Gardening in the Toronto

Living in the city like Toronto need not translate to being out of touch with nature. Gardens make for peaceful havens in the midst of a big city's bustle. Don't let cramped living quarters or the lack of a large backyard stop you from exercising your green thumbs.

While Toronto may not be the ideal place for gardening, with a little guidance you can make the most of your limited space. The goal is to make small gardens seem larger, more livable, and more interesting.

Cover the perimeter of the garden with foliage. You can do this with bushy shrubs or a tall fence covered in creepers. It will create the impression that the garden extends further than it actually does.

Dividing the space with a latticework screen or a line of trees will make it look larger.

Keep it simple. Avoid using too many colours, as this will create a chaotic effect. Soft blues and lavenders create an effect of distance whereas reds, yellows and oranges will make your garden seem more crowded. Emphasize leafy plants; green is a soothing colour and will not overpower your garden.

A wide variety of plants can create an overwhelming effect in small gardens. You can have lots of plants in a small space as long as you limit yourself to a few varieties.

Trick the eye. Placing plants in strategic layouts can create an impression of depth. Graduating a line of the same species from tallest to shortest will do this. You could also place darker coloured, rough textured plants to the front and put light coloured, fine textured plants in the back. Mirrors will also create and illusion of depth.

Use small-leafed plants to give the illusion of spaciousness. Remember the plant doesn't have to be small - just its leaves.

Using climbing plants on fences and walls with increase the lushness of your garden without taking up space on the ground.

Avoid big, bulky plastic chairs and a large number of disparate garden decorations. Keep accessories to a minimum: choose one or two pieces that are unique and speak to your personal style. They will become the focal points of your garden.

Using potted plants in your garden will provide additional spaces for growing. Container plants can be hung from fences or placed on tables. If a plant requires lots of moisture, however, it should not be kept in a container as the soil dries out too quickly. Roses, trees, shrubs and vegetables usually grow well this way. The labels on the plants should indicate whether or not they are suitable to be left in containers.

Spring is just around the cornner ... so happy gardening.

March 17, 2008 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Christmas Cookies

Here's a great recipe for cookies ... guaranteed to please.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• Lemon juice
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup mixed nuts
• 2 cups of dried fruit
• 1 bottle of Crown Royal

Instructions:

- Sample the Crown Royal to check quality.

- Take a large bowl, check the Crown Royal again and to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

- Turn on the electric mixer. Beat cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.

- Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.

- At this point it's best to ensure that the Crown Royal is still OK ... sample another cup ... just in case.

- Turn off the mixer thingy.

- Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.

- Pick the frigging fruit off floor.

- Mix on the turner.

- If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with dewscriver.

- Sample the Crown Royal to check for tonsisticity.

- Next, sift two cups of salt ... or ... who giveshz a sheet.

- Check the Crown Royal.

- Add a spoon of ... or somefink ... whatever youzh can find.

- Greash the oven.

- Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and don't fall over.

- Don't forget to beat off the turner.

- Make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher.

Cherry Mistmas

December 24, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tips for preparing your home for winter

As the winter season approaches and the air grows crisp, it's time to start thinking about preparing your house for the season. Once winter blows in, housing have to get serious. It is important to consider the fact that the winter season means spending a lot more time indoors. Roofs must shed rain and snow, windows and doors must reject the cold, and the heating system must keep rooms comfortable. If any of these components don't hold up, you might be faced with scrambling around in the wet, cold and dark to fix them.

By handling these important yet reasonably easy tasks, you can avoid considerable grief later.

1) Inspect the roof. If possible, go up onto the roof to check its condition. Look for cracked or missing shingles, bald spots on shingles, missing or damaged flashing, and other conditions that might allow leaks. Replace any roof shingles that are missing or damaged. You can also seal minor cracks or tears with roofing cement or do the minor repairs yourself.

2) Check the gutters. While you're on the ladder, look into the gutters. If they are clogged with leaves and debris, clean them. Gutters prevent basement and foundation flooding and water damage to siding, windows, and doors. When clogged with leaves and debris, they will fill with rainwater and overflow.

3) Look at the siding. Check the siding for cracks or damage. You can seal-up any leaky spots with clear caulking compound. But, if close inspection of the paint reveals problems such as blistering, peeling, wrinkling, or chalking, either touch them up or call a painting contractor.

4) Investigate weather stripping. Also look to see if windows and doors are effectively sealed with weather stripping. Weather stripping will prevent drafts and winter heat loss. If weather stripping is damaged, it's usually easiest and most effective to entirely replace it rather than to repair it.

5) Check your heating system. Have your heating system checked by a licensed heating/air-conditioning professional. Most furnace manufacturers recommend at least annual inspections.

6) Sweep the chimney. Have your chimneys inspected by a chimney service and, if necessary, cleaned. Cleaning is generally recommended at least once a year for an active fireplace.

7) Trim the trees. Trim trees away from the house. Have dead trees and branches removed by professional tree trimmers, or do it yourself.

8) Check the smoke and Carbon Monoxide detector. Buy extra smoke detector batteries and change them when daylight savings ends. Also, test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they work and buy a fire extinguisher or replace an extinguisher older than 10 years.

9) Store plenty of salt. Make sure you are stocked with rock salt, snow shovels, and any other items you will need during the winter.

10) Drain and shut off outdoor water faucets remove and store garden hoses.

11) Examine the basement floor and walls for cracks or leaks; seal as needed.

If you plan to reside elsewhere during the winter months, you may want to partially shutdown your home. In addition to the tips above, consider the following:

• Leave the temperature at its lowest setting, usually between 5 to 7 degree Celsius or install a low-heat thermostat to maintain the air temperature at approximately 5 degrees Celsius
• Turn off and drain the water heater; leave a reminder to refill before restarting.
• Keep the electricity on so lights will continue to function (put them on timers).
• Unplug the microwave, clothes dryer, televisions (not on timers) and other appliances not in use.
• To avoid large repair bills and the hassle associated with breakdowns, take the time now to develop an action plan for the coming months. You'll feel secure in your warm home or while you're away from home.

The fall season is a good time for you to start thinking about preparing your home for winter. As temperatures begin to drop, your home will require maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape through the winter. By following the easy steps above, you will ensure to have a warm and comfortable winter at the peace of your home!

November 22, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Insurance Discount Tip

Most insurance companies offer discounts for homes with security systems. They understand that a home with a security system is less likely to experience the type of emergencies that result in insurance claims. If your insurer does not offer such discount, it may not hurt to shop around, as it is standard practice for many.

Here is one of the most innovative home protection services »

August 27, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Home Renovation Decision

Anyone who has lived through months of dusty floors, washed dinner dishes in the bathtub, and stayed with friends when the water in the house is off for two days knows major remodeling is an extraordinary pain. But letting go of what you have and trading up to a new home is not an easy decision.

Ask yourself what factors are most important to you:

• Do you love your neighborhood?
• Are you near services and schools?
• What is your commute time?
• Is there room to renovate - considering lot size, etc.?
• Have you built up enough equity in your current home to justify spending on a remodel?

You've heard the old adage "location, location, location." If you already live in a desirable neighborhood, but the house vexes you because it has one bathroom, or a kitchen that was last updated in 1960, remodeling may be the answer.

Timing and the Market

Does it make sense to invest in a major renovation in your market? A renovation that will pay off in Toronto, may not pay off in Beaverton. If you spend $85,000 on a kitchen renovation, you may recoup more than what you spent in Oakville, but not in Keswick where housing prices are a much lower percentage of the cost of the remodel.

Renovation Decision Points

Do your research:

Get an appraisal - find out what your home is currently worth

Check comparables (recently sold homes) in your area to see what the baseline for selling is

Estimate your remodeling project cost

Determine how you will pay for the renovation

Appraise House and Neighborhood

Paying for a current appraisal is money well spent in the remodeling process. If your home is already valued high relative to the market, you will not recoup the cost of an expensive remodel. Research comparables using My Estimator to value your home among the others in the neighborhood - remodeled or not - to get a better picture of your possible financial gain. It is easy to spend over $10,000 on a bathroom upgrade without architectural changes, but will it pay off?

Remodeling Returns

Check out the RENOVA home improvement valuation guide for an idea of typical remodeling project costs and possible payoffs. Some projects will return 75 percent of your costs while others may return as much as 103 percent, but some financial experts caution that these numbers are only valid if you turn around and sell your home within a year of completing the remodel. The longer you wait to sell, the more the renovation value decreases.

Paying for It

Do you have the equity in your home to open a home equity line of credit, or apply for a home equity loan to pay for the remodel? If you have less than 20 percent equity in your current home, wait to remodel.

If you do have the equity, what will the renovation entail? If it is a large project - such as big structural changes and losing the use of your kitchen or your one bathroom, you may want to consider moving out during the hammering and drilling.

Trading Up and Out

Depending on your area, trading up to a new house with all the features you are looking for is often cheaper than remodeling. The trading up trade-offs are that you may need to move a distance from your current home and incur the time and costs of buying and selling again.

August 23, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Homeowners in the mood to renovate

Canadians are spending thousands of dollars to renovate their homes, according to a new study by Canada Mortgage and Housing (CMHC). The report says households in 10 major urban centres spent more than $11,000 on renovations on average in 2006.

About 1.5 million households in those 10 cities spent more than $17.3-billion on renovation related spending in 2006. The CMHC report also suggests the spree isn't over: almost half of homeowners surveyed said they plan to spend $1,000 or more on renovations in 2007.

More than a third of households went over their planned budget last year for the renovation. Most people said they renovated to “add value or to prepare to sell the residence.”

This is the first time the CMHC has published its expanded study on the market, so comparable numbers aren't available. But the pace of renovations may be slowing: two years ago, the average Canadian family expected to spend $14,000 on home renovations, the agency reported in 2005.

The top three renovations completed last year were re-modeling of rooms, painting or wallpapering and hard surface flooring and wall-to-wall carpeting. More than a third were do-it-yourself attempts.

The share of households who spent $1,000 or more on renovations last year was the largest in St. John's, followed by Halifax. Future renovation plans are strongest in Edmonton and Winnipeg and the lowest in pricier cities of Toronto and Vancouver, the government agency said.

June 16, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Lifespan of home compoments

Your home's siding, roof trusses, foundation and granite countertops should last you a lifetime, but don't expect the same longevity from your furnace, shingles or windows. The U.S.-based National Association of Home Builders and Bank of America Home Equity recently released a study of life expectancy of housing components, based on a 2006 comprehensive telephone survey of manufacturers, trade associations and researchers.

"I try to instill in clients that you need to do proper maintenance to prolong the life of your investment," says Toronto home inspector Brian Daley, who is also an architectural technologist and president of the Associated Group of Home Inspectors Canada Inc.

One of the keys to getting maximum life from your home components is preventing water from getting into your house and keeping air from getting out, he says.

One of the first things to do is check the grade around the house – the yard should slope away from the house. Also check to make sure that downspouts and eavestroughs are directing water properly away from the roof and into downspouts, says Daley.

Moisture buildup in attics can affect the roof structure, causing mould and wood rot in the trusses, so make sure those spaces are well-insulated and properly ventilated.

As far as shingles go, their longevity can depend on the elements, but Daley points out if replacing shingles, never put new shingles over a layer of old shingles. Not only will you shorten their life span by not allowing them to "breathe" properly, you'll violate the manufacturer's warranty.

Caulking on windows should also be checked to make sure no leaks are occurring along the sill, allowing water to seep in behind siding or brick, says Daley.

Furnaces should last 15 to 20 years; if your furnace is new, get a yearly maintenance contract after the one-year warranty expires, suggests Daley. Oil furnaces have fewer parts to break down than gas furnaces, so they should last 20 to 25 years.

"If you are going to upgrade your furnace, you should also upgrade your windows," says Daley. "And there's no point putting in doubled-paned windows or upgrading your furnace unless you also upgrade your insulation."

While wiring can last for the life of a house, the best is copper. If you have aluminum wiring, have it checked by an electrician because when it heats and contracts, connections in fixtures can loosen, creating the potential for arcing and sparking.

"There is no problem with aluminum wiring as long as it is maintained well and connections on fixtures are checked to see that they're tight," says Daley. Aluminum wiring can be "pigtailed" with copper wiring in junction boxes, but that's a job for a qualified electrician. As well, Daley warns that many new light fixtures are not equipped for aluminum wiring.

The same goes for those glass-fuse boxes: there's nothing wrong with them as long as you take precautions not to overfuse.

"Certain modern appliances draw a lot of current, such as a dishwasher or clothes dryer," says Daley. "And if something goes wrong with those old fuse boxes, it's hard to get parts."

You can have your house's wiring updated to 100-amp service with a breaker box for about $1,500 to $2,000, he says.

Here is the longevity expected for the following house components, based on the NAHB study:

Cabinets and storage: As kitchens become bigger and more elaborate, they are expected to perform more functions than ever. Kitchen cabinets should last up to 50 years and natural stone countertops (such as granite, quartz and limestone) will last a lifetime.

Decks: Depending on climate and conditions, wood decks can last up to 20 years.

Doors: Count on exterior fibreglass, steel and wood doors to last as long as your house does, but you'll get only 20 years from a vinyl door and 40 from a screen door.

Faucets and fixtures: Modified acrylic kitchen sinks will last 50 years and your kitchen faucets should function for 15. Shower heads last a lifetime, but your shower enclosure lasts about 20 years. While bath cabinets and toilets have an unlimited lifespan, toilet tank components require maintenance.

Flooring: Natural wood floors should last 100 years or more, with marble, slate and granite lasting the same as long as they are maintained.

Foundation: Providing it was properly built, your poured and concrete block foundation will last a lifetime.

Heating, ventilation and cooling: These systems need proper and regular maintenance to work efficiently, but your best-case scenario is 15 to 20 years for your furnace, 16 years for heat pumps and 10 to 15 years for air conditioning units.

Roofing: Weather conditions, proper installation and design, material quality and maintenance all play a part. Asphalt shingles will last for about 20 years, while those made from fibre cement are good for 25 years. Wood shakes will last for 30, while slate, copper and clay/concrete roofs will last for 50 years.

Siding: As long as your house exists, so should your brick, vinyl, engineered wood, stone (natural and manufactured) and fibre cement siding. Not so your eavestrough, which will need replacement in 20 years if made of aluminum and 50 if made of copper.

Windows and skylights: Count on your windows to last for 15 to 20 years if aluminum and wooden windows to work for 30 years or more.

May 27, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

No second land transfer tax

With the City of Toronto beginning its public consultations on new taxes, Toronto Realtors are hoping that Mayor Miller and City Council will heed their advice: don't impose a home-buying tax.

Public meetings, which start today, are an opportunity for Toronto residents and businesses to tell the City what they think of various new taxes that are being considered. These proposals were only announced less than two months ago, and Toronto's Executive Committee of Council could make decisions on them next month.

Possibly the biggest tax that could be levied by the City would be a second land transfer tax, paid by homebuyers on top of the existing provincial land transfer tax. A second land transfer tax of as little as 0.5 per cent would mean that average Toronto homebuyers would have to come up with close to $2,000 extra when buying a home, a 45 per cent increase in the land transfer taxes that they already pay.

"We appreciate any opportunity to inform the City about how misguided a Toronto home-buying tax is, but this issue is too serious to wait for the City's formal public meetings to start. As soon as Realtors found out about the proposed home-buying tax, they started contacting the Mayor and City Councillors directly to tell them to shelve this crazy idea. Hundreds of Realtors, that we are aware of, have already sent emails to the Mayor and City Councillors," said Dorothy Mason, President of the Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB).

"Not just Realtors have been speaking out against this tax. As soon as their clients, the general public, find out about this they are shocked that the City would even think about this. Many of them are letting TREB know about their concerns at the same time that they send them to the City, and from what we have seen, it's clear that the public is very concerned about a Toronto home-buying tax," said Mason.

The concerns that Realtors and the public have been expressing are numerous. Specifically, they have told the City that a home-buying tax would hurt homebuyers, home sellers, businesses, the economy, and the environment.

"A home-buying tax would hurt those who can least afford it the most. Many homebuyers already have to heavily finance their home purchase to be able to live in Toronto. If they have to find another $2,000, or more, for this tax, they'll end up having less money for a down payment, which will mean a bigger mortgage, over $1,700 in extra mortgage interest, and possibly more mortgage insurance costs. For a homebuyer of an average Toronto property that could only afford a five per cent down payment, the Toronto home-buying tax could ultimately end up costing them over $11,000 in added costs when mortgage insurance and interest are considered," said Mason.

"The unfortunate thing is that, at the end of the day, a Toronto home-buying tax could mean less, not more, revenue for the City because less demand for Toronto housing will mean less property assessment growth, which would mean less property tax revenue for the City," added Mason.

Until recently, the City has only been allowed to levy property taxes. "These are unprecedented decisions that the Mayor and City Council are making, so the last thing they should be doing is rushing, but that is exactly what they are doing. The City needs to make sure that it takes the time to fully understand the ramifications of a home-buying tax," said Mason.

May 8, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Bell Canada's new monitoring service

Bell Canada has introduced a customizable surveillance service that is controlled by the homeowner via a secure personalized Web site. Clients can go online from anywhere they have Internet access and customize their service by deciding what they want to be alerted about, who should receive alerts, and how – whether by phone, e-mail or text message. In addition to self-monitoring, clients can also opt for round-the-clock monitoring by dedicated professionals.

Home Monitoring from Bell starts at $19.95 per month, while the Starter Kit – consisting of a base unit, two door/window sensors, a motion detector and a remote keypad - costs $299.99.

March 6, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Air quality in your home

The Ontario Lung Association has a practical website created to help you identify problem areas in your home, along with some suggested solutions. For instance, if you suspect your laundry room is the breeding ground for aggravating scents, and mould brought on by excess humidity, take the time to review the potential offenders discussed here.

Instead of scented laundry detergent you may want to switch to unscented laundry soap marked with the Canadian Ecologo. In fact, it may be wise to use laundry balls instead of soap, and finish the wash with a couple of cups of vinegar in the rinse instead of fabric softener. Another vulnerable area may be your dryer if it's not vented to the outside of the house properly, or if the hose is blocked.

Drying your clothes on an outside line, whenever possible, is a refreshing energy saver. However, in some communities, there are bylaws prohibiting the use of outdoor clotheslines. Possibly the more aggravating offender of air quality, indoors and out, is moulds. These microscopic fungi are among the most widespread living organisms. Many moulds produce offspring by releasing spores into the air; they live on animal and plant matter. Growth is encouraged by warmth and high humidity, and as they grow, they form visible woolly patches. A well-known example is common bread mould.

Indoor moulds are particularly common in well-insulated houses with inadequate ventilation. Because moulds love damp areas, look for mould in the following rooms in your house: basement, bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry room. Mould can also grow behind a wall where a water pipe may be leaking.

Health Effects

Dampness in housing is associated with airway inflammation, exacerbation of asthma, increased incidence of wheezing and other respiratory symptoms, and increased incidence of upper respiratory infections. Excess moisture, high humidity, and water leakage often lead to the growth of mould.

Mould may be a trigger for those who are allergic to it, presenting as symptoms of asthma. Mould has been associated with the same list of adverse respiratory health effects as dampness, as well as changes in lung function, such as increased peak flow variability, and development of allergy to mould. Mould appears to exacerbate respiratory conditions both directly (e.g. exacerbation of existing asthma), and indirectly (e.g. increased incidence of colds and increased sensitization).

What can you do?

Monitor humidity with a hygrometer, available at hardware or home supply stores. Generally, indoor humidity should be kept between 30 and 50 per cent. Too much humidity may encourage mould growth. As well, moulds can grow in the water tanks of such devices when the water is left standing. Breathing in mists that contain these organisms

For more tips on improving air quality in and around your home, visit The Lung Association website

February 28, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Is remodeling worth the expense?

Remodeling magazine's 19th annual "Cost vs. Value Report" could give prospective home re-modelers a cause for concern. According to the report, the cost of remodeling increased at the same time that the return on the dollars invested decreased. Like the recent correction in the home sale market, the remodeling boom of recent years appears to be returning to more normal levels. It was an adjustment that was bound to happen.

Remodeling magazine made changes in the way they analyzed data for the 2006 report, which is thought to have contributed to the higher, yet more accurate, remodeling cost figures. Estimates of resale value are also thought to be more accurate in 2006 than in previous years. A record 2,188 members of the National Association of Realtors® completed the magazine's online survey.

Keep in mind that the valuations cited in the report are based on averages. In reality, factors like cost of finishes, the condition of the rest of the house and local market conditions can cause any given remodel project to deviate significantly from the average.

Still, the change from 2005 to 2006 in the national averages for remodeling costs and the amount recouped at sale is significant. For example, Remodeling magazine's 2005 report put the national average cost of a minor kitchen remodel at $14,913. The resale value of the improvements was $14,691, or 98.5 percent of the cost. A minor kitchen remodel consisted of updating, not redoing the kitchen from scratch. Cabinet boxes were left in place; only the doors and drawers were replaced. Appliances, countertops and floor covering were updated with similar materials.

In the 2006 report, the national average cost for the same project was $17,928, up over $3,000, or about 20 percent, from a year ago. The resale value of the improvements also increased, but only to $15,278 -- a 4 percent increase. The amount recouped couldn't keep pace with the increase in renovation costs, so the return on the investment at sale was only 85.2 percent -- a drop of 13.2 percent from a year ago.

According to the 2006 report, a major kitchen remodel returns even less on the investment. The national average cost of a major kitchen remodel was $54,241. The resale value of the improvements was only $43,602, or 80.4 percent of the cost.

This report underscores the importance of remodeling with a long term perspective in mind. It doesn't make sense to embark on a major kitchen remodel just before selling your home. You'll recoup less than if you did a modified minor kitchen remodel consisting of painting and updating light fixtures, floor coverings and cabinet pulls.

In addition to national averages, the Remodeling magazine report gives statistics for remodeling costs and resale values for nine regions across the United States. The report covers 25 remodeling projects, and for the first time PDF files are available for the 60 cities that were surveyed. The report, as well as individual city reports, can be purchased and downloaded from www.costvsvalue.com.

February 26, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Bell Canada launches home monitoring

Wireless and Internet-based solution delivers the next generation in home security

Bell Canada has introduced an innovative new service that leverages high-speed mobile wireless and Internet services from Bell to deliver an easy-to-use and fully customizable home monitoring and security solution.

"Home Monitoring from Bell is a completely wireless solution enabling homeowners to stay informed in real-time about the status of their loved ones and their home," said Jeff Crews, Vice President and General Manager, Bell Monitoring Services. "Home Monitoring from Bell offers enhanced and individually customizable capabilities, completely controlled by the homeowner through a secure personalized Web site. It's the first of its kind in Canada."

Home Monitoring from Bell is simple to install and easy to use. Clients can go online from anywhere they have Internet access and customize their service by deciding what they want to be alerted about, who should receive alerts, and how - whether by phone, e-mail or text message. In addition to self-monitoring, clients can also opt for round-the-clock monitoring by dedicated professionals.

Home Monitoring from Bell offers a broad range of capabilities, including:

• Know when the kids are home safely from school: Clients can receive an alert at work to let them know when their son or daughter turns the system off using a personal PIN.
• Support independent living: With Safe at Home service, Home Monitoring from Bell can keep track of normal movement within the home. For example, a client can be notified if an elderly parent is not up and about following their normal routine by a specified time in the morning.
• Be alerted to unexpected entry: Clients can choose to receive alerts or have alerts sent to designated contacts, such as family, friends or neighbours. Or they can elect to have the Bell Professional Monitoring centre monitor their home on their behalf.
• Avoid hazards and costly damage from events such as flooding or fire: With home safety devices such as water and smoke detectors clients will quickly be alerted to potential hazards at home even when they aren't there.
• Remotely monitor a cottage or rental property: Clients can use remote management capabilities to know when a second property is vacant or occupied, to arm and disarm the system and be alerted about issues that need attention.
• Track the home repair person, realtor or dog walker: Clients can easily grant temporary access and stay informed when someone comes and goes from their home.
• Video monitoring: Home Monitoring has optional video capability that allows clients to access a live video stream from their personal Web site or have images pushed to them by e-mail or to a cell phone when an alert occurs.

"Canadians should have peace-of-mind when it comes to the safety and security of their family and home," said Jack Smith, President of the Canada Safety Council. "Home monitoring is an important tool that ensures the well-being of loved ones and the protection of the things we value. The Council is delighted to be partnering with Bell Canada in promoting the safety and security of Canadians and their families."

Cost and availability

Home Monitoring from Bell starts at $19.95 per month, while a Home Monitoring Starter Kit - consisting of a base unit, two door/window sensors, a motion detector and a remote keypad - costs $299.99. Additional hardware and services can be purchased separately.

Home Monitoring from Bell is available for purchase online or by calling 888-722-3992.

For more information, please visit www.bellhomemonitoring.ca

February 8, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

A new kitchen is good ...

If you are looking for the best bang for your renovation dollar, kitchens and bathrooms are still considered to be the projects with the highest potential to add or maintain value in a home.

If you are considering selling your home in the near future, talk to a real estate for tips on how to make your home more appealing and “saleable.” You may find that a new kitchen is not in your best interests and a fresh coat of paint and some minor repairs are all that’s needed. Because renovating a kitchen can be one of the more expensive projects a homeowner will undertake, you’ll want to consider the length of time you expect to stay in your house.

According to the Appraisal Institute of Canada, if you are remodelling your kitchen as a face-lift prior to selling it, it’s recommended that you spend no more than 10-15% of the cost of your house. If you are going to remain in your house for more than five years, you can spend 25% or more – and in most cases you will more than recoup the cost of the renovation when you sell.

How much will it cost?

Kitchen renovations can cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 for a cosmetic facelift with no new cabinets, plumbing or electrical changes. Look to spend at least $10,000 if you choose new low-end cabinetry, counters, appliances, flooring, paint, and some minor structural changes. However, the sky’s the limit when it comes to a new kitchen and you can expect to pay $20,000 and up for high quality cabinets, custom work and many upgrades.

Keeping costs down

There are ways to cut costs when updating your kitchen without sacrificing quality.

Regardless of what you do budget, don't skimp on design, appliances, or labor. These are the basis for a functional kitchen and you should get the best you can afford. To keep costs to a minimum, use stock cabinets instead of custom work, laminates instead of solids, and hang on to your current appliances, if you can. Also try to keep your existing plumbing and electrical and don't make structural changes to the room.

Planning ahead in detail will also save you money. Any changes or corrections halfway through the process will be expensive.

Tips for low cost makeovers

If your budget is tight and smaller projects are what you’re aiming for, here are a few ideas:

Resurface or repaint old cupboards

Paint is inexpensive and can transform wooden cupboards in a matter of hours. Try a new painting technique, or a textured look, or a zesty combination of colours. You can also resurface old cupboards with wood laminate, or one of the new, non-traditional plastic-based materials that resist chipping, denting and staining. Formica counter tops, for example, provide the look and feel of expensive solid surfacing at about half the cost.

Use more glass

Replace a few cabinets with glass ones. Glass and mirrors in a room add the illusion of more space, as well as glamour -- especially if you add interior lights to your new cupboards.

Change your hardware

Simply adding new cabinet and drawer handles can change the look of a kitchen! With the many choices in colour, size and style of drawer knobs and handles, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

Floor and wall facelifts

Paint, wallpaper and flooring in a variety of textures, styles, colours and patterns can easily spice up a bland kitchen. Stencil a border around a window, below a ceiling, or between the cupboards and the counter tops and you can change the mood overnight.

Be innovative

A good kitchen should not only look great, but stand up to daily wear and tear. It should function well and enable people to move freely between it and related areas of the house.

If you plan to completely remodel the kitchen, be honest about your ability. You may want to leave this important job in the hands of an expert who can do the work quickly and professionally. A kitchen designer/contractor can suggest unique ideas and come up with creative solutions to particular problems. Finally, be sure to get at least two bids on the work you plan to do and compare these carefully.

January 22, 2007 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

City of Toronto Public Auction

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he City of Toronto's Public Auction taking place on Saturday, October 21, 2006, offers the public a great opportunity to pick up some bargains on items such as office equipment, cars, trucks, bicycles, and lawn equipment - sold to the highest bidder. Bidding for this semi-annual event starts at 9:30 a.m. Interested buyers can preview items starting at 7 a.m. and vehicles go on sale at 10:30 a.m.

Big-ticket items and motorized equipment can be held with a deposit of $300 payable by cash, debit card, certified cheque, Master Card or Visa (2 percent premium will be added to all purchases if paying by credit card), with the balance payable prior to pick-up. Purchases can be picked up after the auction on Saturday, October 21, or between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 22 or Monday, October 23. All purchases must be picked up by 5 p.m., Monday, October 23.

The semi-annual auction event organized by the City of Toronto's Purchasing and Materials Management Division, generates revenue for the City and finds new homes for hundreds of goods no longer needed.

For more information, call M. Wilson & Co. at 1-888-205-3331, or visit the website at www.mwilson.com. Advance access for members of the media takes place on Thursday, October 19, 2006 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall, Exhibition Place, 180 Princes' Blvd.

October 12, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

It's a renovation nation

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s the onslaught of renovating and decorating TV shows driving homeowners to renovate, or are homeowners' insatiable lifestyle aspirations fuelling the demand for the TV shows? Either way, one continues to feed the other as the renovation market continues to skyrocket.

Although not implicit in the name, renovation is a key focus for the Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association, through their renovators and custom builders' council and three annual home shows. When not focused on building new homes or condominiums, the association helps to optimize the lifestyle of a homeowner, which is where this weekend's Fall Home Show comes in.

But first, here are some eye-popping statistics. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. notes that renovation spending has more than doubled since 1999 and is forecasting an 8.2 per cent increase this year and a further 6.9 per cent increase next year, bringing total renovation spending to a whopping $46.5 billion.

CMHC adds that "record levels of existing home sales in recent years, the effects of a strong job market, and robust housing starts continue to support growth in renovation spending."

The resale/renovation relationship is key as homeowners either fix up their existing home to sell, or renovate the resale home they purchased. Generally, households tend to renovate within the first three years after the purchase of an existing home, CMHC says.

And as CMHC reveals, housing resales hit a record high 483,000 units nationally in 2005, with the 2006 forecast running almost as high and 2007 expected to stay above 450,000 units for the fourth straight year.

Given the lag of up to three years for renovation projects, contractors can expect to remain very busy right through the end of the decade. This is where the homeowner comes in. If you're contemplating a reno, don't expect to pick up the phone today and have workers on-site tomorrow. In fact, if the contractor you are talking to isn't very busy, think twice, because the best contractors are booked far ahead.

The Greater Toronto Home Builders' Association has launched the RenoMark program to help homeowners tell apart professional renovation contractors from all the other contractors out there. The RenoMark renovators commit to the association's general code of ethics as well as a renovation-specific code of conduct.

You can get the basic details by visiting http://www.renomark.ca, or you can get the full flavour by visiting our feature exhibit — Destination Renovation — at the Fall Home Show, on through tomorrow at the Automotive Building, Exhibition Place.

Professional contractors will be on hand to discuss your potential renovation project with you. They'll help you understand timelines, approvals, options, trends and budgets.

There is a photo gallery of before-and-after photos of professional renovations of all types and budgets (really, really big budgets in some cases) to keep you entertained. There's also lots of free literature on the renovation process.

There are lots of other renovation attractions at the show, including Dave Currie and Christie Rayburn, hosts of Marriage Uncensored, who will deal with the hardest part of renovating next to finding the right contractor: surviving the process with your marriage intact.

For more information, visit fallhomeshow.com.

October 1, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Return of energy retrofit program

EnerGuide to be rebranded under new climate change plan

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he Conservative government's new $2-billion plan for the environment will include a re-branded version of the cancelled EnerGuide for Houses program, the National Post reported on September 13th.

The Conservative government canceled the EnerGuide for Houses program in May 2006 after the Auditor General's department criticized the program for failing to justify its hefty price tag. EnerGuide for Homes was created as part of the Liberal’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help meet its Kyoto Accord commitments in 2003.

In addition to the direct benefits realized by participating homeowners, the availability of EnerGuide ratings have helped REALTORS® assist buyers and sellers in making informed choices about the condition of resale homes.

The Canadian Real Estate Association’s 2007 Pre-Budget Submission – which was delivered to the House of Commons Finance Committee in early September – recommended that the federal government restore federal funding for the program. CREA’s support for the program is based on the expectation that the program would remain voluntary.

The Conservatives’ new "Made in Canada" plan was shown to Cabinet in mid-September. If approved, the first component will be tabled in the House of Commons in early October.

September 30, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

About vermiculite insulation

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s it UFFI all over again? Recent media coverage reporting the health risks associated with vermiculite insulation containing asbestos has sparked fear in the minds of some homeowners and even a class action lawsuit. But does vermiculite insulation have the potential to cause potentially deal-killing headaches for home buyers, sellers and REALTORS® like UFFI (Urea formaldehyde foam insulation) did?

Health Canada issued an advisory last year warning Canadians about potential health risks posed by some vermiculite insulation that may contain asbestos. The lawsuit filed against former makers and marketers of the asbestos-based insulation Zonolite and the federal government alleges Ottawa pushed its use despite knowing it was potentially unsafe. In an interview for CTV news, one of the lawyers involved in the class action was quoted as saying, "I think the way this is going is just as REALTORS® now have to check the box about UFFI every time they sell a property… within a few years there will be a box to check whether or not a house has ever had Zonolite in it."

The problem

Vermiculite ore produced from the Libby Mine in Montana, USA, from the 1920s to 1990, may contain asbestos. This mine supplied the majority of the world market in vermiculite insulation, mostly sold under the brand name Zonolite. According to Health Canada, insulation material made from vermiculite ore produced by the Libby Mine was not widely used after the mid-1980's and has not been sold on the market in Canada for more than 10 years. The advisory also states that not all vermiculite insulation manufactured before 1990 contains asbestos either.

Asbestos poses health risks when fibres are present in the air that people breathe. When inhaled, asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis (a scarring of the lungs which makes breathing difficult), mesothelioma (a rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdominal cavity) and lung cancer. Asbestos related illnesses are usually associated with frequent and prolonged exposure to asbestos rather than occasional exposure and the time it takes to develop a disease from exposure to asbestos is usually very long– up to decades.

How big is the problem?

Andrew Dixon, President of OAHI (Ontario Association of Home Inspectors) believes the media is making this a bigger issue than it really is. “I don’t know what percentage of homes in Ontario has this type of insulation, but my guess is less than 10 per cent,” he says. "Much of the Zonolite that was installed was put in by homeowners to top up their home's insulation levels because they could buy it in large economical bags at any home improvement store."

Dixon routinely checks for what type of insulation is present during a home inspection and says that all members of OAHI are aware of vermiculite and can identify it. If vermiculite is discovered, it’s up to the homeowner to have it tested for asbestos. Since the asbestos fibres tend to fall to the bottom, it can be difficult to get an accurate sample for testing. Dixon suggests calling in a company that specializes in sampling and testing for asbestos.

Dealing with asbestos insulation

If, after testing, a home is found to contain asbestos in its insulation, there are several ways to deal with it. Dixon says often the best solution is to leave it alone and seal up the attic. "A home inspector will discuss the risk with the homeowner – as long as the attic is well-sealed, the risk is low. Most insulation doesn’t get into the house unless you are going in and out of your attic."

Health Canada’s information also advocates leaving the insulation alone. "The best way to minimize your risk of amphibole asbestos exposure is to avoid disturbing vermiculite-based insulation in any way. If vermiculite-based insulation is contained and not exposed to the home or interior environment, it poses very little risk."

Other methods to remedy the problem include putting additional insulation on top of the vermiculite which could cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 or for around $10,000 or more, there are companies that will completely remove the vermiculite insulation.

So is Zonolite today’s UFFI? Andrew Dixon doesn’t think so. "I haven’t seen a real estate deal fall through because of it," he says. His advice to REALTORS® is to recommend that homeowners have the vermiculite tested, review the information available on the Health Canada and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Web sites and then make their decision of how to deal with it based on the level of risk. To learn more about vermiculite-based insulation visit the CMHC Web site or visit the Health Canada Web site.

September 8, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Ways to Add Value to your Home

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hen you purchased your home, you selected it based on your specific criteria for space, number of bedrooms and baths, and amenities to suit your lifestyle. As you live in your home, you stamp your own personality on it through decorating, improvements, and other enhancements.

How about adding value to your home at the same time that you personalize it? Here are the five most common ways to add real value to your property, for your comfort and enjoyment-and for resale down the road.

Maintenance:

Many small problems, when left untreated, can blossom into major repairs. By spending a little time and money on the problem up front, you save major repair bills over time. A good example is earth-to-wood contact. Clear the dirt away from the house. This will minimize pest infestation later on.

Cosmetic Improvements:

The best way to enhance the value of your property is to paint, update fixtures, and replace/refinish carpets and flooring. This immediately enhances your home's appeal and updates it without a major cash outlay.

Remodeling:

Select your projects wisely. Updating the kitchen and baths usually provides the greatest return on your investment. But make sure you don't over-improve for the neighborhood, or you will not get the return on your dollar.

Financing:

Stay on top of interest rates. You may want to take advantage of interest rate drops to refinance at a lower rate.

Energy Efficiency:

Consider installing energy-efficient appliances, heating and cooling systems, and double- or triple-pane windows. Spending money up front can save you substantial sums long term.

August 25, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Energy standards challenge builders

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here are over 700 changes to the 2007 Ontario Building Code, including the new energy performance standards for 2012 and the move to an objective-based format. These represent a significant change for the new home construction industry.

"As an association, we are always concerned with the affordability of new homes for consumers. With escalating new and resale house prices, rising interest rates, escalating development charges and increased cost of materials, and now the addition costs related to the implementation of the new Ontario Building Code package, housing affordability will continue to be a challenge for Ontarians," says Victor Fiume, President of the Ontario Home Builders’ Association.

Fiume added, "The energy efficiency targets set out by the government for 2012 represent a monumental shift for our industry. We estimate that additional costs will be in the $10,000 to $15,000 dollar range. This will seriously affect affordability of housing in the future."

OHBA has concerns regarding moisture and mould issues as they relate to the 2009 requirement for near full-height basement insulation. "As home builders we are exploring ways to resolve this potential issue through improved building techniques. In the end, we have a responsibility to consumers to build healthy and safe homes,", Fiume explained.

"Ontario home builders have always been industry leaders in providing the best built homes in the world however, the new Ontario Building Code's energy efficiency standards represent a challenge. OHBA is committed to working in partnership with the provincial government and other agencies to meet the new requirements. We recognize we have a responsibility like all Ontarians, to practice and promote energy conservation," concluded Fiume.

August 1, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Who's stealing your house?

Simple precautions can slam the door on real estate title fraud.

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ost people are familiar with how to protect their credit card from fraud by keeping the card secure and only providing it to authorized merchants. In addition, credit card companies have put systems in place to recognize out-of-pattern spending in order to reduce the number of fraudulent charges.

However, many homeowners are unaware of the possibility of fraud against their homes. While it seems highly unlikely that a thief could steal the house out from under you, fraud involving property titles is becoming more common. The Canadian Institute of Mortgage Brokers and Lenders (CIMBL) estimated real estate title fraud at approximately $300 million per year nationally.

While real estate title fraud is growing, people about to purchase a home and those who already own their home can protect their title against fraud by purchasing title insurance. Title insurance provides coverage for, among other things, loss or damage resulting from fraud and forgery pertaining to the insured homeowner’s right of ownership in real estate.

Fraudsters have a number of methods of obtaining bogus mortgages against properties. One target is a higher worth individual with no existing mortgage on the property, so the thief can apply for a larger mortgage amount. They assume the property owner’s identity and secure a mortgage based on the existing owner’s credit rating and property.

The second approach involves fraudulently discharging an existing mortgage before obtaining a new mortgage. This means the title to the property is clear when applying for new financing. In both cases, once the mortgage proceeds are secured from a lending institution the funds are directed to a third party rather than to the registered property owner.

In most cases, homeowners are innocent victims of title fraud. The criminal can often complete the entire transaction without the existing homeowner’s knowledge, through false identification and forged documents. Once a thief commits title fraud, the burden falls on the original homeowner to prove the deception. This can mean extensive legal fees and hassles before the title is restored to the rightful owner. Homeowners in Canada have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars worth of legal fees to restore the title on their property after they were victims of fraud.

“When a fraudulent charge is placed on your credit card, the bank allows you to challenge the amount and suspend payment until there is an investigation,” says Susan Leslie, Vice President, First Canadian Title, a leading title insurance company based in Oakville, Ontario. “There is no similar system for real estate when someone fraudulently charges a mortgage against your property. The onus is on the homeowner to prove the crime and it can be very costly to restore your title.”

Title insurance for people who currently own their home is available for a one-time premium based on the value of the property. For as little as $200., the insurance is effective as long as the homeowner owns the house and protects against fraud as well as other title issues, such as survey defects, loss as a result of a renovation done without a building permit, tax arrears and more.

Until recently, title insurance could only be purchased when buying a home. Now, First Canadian Title offers a title insurance policy for existing homeowners.

“For homeowners, title insurance is peace of mind in case they are a targeted by a criminal,” says Leslie. “Discovering you no longer own your home creates anxiety, frustration, expense and hardship. For a one-time premium, title insurance protects your right of ownership for as long as you own your home.”

For more information about the Existing Home Owner Policy or to obtain coverage, speak to your lawyer.

July 31, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

REALTOR® builds straw house

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t didn’t work for the three little pigs, but a REALTOR® is making straw work for his new home. Julius Bloomfield is creating a straw bale home for himself in Naramata, BC.

"I just wanted to do something different and wanted to build a house that was energy efficient and was off the grid," said Bloomfield. "I'm hoping to inspire the public to at least think about some of the elements of living in this home."

With the help of the newly created Naramata Conservation Initiative (NCI), Bloomfield recently held an open house for the public to see the benefits of working with straw. "We're an organization that provides information for environmentally sustainable home building," said Craig Henderson of NCI.

The straw bale house, which Bloomfield said will cost $275,000 to build, has two feet of straw inlaid in the walls, offering insulation values of about double that of standard-frame homes. The straw will be hidden inside the walls, which will be stuccoed or cement plastered on the interior and exterior.

For electricity, Bloomfield invested in a solar power system which sees rooftop panels cover about 100 square feet to power batteries. The energy in the batteries is converted to AC power for the house.

The house was built into the earth and faces south to gather passive solar energy. The floors are heated through a wood fire water heating system and water is provided from a well 150 feet above the house which runs off a gravity feed to the house.

The home has been under construction for the last year, but Bloomfield and his builders hope it will be done by the end of summer or early fall.

While modern technology like solar panels may not have been available at the time, straw bale homes have been built since the 19th century.

About 130 years ago, settlers in Nebraska used straw when they didn't have enough trees to build with. They turned prairie grasses into bales and stacked them to create walls of a home. Some of the homes are still standing.

Henderson, who toured straw bale homes in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario and BC, estimated there are about 12 in the South Okanagan.

July 25, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Bathroom Remodeling Tips

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ome buyers get pickier everyday. Today's home sellers need to do more preparing their homes for sale to compete. If you want to take small remodeling steps to sell your home or investment house, consider the bathrooms.

Powder Rooms or Guest Bathrooms Attract Buyers

One room to remodel that makes a difference in your property's attraction to home buyers--the guest bathroom--takes little money to make a huge impact.

If you have a guest bathroom, play up this home feature in a big way for four reasons:

1. Home shoppers often ask to use the bathroom. They spend more time viewing this space and examine it more closely than other rooms.
2. Because the home buyer uses the space, they feel connected to the home. A positive connection rather than a feeling of "can't wait to get out of here" makes the difference between a sale and the buyer moving on to the next house.
3. You get a big bang for your buck in the small space. One gallon of paint goes along way and costs as little as $2 if you use oops paint. Besides paint, Habitat for Humanity's ReStore sells sinks, toilets, mirrors, lighting fixtures, and cabinets at extreme discounted prices.
4. Buyers' choose the house that will impress their friends and family. An impressive guest bath fills the self-esteem need of your home buyer.

If you don't have a guest bathroom--in other words the children's bathroom does double duty--design this bathroom for adults. Children don't need a cutesy nursery-theme bathroom. In fact, children love to feel grown-up!

Master Bathroom

Buyers love the larger master bathrooms they see in new tract homes. Counter to ceiling mirrors above the sink will make an older small bathroom feel larger. If you're working with the typical small master bath, make it feel like a private spa retreat. Stage the bathroom with fluffy towels, exotic oils, and green plants.

Bathroom Remodeling Tips

• Get rid of old medicine cabinets.
• Hang a huge framed mirror or mirror from counter to ceiling.
• Paint walls and ceiling the same color to save time cutting in. Water colors like pale green-blue look great with white trim, which updates tired wood cabinets.
• If you can't get the stains out of a toilet, replace it. Hardware centers sell pumice stones to remove heavy stains if you don't mind hard work.

Take a hard look at the bathrooms in your house and get busy making changes that will make buyers feel connected to your home. Preparing your home for sale makes a huge difference in attracting buyers.

July 6, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Ontario freezes assessments

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he Ontario government is cancelling the next two property tax re- assessments, to allow the province time to revamp the controversial system administered by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The move effectively freezes assessed values where they are now, but does not affect appeals.

The assessment system has angered Ontario homeowners because they have had to cope with huge increases in their assessments and the subsequent impact on their municipal taxes.

Ontario Finance Minister Greg Sorbara announced the two-year freeze in response to a scathing report from Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin, who described the Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC) as an elitist operation with practices that result in thousands of incorrect assessments every year.

Marin's report was released at the end of March and Sorbara announced the cancellation to give MPAC time to implement changes and 22 recommendations in the report. "We will be able to bring about changes that will make the system more fair and accountable," the minister told reporters at the provincial legislature.

"We want to ensure that the changes will result in an improved and strong, functioning system that is fair to all Ontarians."

The assessed value set by MPAC, when multiplied by the tax rate set by municipalities, results in the tax bill sent to homeowners.

Sorbara's announcement came the day before the deadline for Ontario homeowners to appeal their 2006 assessments to the Assessment Review Board. It was extended by the government from the end of March at the time Marin's report was unveiled.

The Finance Minister acknowledged there could be "significant changes" to property values when they are reviewed again in 2008. The minister said, "Our aim is to continue to improve the property assessment system ... The system needs to serve the best interests of all ratepayers across the province."

Marin recommended Ontario look at Manitoba's system, which puts the onus of proof on those who made the assessment. He noted the Ontario system puts the onus on the taxpayer to prove an assessment is wrong and also ignores a property's actual sale price, preferring mass appraisals.

July 1, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

Experts sound radon alarm

Safe level of gas in homes needs review

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published report says an advisory panel of health experts drawn mainly from Health Canada and the provinces wants Canada to tighten its radon exposure guidelines dramatically. The Globe and Mail says the advisory panel wants a 75 per cent reduction in the amount of the deadly radioactive gas considered safe in homes.

Canada currently has one of the most permissive radon exposure standards in the world, higher even than those of some developing countries. The panel is proposing a lower limit to reduce the incidence of lung cancer, the primary health threat from the gas. The published report says in a report to the federal and provincial governments, the advisory panel estimated that radon exposure causes about 10 per cent of all lung cancers. Based on 2005 figures, that would mean about 1,900 deaths.

This makes radon the second largest contributor to the deadly disease after exposure to tobacco smoke.

"The number of radon-induced lung cancers is about one-half of the deaths due to automobile accidents, and is equal to the combined total of deaths due to accidental poisonings, homicides, drownings and fires," the panel said in a report. "In any other situation, this number of deaths would certainly justify a major public health initiative."

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas released by the decay of uranium in the ground, and is found in almost every region of the country. Radioactivity emanating from the soil can slip into the basements of homes through foundation cracks and plumbing. Among the areas with the highest levels of radon because of soil composition are Sudbury, Halifax and Sherbrooke, QC.

The panel estimates that about 2.5 per cent of homes, a total of 175,000, have radon levels above the proposal, and the owners would be advised to take actions to get their levels down. About 450 schools and 20 hospitals across the country – in all provinces and territories – would need about $560-million in alterations to meet the new standard, according to the panel.

The Canadian standard is 800 Becquerel per cubic metre of air. A Becquerel is a measure of radioactive decay. The panel recommends the figure be lowered to 200 Bq/cubic metre, the same as in Britain, Sweden and Norway, and new construction in China.

The current Canadian standard was set in 1988, and is considered dated because it was based on the amount of danger posed by radon exposures for uranium miners. A new study conducted in 2004 in Europe and a second in 2005 based on North American research indicated that radon can be deadly at the lower amounts found in homes.

The panel's proposal is open for public comment until June 22nd, after which the country's health authorities will decide whether to adopt it. Canada's exposure limit is expected to change because it is more than five times higher than that of the United States, and four times higher than for a new home built in China.

The most common way to reduce radon entering a house is to install venting pipes through basement floor slabs and seal gaps and cracks in basement walls. Exposures to radon are worse in winter, when Canadian homes have the least ventilation.

June 16, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (3)

Home Additions Gone Wild?

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ave you remodeled your kitchen? Bath? Basement? Looking to start another improvement project that’s a little unique? We’ll, MSN has a very interesting article by Christopher Solomon, 7 Extreme Home Additions, that offers ideas for some extreme home additions.

It’s not just for the stars of MTV’S “Cribs” anymore. Average folk who just so happen to have some extra cash laying around are adding some pretty cool toys to their homes. Some of the items mentioned in the article are:

• Bowling Alley
• Firing Range
• Rock Climbing Walls
• Wine Cellars
• Endless Pools
• Basketball Court
• Game & Hobby Rooms

Here are some more that come to mind should you have some acreage:

• Miniature Skating Rink / Hockey Rink
• Mini Golf / Putting Green
• Fishing Pond
• Go Cart Race Track
• 3-D Archery Course

Although adding an extravagant feature to your home may quench your immediate renovation craving, always remember to think about how any minor or extravagant upgrade can effect the re-sale of your property. It may be a tad difficult to sell a home with a firing range with a pink kitchen that has a rock climbing wall in the two story living room with disco strobe light flooring.

June 15, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1)

Renovation spending to increase

Clayton forecasts $40 billion for this year

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anadian homeowners are expected to spend $40.7 billion renovating their homes this year, according to a new report from Clayton Research.

"Dumpsters and bobcats will remain fixtures in your neighborhood this year and next as homeowners continue their love affair with the renovation," states the May issue of the Clayton Housing Report. Clayton forecasts that spending on renovations will surpass spending on the building of new homes this year.

The renovation sector is being boosted by low interest rates, a growing number of owner households, strong home sales, equity withdrawals from homes and need from a generally aging housing stock, according to the report. Contractors are doing two-thirds of renovation work while do-it-yourselfers are tackling one-third of the projects.

There was an eight per cent rise in spending on home improvements last year, with positive growth experienced in all provinces. A further seven per cent increase is forecast for this year and next.

A recent CIBC survey found that homeowners believe each $100 they put into major renovations will return them $140 in added value. "In reality, returns may be slimmer," Clayton Research reports. "A survey of its membership by the Appraisal Institute of Canada has found that while projects such as kitchen and bathroom renovations probably break even in terms of adding value to the home, others such as recreation rooms, new windows and flooring upgrades return little better than 50 cents on the dollar."

June 8, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

Feds cut EnerGuide programs

Tories also reduce funds for other “Kyoto” programs

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ederal Department of Finance officials have confirmed that a number of environmental programs – including the EnerGuide program – are losing some or all of their funding as a result of the Federal Budget delivered on May 2nd.

EnerGuide has had its budget slashed by $227 million over the next five years. The program allows Canadians who have their homes renovated to save energy to qualify for a federal grant of several thousand dollars.

About 300,000 people have used the EnerGuide program since its start in the late 1990s. A home retrofitted under the program cuts its energy use by an average of 30 per cent. Groups that run the program say it will be a shadow of its former self and a lot fewer people will be able to take advantage of it.

The federal government has also quietly axed a program to help low-income households cope with high energy costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The entire budget has been cut for EnerGuide for Low Income Houses – a $500 million, five-year initiative introduced with all-party support last November.

Four other environmental programs have lost most, or all, of their funding.  They include everything from money to develop new kinds of renewable energy, to a program to help people switch to more efficient furnaces.

The cuts add up to just under $1 billion over the next five years. The federal departments that run the programs have refused to comment.  They simply say the government is developing its own environmental plan, which will be announced later this year.

May 10, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

Air Conditioner Rebate Program

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tarting April 21, 2006, consumers will receive a $500 rebate when they replace an inefficient central air conditioner with a new ENERGYSTAR® qualified system. There is a $50 rebate for those who have their central air conditioner tuned up by a registered participating contractor, and a $75 rebate on the supply and installation of a programmable thermostat.

To undertake the Cool Savings program, the Conservation Bureau has partnered with the Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) and has designed a program that will help reduce peak demand for electricity this summer and reduce overall demand during cooling seasons for years to come.

For consumer information call 1-888-668-4636.

April 20, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

New Smoke Alarm Requirements

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s of March 1, 2006, every home in Ontario is required to have working smoke alarms on every storey or level, including basements.

According to information from the Ontario Fire Marshal and as drafted in the Ontario Fire Code, "a smoke alarm is required to be installed between each sleeping area and the remainder of the dwelling unit. Where the sleeping areas are served by hallways, the smoke alarms must be installed in the hallways."

In addition, at least one smoke alarm is required to be installed on each storey that does not contain a sleeping area.

Non-compliance with the Ontario Fire Code smoke alarm requirements can result in a ticket for $235 or a fine of up to $20,000 for homeowners, tenants and individual landlords, and up to $50,000 for corporations.

The Ontario Fire Code has specific methods for determining what is considered a storey in a dwelling unit. For detailed information on this and other aspects of this new requirement, please see the Ontario Fire Marshal's web site and click on "Working Smoke Alarms: It's the Law", and then on "Q&A’s".

March 5, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1)

WaterSaver Incentive Programs

City of Toronto - Residential Washer Program

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oronto's WaterSaver Program offers residents $60 cash back plus a chance to win $2500 when they buy eligible high-efficiency washers. These washers reduce water use by 40% and energy use by 60%. They will help the City to reduce daily water use by 15% by 2011.

When you apply for a rebate, your name will be automatically entered in a draw to win the amount you paid for your washing machine (excludes rebates, taxes and delivery fees).

1. Download the application/agreement form (PDF)
OR
Call 416-392-7000 or email savewater@toronto.ca to receive an application kit.
2. Select a washer from the City-selected list (PDF)
3. Purchase a washer from a participating retailer
4. Dispose of your old machine if applicable.
5. Return the completed application form and an unaltered copy of the original sales receipt to:

Toronto Water
Water Efficiency Program
Metro Hall, 19th floor
55 John Street
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3C6

Name of store

• Date of purchase

Be sure to include your water account number on the rebate application form. The City recommends that you keep a copy of the completed application form for your own records.

To be eligible for the program you must:

• own or rent residential property in the City of Toronto

March 5, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

Refund for energy efficiency

New program offers refund on mortgage insurance premium

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enworth Financial Canada has announced a premium refund for Canadians buying energy-efficient homes or improving existing homes to increase energy-efficiency. The company's new Energy-Efficient Housing program provides a 10 percent premium refund on Genworth mortgage insurance.

Those buying new energy efficient homes with low down payment mortgages, and hmeowners refinancing to renovate existing homes to be more energy efficient will qualify. The company says consumers will also get access to Genworth's “Homebuyer Privileges”, an on-line discount program for commonly purchased household items such as major appliances, moving services, and computers.

Genworth is making the premium refund available on loans with up to 35-year amortization periods at standard mortgage insurance premium rates. “Energy costs in Canada were up more than 32 percent in 2005 alone, and the Energy-Efficient Housing program will help homeowners cope with those increasing costs and create an incentive to purchase energy-efficient homes,” said Peter Vukanovich, President of Genworth Financial Canada.

“Genworth is constantly looking for new and better ways to help make homeownership more affordable, and this is one more way to help make that possible,” Vukanovich added. To qualify for the refund, homeowners must have either a Genworth-insured mortgage on qualifying newly constructed homes, or a Genworth-insured refinance mortgage on an existing home with qualifying energy-efficiency improvements.

New homes must have been purchased, and improvements for existing homes funded, on or after January 1, 2005. Participants apply for their mortgage insurance refund by completing an application available on the Genworth Financial Canada website, www.genworth.ca or by contacting their lender for more details.

February 22, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1)

Have you been snagged?

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e all know (and dread) the ubiquist Home Inspection. But a site from England tells about this firm's snagging services. Who knew?

A snagging list, also known as a snag list, is a list of defects in a new build property.  They are the result of a visual inspection of  a new home carried out by a qualified professional, or a new home buyer.  A variety of professionals are qualified to carry out snagging inspections, including chartered surveyors and experienced construction industry professionals.  They are known in the trade as snaggers. 

It is advisable to get a professional to create your snagging lists as they will find more defects than a layperson and the house builder is not obliged to inform you about the defects that they are aware of.  It is a case of buyer beware.

February 16, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (2)

New smoke detector regulations

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Under changes to the Ontario Fire Code that take effect March 1, 2006, every floor of every house in Ontario must have a working smoke detector. The regulation will require every household and rental property to purchase multiple alarms for each floor of a multi-storey dwelling, and all smoke alarms will have to be replaced every 10 years. Fines can be up to $235 for homeowners and $25, 000 for landlords.

February 6, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1)

Military sealing Zonolite insulation

Installed in about 300,000 Canadian homes

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ilitary officials will start sealing up Zonolite insulation in hundreds of homes on the Canadian Forces bases in Shilo and elsewhere before the end of March.

The work is part of a $2.8 million budget this year authorized to protect military personnel and their families from exposure to the insulation.

Zonolite was made from the mineral vermiculate, which came from a WR Grace mine in Montana that was tainted with naturally occurring deposits of asbestos. The insulation was used in at least 600 First Nations houses starting in the 1950s, and reports indicate that it's still in about 300,000 Canadian homes.

Disturbing the insulation can scatter dust, which can be inhaled, causing fibres to scar the lining of the lungs. A Health Canada advisory says that the insulation has the potential to cause lung diseases such as asbestosis and various forms of cancer, but does not pose a health risk if the insulation is properly sealed.

On Shilo, 431 homes have been identified as containing the potentially hazardous insulation by the Department of National Defence. There are another 1,850 homes on bases in Kingston, ON, Cold Lake, AB, and St. Hubert, QC on the list for remedial repairs. Major Bob Daunais with the Canadian Forces Housing Agency says the remediation work is being done to ensure the safety of their occupants.

While the federal government is working to seal Zonolite in military housing, it has not announced a similar program for First Nations housing, or any support programs to help Canadians test and properly seal the insulation in their homes.

January 20, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

New Year's Traditions

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ew Year's is a time of rebirth, a time for people to start over and get things under control. Of course bringing in the New Year without a few traditions just wouldn't be any fun. Hence a number of New Year's traditions have sprouted up over the years. Here are a few of the more popular ones:

New Year's Resolutions

People see New Year's as an opportunity to improve themselves. And what better way to start on the path of self-improvement than with a written list of resolutions? While the making of resolutions is a common New Year's tradition, the breaking of resolutions seems to be a common tradition for the remainder of the year.

Resolutions are nothing new. The Babylonians made resolutions as well, but while popular resolutions today might include quitting smoking, quitting drinking, losing weight, and spending more time with the family, the most common resolution among Babylonians was returning borrowed farm equipment!

Babies on Board

Dating as far back as the Egyptians, babies were seen as a symbol of rebirth. Early Christians denounced the use of the baby as a symbol of rebirth because they saw it as a pagan practice. Unfortunately for them, the symbol of the baby continued to grow in popularity, forcing the Church to reevaluate its stance on babies. The Church eventually allowed the use of the baby as a symbol for the New Year, saying it represented the birth of the baby Jesus.

The Tournament of Roses and the Pigskin Classic

The Rose Parade began in 1886 when members of the Valley Hunt Club wanted a way to celebrate the ripening of the orange crops in California (and to brag about California's mild winters). Horse-drawn carriages were decorated in flowers and paraded through the city of Pasadena. A variety of events followed, including foot races and a game of tug-of-war.

The event gained in popularity and grew in size each year. Motorized floats and marching bands were eventually added. The event continues to be held every January 1 (except when January 1 falls on Sunday, then the parade is held on the 2nd) and the parade line now measures about five miles long. Millions of people either attend the parade or watch it on television.

The Rose Bowl is traditionally held after the parade. Featuring two college football teams, the game is also watched by a large number of people across the nation. While the first Rose Bowl was held in 1902, the next game was not played until 1916. In the intervening years Roman chariot races replaced the football game.

New Year Superstitions

Many believe that the people you spend New Year's with are the people you will spend the rest of your life with, which is why most people like to surround themselves with family on friends on New Year's Eve.

Certain foods are also believed to affect the luck one has for the remainder of the year. Black-eyed peas are eaten by a lot of people on New Year's because it is believed that they will bring the person good luck. Cabbage is also seen as a good luck food because its leaves symbolize money (or the abundance of money).

Auld Lang Syne

"Auld Lang Syne" is the song played and sung to bring in the New Year. It is an old Scottish tune, believed to be at least partially written by the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The title of the song means "old long ago" or "times gone by."

HAPPY NEW YEAR

January 1, 2006 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

How remodeling affects value

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home is the most significant asset that many people own, and remodeling can considerably affect its resale value. To prevent homeowners from accidentally destroying value, the National Association of Realtors has queried its vast network of realty agents to find out what remodeling projects add the most value to homes.

Remodeling magazine crunched the data and on Wednesday released its annual "Cost versus Value Report." Even if you have no immediate plans to move, the report provides valuable insights into how remodeling might alter the resale value of your home. The report covers 58 regional markets and discusses various improvements from kitchen remodeling to deck additions.

"Our members' experience and familiarity with the communities in which they work make them valuable resources," says NAR president Thomas Stevens. "They understand what makes a good investment, whether their clients are buying, selling or remodeling."

Stevens hopes the report will help homeowners choose the projects that increase home value while avoiding those that lose money. In West Coast states, for example, kitchen upgrades return an average of 112% of costs when homeowners sell their home. By contrast, kitchen projects typically recoup only 85% of their costs in the Midwest. For their part, Midwesterners place a premium on exterior siding.

Even within regions, important distinctions in value emerge. "The desirability of certain home features varies by neighborhood and is heavily influenced by buyers' expectations in a given area," said Stevens.

For example, if homes in a neighborhood typically have two bathrooms, then adding a second to a one-bathroom home does little to distinguish that home. Instead, a wiser choice might be converting an attic into a bedroom.

The one consistent trend across regions is that home offices do little to increase value. (Yet another reason not to work from home.)

A synopsis of the report is available at Realtor Online.

December 22, 2005 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ontario cuts power on grow ops

New law allows distributors to shut off electricity

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lectricity distributors in Ontario can cut power to homes where they suspect residents are trying to grow pot under a new provincial law. Electricity can be shut off with the backing of a court order if there is reasonable cause to suspect criminal activity, according to the legislation that passed in mid-December.

The law also doubles the maximum fines for tampering with electrical wiring, a common way of disguising the consumption of large quantities of power for a grow op.

In 2002, grow ops were estimated to have cost Ontario nearly $100 million. The province says that as much as 85 per cent of these losses stem from large amounts of electricity stolen by grow-op operators to run hydroponic equipment.

The province also passed its fall budget bill Wednesday as the provincial government tried to finish up paperwork before rising for the holidays. Other bills passed into law this month include an act that ends mandatory retirement, and changes to the provincial election system that sets fixed election dates every four years.

The province also passed amendments to the Taxpayer Protection Act, which were required before Wednesday's introduction of legislation aimed at giving more taxation powers to the City of Toronto.

The new City of Toronto Act would provide Toronto with the authority to create tolls, impose surcharges on parking spaces and implement taxes on alcohol, tobacco and entertainment tickets. While city finance staff estimate the taxes could generate $50 million each year, Toronto Mayor David Miller says the city has no immediate intentions to exercise its new authority.

December 18, 2005 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (1)

NDP announces retrofit policy

Party proposes new federal loan program

The New Democratic Party (NDP) is proposing the creation of a new federal loan program to insulate homes and buildings. Party Leader Jack Layton announced the policy proposal as the NDP launched its environment platform at the United Nation's conference on climate change in early December.

The NDP's plan calls for $1.5 billion in loans for building renovations within the first year of the program. The home retrofit plan – which is intended to reduce energy consumption and cut home heating bills – is a central part of the NDP's policy on improving the environment and meeting Kyoto targets.

Canada's Kyoto target calls for a reduction of green house gases by 25 per cent below what they were in 1990 by 2020. A recent environmental report shows that emissions are currently over 1990 levels by 24 per cent. “The proposals that would achieve that objective don't necessarily have to involve great costs,” claimed Layton speaking of his party's climate change plan. “In fact, quite a few of the initiatives can be very profitable for Canadian companies and individuals.”

December 11, 2005 in Home Maintenance Matters | Permalink | Comments (0)

Renovations outpace the economy

A report by Clayton Research suggests renovation spending in Canada will hit $40.7 billion this year and $43.5-billion in 20