at or above 200 Bq/m³ in the Health Canada survey data tabulated by Cancer Care Ontario (2009 to 2013).Source: Cancer Care Ontario — Risk of Residential Radon Exposure Varies Geographically (results by public health unit, Health Canada survey data 2009–2013)
Ontario homes at or above Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in the 2024 Cross-Canada Survey, more than double the share found a decade earlier.Source: Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure in the Residential Buildings of Urban and Rural Communities (2024)
Higher average radon exposure for rural residents than urban residents in a 2024 national study of 42,051 homes, mostly linked to drilled wells.Source: Goodarzi et al., Scientific Reports (2024) — rural communities and drilled-well annuli
Local results
Building a real radon picture for Stratford
Public radon data for Southern Ontario towns is thin. The national surveys tested only a handful of homes per area. So we’re building our own: anonymized long-term results from homes we test, published by area once there are at least 30, so no single home can be identified and small samples can’t mislead.
Stratford: collecting results. Already tested? Check your number and share it anonymously when you book.
Local factors
What can push radon up in Stratford
Not a prediction for any single home, just the reasons a test is worth it here.
Glacial soils with Shield debris
The till and gravel left by glaciers here includes ground-up rock carried south from the Canadian Shield. Uranium travels with it, so radon can form close to your footings even where the bedrock itself is low in uranium.
Sandy or gravelly soils
Sand and gravel let soil gas move freely and over longer distances. More of the radon formed in the ground can reach the air around your foundation instead of decaying in place.
Century homes
Fieldstone, rubble and early concrete foundations, earth-floor cellars and open sumps give radon many ways in. Older doesn’t mean safer: these homes still need a test.
New, airtight construction
Canadian research shows newer homes have tended to test higher than older ones. Bigger, taller and tighter homes create a stronger stack effect that draws soil gas in through the slab.
Rural homes on drilled wells
A 2024 national study of over 42,000 homes found rural residents were exposed to about 30% more radon than urban residents, with most of the gap linked to drilled wells. Researchers suspect gas travels up the gap around the well casing.
Where we work
Stratford neighbourhoods and nearby communities
- Downtown Stratford
- Avon River corridor
- Shakespeare
- Sebringville
- Mitchell
- Milverton
- Listowel
- Dublin
- Hampstead
- Perth East
- West Perth
- North Perth
Nearby: Radon in St. Marys · Radon in Goderich · Radon in Kitchener
How it works
From test to fix
- Book
Tell us about your Stratford home. We reply within one business day.
- Test for 91+ days
A certified technician places long-term detectors on your lowest lived-in floor. You get an early reading at 2 weeks.
- Get your result
Lab-verified average, explained against Health Canada’s guideline.
- Fix it if it’s high
A sub-slab system designed for your foundation, at a fixed price, with results guaranteed.
Questions
Radon in Stratford: FAQ
Is radon a problem in Stratford?
Radon can exceed Health Canada’s 200 Bq/m³ guideline in any Stratford home. Cancer Care Ontario’s table of Health Canada survey data put Perth at 12.0% of homes at or above the guideline. Across Ontario, about 1 in 8 homes tested at or above the guideline in the 2024 national survey. Locally, Shield-derived glacial soils, sandy or gravelly soils and century-home foundations are reasons to test. A 91-day test is the only way to know your home’s level.
Is radon a problem in Stratford?
It can be. In Health Canada survey data tabulated by Cancer Care Ontario, 12.0% of homes tested in Perth were at or above the 200 Bq/m³ guideline. That is a county figure from a limited sample. A 91-day test on the lowest lived-in floor is how you find your own level.
My Stratford home is a Victorian with a stone foundation. Can it be fixed?
Usually, yes. Stone and rubble foundations have more openings, so we spend more time sealing and may add a second suction point or treat a crawlspace separately. Sub-slab depressurization still works well in most of them.
Do you offer radon testing and mitigation in Stratford?
Yes. We test and mitigate homes throughout Stratford, including Downtown Stratford, Avon River corridor, Shakespeare, Sebringville, Mitchell and nearby. Call (226) 271-4667 or book online.
Radon is fixable. First, know your number.
Serving Stratford, St. Marys, Goderich and Kitchener.