Martha Stewart at De Boer's

Home-style diva Martha Stewart may be cooling her heels in a U.S. prison for insider trading of a biotech stock, but her furniture line is hot. "It has done phenomenally well in the States," says Suanne de Boer, general manager of De Boer's Furniture stores.

"In fact the furniture sales went up when she had her problems."

This month, De Boer's has opened Martha Stewart galleries in its Toronto and Ottawa stores, featuring the two-year-old line, which is manufactured by U.S.-based Bernhardt Furniture.

"The whole line is really eclectic," she says. "You don't buy a matching bedroom set. It's the kind where you can pick certain pieces, and they all work together."

There are three Martha Stewart collections, says de Boer, each named for one of her homes and "inspired" by the furnishings in that particular dwelling: Lily Pond, Skylands and Turkey Hill. All would be considered formal or traditional with a contemporary flair, and fit equally well into a modern or traditional environment, she says.

"She has managed to bridge that gap," says de Boer.

The furniture line also comes with a full range of Martha Stewart fabrics.

Bernhardt is a high-end manufacturer, and the pieces are by no means cheap.

A nickel-plated bed frame, for example, including headboard, footboard and rails, sells for $2,349, while a chair in with bamboo-style detailing on the wood, is priced at $1,249. Many of the Martha Stewart pieces are smaller in scale, and multifunctional.

Armoires contain desk components, such as the Amsterdam Secretary, a wood piece with nickel inlays that's priced at $3,469.

A small cocktail table also offers filing storage.

November 20, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Project embraces energy efficiency

Fusion Homes has become the first builder in Guelph to commit to using the EnerGuide system to rate entire homes, not just the appliances inside, for energy efficiency.

Fusion's 210 Dawn Ave., a 44-unit condominium townhome project in Guelph, will be the first development in that community to utilize the EnerGuide for Houses rating system.

EnerGuide for Houses is similar to other EnerGuide labelling programs that measure the energy use and efficiency of appliances, but this one rates the whole home.

The program was created by Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency to help homeowners, and the construction and renovation industries, get independent expert advice about making homes more energy efficient.

"With the EnerGuide for Houses assessment and label, homebuyers know what they are getting, and the costs and benefits of particular energy-efficiency upgrades and features such as increased insulation, a heat recovery ventilator or better windows," said Lenard Hart, EnerGuide for Houses program manager for EnerQuality Corp., which delivers the program in Ontario.

Each home's blueprints are analyzed to assess its energy efficiency, and a rating out of 100 is generated. A home built to the basic Ontario Building Code standard would rate in the 60s, whereas a super energy efficient R-2000 house would rate above 80.

Every point rise on the scale means more money saved on utility bills.

"We made the decision to begin using the EnerGuide for Houses program in response to increasing consumer demand for high quality housing that is energy efficient and good for the environment," said Lee Piccoli, president of Fusion Homes. "By having our houses independently evaluated, we can assure our customers that we are providing housing that will keep their energy costs low now and into the future."

October 16, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you're heating with oil ...

New worries over winter supplies

Crude oil futures stayed within range of the $55 US milestone today, a day after a decline in the U.S. inventory of heating oil roiled a market already on edge over tight supplies, high demand and unrest among key producers.

Oil for November delivery was at $54.82 a barrel late-afternoon Friday in Asia — up six cents from its record settlement price and slightly off its all-time high of $54.88 on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In New York Thursday, a fourth straight week of falls in U.S. distillate stocks just before the Northern Hemisphere winter pushed crude up $1.12, or 2.1 per cent — its eighth record high in two weeks.

In London, Brent crude for December was lower at $49.99 on the International Petroleum Exchange from its record close of $50.84 overnight.

Commercially available supplies of heating oil declined by 1.2 million barrels for the week ending Oct. 8, falling to 50 million barrels, or 10 per cent below year ago levels, the Energy Department said in its weekly petroleum supply report.

“It’s all a run towards the winter season, it’s all heating oil driven,” said Esa Ramasamy, oil editorial manager for energy reporting agency Platts. “Stock levels in the Northern Hemisphere (are) low for diesel, which is what heating oil is all about.”

Ramasamy said diesel and kerosene are used for heating oil, and the demand is even greater because airline usage of jet fuel — kerosene with additives — increases in winter.

“Air travel also peaks in winter. So you have jet fuel and heating demand — two markets competing for the same commodity which means there is increasing demand pressure,” he said.

Jet fuel costs around $64 a barrel.

Crude futures have climbed about $10 the last month alone, in large part because of the slow recovery of oil production in the Gulf of Mexico following hurricane Ivan.

Nearly 20 million barrels of oil have been shut in since Ivan hit the Gulf of Mexico mid-September and daily oil production in the region remains 28 per cent, or 471,000 barrels, below normal, the U.S. federal Minerals Management Service said on its website.

While oil prices are more than 70 per cent higher than a year ago, they are still around $25 below the peak inflation-adjusted price reached in 1981.

One major concern for the market, analysts say, is that the world’s excess production capacity — the amount of immediate surplus supply — is about one per cent of daily demand, now estimated to be above 82 million barrels.

If so, in the event of an extended production outage, the thin supply cushion would be inadequate and this is the main reason traders have been captivated by recent events such as:

— The just-concluded oil workers’ strike and threats of rebel attacks in Nigeria, Africa’s largest producer.

— Sporadic attacks by militants on Iraqi pipelines.

— Unrest in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest producer, where extremists have vowed to clear out foreigners who run the production facilities there.

— The on-again, off-again tax battle between the Russian government and oil giant Yukos.

— Political tensions in key OPEC producer Venezuela.

Elsewhere, Australian flag-carrier Qantas Airways raised its fares Friday — its third fuel surcharge since May — in response to rising jet fuel costs. Passengers flying Qantas will now pay up to $21 more for an international flight.

“The hedging we have in place and the higher fuel surcharge will not cover all of the increased cost of jet fuel,” said Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg.

In other developments, Japan’s Federation of Electric Power Companies said utilities companies across the country will burn less crude and fuel oil at thermal power plants in months ahead because of the fuel spikes and instead rely on nuclear energy.

October 15, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Light it up and shine Toronto

Don't just buy lamps and fixtures, make a plan based on your living space and lifestyle, experts say Go for variety, layering ambient, task and accent lighting, writes Marylene Vestergom.

Today, lighting is considered an important accessory for your home's décor. But if you think that means just changing the light bulbs, think again.

With the wide variety of lamps available, from table to floor, and shades in a multitude of colours and fabrics, taking inventory of your needs is the first step in your home lighting plan.

"Sometimes homeowners don't look at all the elements of lighting as part of the lighting plan," says Bruce Young of Universal Lamp. "They get very focused on a fixture or just pot lights. Fixtures, recessed lights or pot lights, table and floor lamps: all form a lighting plan, whatever room you're looking at."

Brian Whitelaw of Lando Lighting agrees. "You need to understand your needs — are you looking for task, accent or general lighting — and be prepared to balance form and function in your overall plan."

"Think of the use of the room," says Jason Cass, Farrow & Ball owner and host of Prime Network's Whose Design is it Anyway. "Perhaps you want to focus the lighting on a feature, like a painting or a fireplace."

Toronto designer Katherine Burke couldn't agree more. "Most people forget to consider their actual living space and lifestyle, and that's an important part of the equation in your lighting decisions."

Burke had the task of lighting the model suite she designed for The Loretto, a condo/townhouse development of the old Loretto College School on Brunswick Ave. in Toronto's Annex.

Homeowners need to remember "to bring lighting down to a human scale," Burke says. High-ceilinged lofts, for instance, needn't mean "lighting dangling way up in the air."

In the Loretto suite, which showcases the heritage building's high ceilings, the model living room features a sofa set into the bay window and two lamps on a console table. "Now you've brought lighting to shoulder level, perfect for reading, and it also creates a lovely effect when entering the room," says Burke.

A common mistake homeowners make is lighting without variety. "It's almost as if people are afraid of the dark, so they have a tendency of over-lighting. And they end up with areas of brightness, which becomes detractions," says Burke. "Look for pauses or places for your eyes to rest, as well as for areas where your eyes are drawn towards something, like artwork. The biggest mistake homeowners make is creating that `airport landing field' look.

"They may have managed to light the room, but they haven't introduced any variety or created an interesting flow."

So how do designers create that flow?

"It's really a question of being repetitive," says Cass. "Don't throw in eight different light fixtures in three different rooms. Try to find a common thread that ties all the fixtures together. Perhaps it's the same material being used over and over again. For example, the nickel plate finish is the constant, but the colouring or the shape of the shade changes.

"It doesn't have to look like it came from the same family. Just change the form or the size of the lamp. In our home, we've introduced the same lampshade. The living and dining room have black shades with a gold liner. By threading the consistency of the shade we've tied the rooms together."

Using a gold, or silver, liner instead of white "reflects a beautiful soft light, which is very attractive," says Cass. Layering lighting is also very important. To get a hands-on demonstration of how to use ambient, task and accent lighting, check out the "Virtual Lighting Designer" at GE Lightings website (http://www.gelighting.com/eu/home/index.html, click on Lighting Solution Center).

The virtual lighting designer allows you to try three different lighting combinations and see the effect they create in a variety of room settings.

"In general, people really don't appreciate how the different lighting layers can be used," says Mary Beth Gotti, manager of GE Lighting Institute. For example, ambient lighting provides the overall light level within a space. Task lighting can be added in areas that require more light, like a desk, or for reading a book in your favourite chair, whereas accent lighting creates highlights within a space.

All three of these lighting applications can be used in combination, providing layering and variety. Why not consider a chandelier to glamourize a bathroom along with vanity lights? Wall sconces could add drama to your hallway and track lighting could be used to showcase artwork.

And don't forget the array of torchieres and desk lamps, etc. For an instant mood change, add a few dimmer switches.

When it comes to lighting your kitchen, "halogens are ideal," says Cass. "In fact, look for interesting lighting opportunities like adding under-the-counter lighting or inside cabinets. It's a great option for introducing low lighting at night."

In the bathroom, especially smaller ones, task lighting is key to get the right distribution of light on your face. You'll also want good colour quality for a natural look to apply makeup or shave. "Using a high quality fluorescent or using some of the newer light bulbs, which are specifically made to filter out some of the yellows, is ideal," says Gotti.

When it comes to glamour bathrooms, layering is important. "Start with task lighting coming in from both sides of the mirror," says Gotti. "Then you'll want to add more ambient lighting; maybe it's a surface mounted fixture in the middle of the bathroom. And finish off with accent lighting, perhaps highlighting the Jacuzzi or, for safety, the steps going into it. "

The key to a successful lighting design is analyzing the activities that take place in each space. If the room is going to be used for entertaining and specific task lighting isn't needed, then ambience becomes your number one objective. So why not add a few candles? "I like to use them as one element of the lighting plan," says Burke. "You certainly don't want to rely on them as your sole light source, but it's a great addition."

And don't forget about the importance of natural light, especially during those gray winter days. "Take advantage of the existing light source," says Cass. "Add a tall mirror against a back wall so that you can reflect that natural light back into the room.

"This is the time of year when we can all use a little brightness," adds Cass, "so don't shy away from a little colour. If at the end of the day you really like that Murano glass chandelier, but it doesn't quite fit the room, I still say: buy it! Because every time you look at it, you'll smile. Lighting after all is about beautification, for your home and for you."

Sources

Katherine Burke, kburkedesign@sympatico.ca; 416-920-5447

Farrow & Ball, 1054 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-920-0200, http://www.farrow-ball.com

Lando Lighting, 210 Clarence St., Brampton,

905-453-6403, http://www.lightingbylando.com

Universal Lamp, 121 Cartwright Ave., Toronto,

416-787-8900, http://www.unilamp.com

The Loretto, Context Development Inc., 416-921-3330, http://www.context.ca

October 14, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Basement renos becoming popular

Basement renovations are among the five most popular renovation projects for Canadians.

That's because more families are looking downstairs to increase available living space, says Tony Mujan, whose company, City Wide Renovation, specializes in basement renovations.

Currently, about half his clients want to create extra recreational room, while 20 per cent need a home office.

Whatever the room will be used for, it needs to be well ventilated and dry. That, says Mujan, is why damp-proofing should be the first task in a basement renovation.

"You want the room to be comfortable," says Mujan, "and that means that there are no drafts or damp. The time to make sure there aren't is right at the beginning, when it's relatively simple to fix the things that cause those problems."

Taking care of moisture problems pays off, says Mujan, pointing to a client who had to have his basement redone three times, because correct damp-proofing measures were not taken (by another company).

"It may seem like you have to spend a lot of money on preparing a basement for a reno, but it's cheaper than having to start all over again because there are leaks and drafts."

Chuck LeCouter, the "how-to expert" at RONA Home & Garden in Mississauga, says homeowners can effectively deal with some of the structural, ventilation and moisture problems.

But he adds that it's a good idea to get professional advice before interior work begins.

"There are some things you can do yourself. If there's a moisture problem on the outside, for example, you can fill the hole with appropriate product. But if you're not comfortable with dealing with your foundation, call in a professional. After all, it is holding your house up!"

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) agrees that professional help should be sought if the foundation is cracking, heaving, sinking or settling, the floor joists and beams are uneven, the foundation walls are warped or bowed inwards, or if the concrete floor is lifting up.

They also offer how-to tips, suggesting that small unchanging cracks should be patched from the inside with cement-based or injection-type material, while large cracks should be filled from inside and out with a concrete patch material that expands as it dries, or with a polyurethane or epoxy injection system.

CMHC also suggests that the drainage system be examined if there are leaks from melting snow or summer storms, or significant staining and efflorescence (white powder stains) on the basement walls or floor.

While many people don't have the time or desire to do their own basement renovation, LeCouter says that keen do-it-yourselfers can do a lot of the interior work. But he cautions that the planning stage is critical.

"If you're going to do it yourself, you need to really think about how you're going to use the space. How many spaces do you want? What sizes? Do you want storage? Where's the furnace? Then you need to come up with a plan."

Budget planning is a good idea, too. LeCouter offers his customers an estimating program that allows them to determine approximate material costs for basement renos.

He suggests planning on spending between $5,000 and $10,000 and about two months (part-time) on the project.

Those doing the work themselves may want to consider some of the new flooring products that have become popular for basement projects, such as the two-by-two foot interlocking floor panels, made of oriented strand board (OBS). The advantage of this product is that it does not need to be applied to a perfectly smooth surface and it has a waterproof membrane attached to the underside.

LeCouter also suggests using steel studs for non-weight-bearing walls. "They're very nice for dividing walls — light to carry and because you can cut them with tin snips, there's no sawing and sawdust."

For more information or a factsheet on basement renovations, call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit their website.

October 7, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saving energy can earn rebates

Now that the NHL season is officially dead, many Canadians are going to start wondering what to do with all the blank space in their Daytimers.

Ian Morton, vice-president of the Clean Air Foundation, hopes we'll spend some spare time making our homes more energy efficient.

To promote energy efficiency, the foundation has teamed with The Home Depot and the federal government to launch Energy Smarts (Go to http://www.cleanairfoundation.org and click on Energy Smarts in the upper bar.)

Under the program, selected suppliers offer rebates and discounts to consumers who purchase their products at Home Depot locations across Canada before Sunday.

Products such as lighting timers, programmable thermostats, draft-proofing kits, insulation, furnace air filters and fans, and energy-efficient light bulbs will be promoted, emphasizing ones with Energy Star symbol, which identifies products that are among the most energy-efficient on the market.

Morton hopes the program will send consumers the message that they can both do well by the environment as well as save money.

"There are a number of drivers that will fuel sales of these products," says Morton. "In Ontario, for example, electricity prices have gone up, and that encourages the sale of energy-efficient bulbs. A programmable timer on a thermostat retails for about $100. Under this program, you get $35 off and you can save $200 to $250 a year. That's a huge rate of return."

Increased sales of solar outdoor lighting products prove consumers are interested in energy efficiency, says Jeff Porter of Intermatic. "In the last five years, solar has gone from zero to about 60 per cent of our outdoor lighting product sales." he says. "One of the things people love about them is that they are convenient — you just open the box and put it into the ground."

Small changes can mean big savings, says Ian Borisko, who encourages homeowners to make sure they take simple measures to increase air efficiency.

He points to the items his company, RCR International Inc., sells such as electric outlet insulation pads, U-channel door sweeps and draft seals as easy, inexpensive ways to save money and create a more comfortable environment in the home. Draft-proofing one's home, he says, can save up to 30 per cent on the average heating bill.

Morton is particularly enthusiastic about a deal with Home Depot that will see the retail giant purchase $1 worth of renewable energy for every Philips 16w Marathon Mini-household bulb sold in Ontario until the end of October.

If every Canadian household switched just one incandescent bulb to a compact florescent, greenhouse gas emissions would be cut by almost four kilotonnes, according to Natural Resources Canada.

"This is significant because it includes the two factors that are going to drive energy efficiency for the next generation — the need to conserve energy... and the need to develop renewable energy sources," says Morton.

"It's also interesting because it represents a new kind of campaign in which the private sector, non-profits and government get together. It gives consumers the chance to show that they are interested in renewable energy," he says.

September 23, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Upgrading the front door

Try fibreglass for a durable front door

One of the easiest and most visual improvements you can make to the exterior of your home is replacing the entry door system.

Busy homeowners want the beauty of real wood but not the maintenance. Enter fibreglass.

Low maintenance: Fibreglass doors require minimal maintenance. No buckling and cracking to worry about.

Style: Fibreglass can be moulded with real wood graining and extremely intricate detail. Durability: Fibreglass doors do not warp, split, shrink or swell as wood doors tend to do. They also do not dent, rust or corrode like steel doors. Fibreglass doors can also withstand a wide temperature range. Energy efficiency: Fibreglass doors offer five times the insulation of wood and help decrease energy costs.

Security: Fibreglass door systems are more resistant to forced entry than wood doors and offer an adjustable security strike plate that withstands force.

Water penetration: A wood door can rot; fibreglass won't.

Remember an entryway is an entire system of components and if you don't install high-quality hinges, sill plates, weather-stripping and locking systems, your door won't perform as you expect.

September 11, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Who Wins With Property Insurance

Too many Canadians know more about their favourite sports team or movie star than they do about the property insurance they rely on to protect their homes and investments. Why doesn't the misfortune of those hit by Edmonton's C$60 million dollar hailstorm, BC's raging forest fires and the continuing array of natural disasters spur other property owners to protect themselves while they can? The greatest risk may not come from natural catastrophes but from the financial, physical and emotional devastation often associated with settling insurance claims.

As flood-stricken residents of Peterborough, Ontario and other flood-devastated communities have found out, flooding or water seepage is generally not covered by residential insurance policies although additional coverage for sewer back-up may be purchased. While some commercial insurance policies may provide limited coverage for flooding, not all residential properties in low-lying areas can be insured. In addition, new realities mean less coverage by insurance companies intent on reducing their exposure. "Acts of terrorism" and "the increasing flow and storage of computer data, supported by ever more accessible information technologies" may result in losses against which you are not protected.

Even when coverage is available, the insurance industry places two significant responsibilities on policy holders whether they are tenants, homeowners, cottage owners, landlords or investors: getting the right insurance and mitigating risks and losses.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), the national trade association for more than 90 per cent of the private property and casualty insurance industry, cautions homeowners not to wait until trouble strikes to verify that they have the right insurance. During natural disasters, insurance companies may have temporary underwriting restrictions in place, making the instant purchase or upgrading of insurance exceptionally difficult although renewal of existing policies will usually continue.

A state of emergency might also disrupt real estate transactions since new policies would be provided on a much slower case-by-case basis. Local real estate professionals should be aware of necessary closing date flexibility to accommodate delays in processing insurance.

When reviewing your property insurance needs, two issues must be carefully considered:

How much coverage is enough?

Does the value profile that your insurance representative prepared accurately reflect the replacement value of your property in today's marketplace? As real estate values increase so should the insured replacement value in the policy. Policies should be updated to include renovations or additions. However, do not over-insure buildings by including the market price of the site in the insured value. Insured property does not include the market value of the underlying land. Keep the amount of contents coverage (including taxes) up to date; minimum contents coverage for homeowners is normally a percentage of the building amount. Give careful thought to the "self-insured part of each loss," as the insurance industry refers to deductibles. Higher deductibles may lower premiums but be sure you can afford to make the proper repairs out of your own pocket if loss occurs or your coverage may suffer.

What must insurance protect?

Insurance policies cover only disclosed risks. Before making major changes such as building a rental apartment into your home, duplexing it, starting a home-based business, or making any other significant alterations to the structure or the way it's used, find out what the repercussions would be for your insurance. Ask your insurance representative what precautionary measures are necessary. Lifestyle changes from installing home security systems or buying a boat to taking in foreign exchange students may affect coverage.

Revising your policy may trigger other expenses, too. If an insurer carries out a pre-coverage property inspection, it may insist on up-grades like replacing a 60 amp service or an old roof before insuring your real estate.

Invest time and effort to find the right insurance representative. This professional should provide the experience necessary to anticipate problems, investigate alternatives and select the best possible coverage. Since insurance brokers may only handle a few insurance companies, shopping around means evaluating salespeople as much as the products they sell. Once you've signed up, you're stuck so learn as much as possible about what you are getting into.

Establishing an accurate insured value may mean increased costs, but paying for too little insurance may be expensive if disaster strikes. Thoroughly investigate what is covered and what is not before you have a claim and you may save yourself weeks or months of frustration and argument with your insurance company if a claim is necessary.

August 20, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Deep lake water cooling begins

Toronto has launched its project to cool downtown buildings with cold lake water on a torrent of hot air.

Dozens of civic and business leaders jammed a stuffy room at the Steam Whistle Brewery yesterday to hear a seemingly endless string of politicians and notables, headlined by actor Alec Baldwin, laud the Deep Lake Water Cooling Project.

"What's being announced here is a miracle," gushed Baldwin.

The miracle cost $169.6 million, the money being used to construct three pipes thrusting 5 kilometres into Lake Ontario. Cold water is pumped from the bottom and sent on to a heat-transfer station, where it cools water in a separate network of pipes flowing into the air-conditioning systems of some of Toronto's biggest office buildings. The treated lake water — now warmed by one or two degrees — then flows into the city's drinking water pipes.

(Don't expect your drinking water to get warmer because of the project. If anything, it'll be colder, because water from the normal, shallower intake pipes serving the city is typically at 12 to 15C, according to Dennis Fotinos, chief executive of Enwave District Energy Ltd.)

The project is the child of Enwave, owned 43 per cent by the City of Toronto and 57 per cent by the OMERS pension fund.

As of yesterday, it's cooling 20 buildings, including the Royal Bank Plaza, Toronto-Dominion Centre and Air Canada Centre. But that represents only 32 per cent of the system's capacity, Fotinos said.

Clients include the Steam Whistle Brewery, although Fotinos laughingly acknowledged that the air conditioning seemed to have gone missing yesterday as the temperature climbed in the crowded room.

"It's a small glitch; we'll get to the bottom of it," he said.

Enwave is already in talks with the Sheraton Centre, Bell Trinity Centre and Old City Hall to add them. Ironically, the city is not looking to add the new city hall to Enwave's client list, since it only recently overhauled its conventional cooling system.

But Enwave is talking with the province about running a new $14 million pipe north to Queen's Park so lake water could cool the Legislature and nearby government buildings.

Signing Queen's Park would bring the portion of cooling capacity in use to more than 50 per cent, boosting Enwave's hopes of starting to earn a return on its deep-lake investment by 2008.

"I look forward to the day when we sign the deal," said Ontario Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, who has promised to cut his government's own power usage by 10 per cent.

"Not only will this deep lake water cooling project save the province 59 megawatts of capacity — the equivalent amount of electricity required to power 12,000 air-conditioned homes — it also stands as a shining example of the enormous potential we see for energy-efficiency programs and for alternative forms of energy."

Federal Human Resources Minister Joe Volpe came bearing gifts: a $10 million low-interest loan for Enwave.

Baldwin, who has long campaigned for alternative energy in his native New York state, heaped praise on everyone involved, hailing them as "heroes."

He also slammed businesses that are lobbying the province to back away from its commitment to shut down Ontario's coal-burning power plants by 2007.

And he praised Canadian governments for backing the project. "For something like this to succeed," he said, "you have to have a government that's not sitting on top of you and crushing you with their ignorance, like we have in the United States right now."

August 18, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)

Extensions that add value

Rising property prices and the premium being placed on space, makes extensions a wise investment. However, extending a property is a major project and shouldn't be undertaken lightly. Call in professionals to get the job done properly as there are important planning restrictions and regulations, which need to be followed. Ask friends to recommend reputable builders and an architect. If an extension is botched, it could end up devaluing a property rather than adding value.

An extension should match the architectural style of the existing house. Extra bathrooms and large kitchens are usually good investments in family-sized homes and a garage in a busy, urban area will also add value. A good extension could add thousands to the price of a property.

The room that usually benefits the most from enlarging is the kitchen. Adding a kitchen diner creates the farmhouse kitchen most people want and gives extra space. The old dining room can become an office, playroom, or somewhere to set out a model railway. Better still, build above the kitchen extension to add an extra bedroom at the same time.
Victorian or 1930s houses are ideal for loft conversions because of their high roof pitches. Prices will vary depending on how many bedrooms are added and whether an en-suite is required. A loft room will require less planning and building requirements than a bedroom. So do the research and speak to chartered surveyors and architects!

If there isn't a reason to expand, why not get a further advance on a mortgage and give the house a dream makeover. A new kitchen, bathroom and carpets will revive the passion in the property and increase its value at the same time.

August 10, 2004 in Home Maintenance | Permalink | Comments (0)