home improvements: Top 5 DIY projects to help you live better
- 01/06/18 03:07 PM
(NC) Household chores and endless projects can seem like a thankless job, but regular home maintenance is important to ensure your home's safety, comfort and long-term durability. If your to-do list is ever growing, there's no need to feel overwhelmed. Focus on this list of must-tackle jobs to not only improve your home, but your daily living, as well. Insulate well. Ensuring your home is well insulated will improve your comfort, while saving you money by keeping heating and cooling costs in check. The right insulation –– ideally a non-combustible, inorganic product –– can also improve your home's fire safety and air … (4 comments)
home improvements: Small investment renos that pay big returns
- 01/02/18 04:48 AM
(NC) Knowing where to invest to get your home in tip top shape to sell or enjoy can be a daunting and expensive task – but, it doesn't need to be. Christopher Alexander of Re/Max has seen what makes potential buyer's eyes light up and what sends them walking. Here are his tips on renovations that pay big when it comes time to resale: Improve your curb appeal. First impressions make a lasting impression. You want buyers and guests to be drawn in immediately and excited to see the rest of your home. These renovations could include painting the exterior, replacing old … (1 comments)
home improvements: Deciding who to hire for your renovation
- 12/30/17 09:01 AM
(NC) You've been planning your home renovation for months, attended all the home shows and spent countless hours online looking at inspiration boards and photos. You've also interviewed numerous contractors, checked their references and received written price quotes from those you are interested in hiring. Now it's time to decide who will be doing the job. Once you have met with the contractors who are bidding on your job, you should review each set of bid documents carefully. Compare every aspect of their bids — the description of the work, specifications (materials and products), price and allowances, deposit and payment milestones, project … (4 comments)
home improvements: Modern plumbing makes renovations easier
- 12/13/17 05:34 PM
(NC) Water supply pipes aren't what they used to be — and that's a good thing. Innovations have made water supply systems easier to install and more durable because of something called PEX pipe. PEX is easier to install because it's flexible. This lets your plumber install water supply lines where it would otherwise be impractical or highly disruptive to do with rigid pipe. Flexible pipe connected to manifolds also makes it easier to control everything from a central location. Instead of shut-off valves at each fixture, a manifold installation puts all your shut-offs in one handy and easily accessible spot. … (0 comments)
home improvements: 5 facts you need to know about heating your home
- 11/14/17 10:10 AM
(NC) As Canadians, we rely on heating systems more than most nations in the world. But our need doesn't necessarily translate into knowledge. If you're unhappy with the comfort or cost of keeping your home warm in winter, here are some things to consider. Insulation is key. While the kind of energy source and heating equipment you have can affect annual costs a lot, don't even think about upgrading your system until you've optimized insulation levels in your home. For most places in Canada, 22 inches of batt or loose-fill insulation in the attic makes sense. This is more than many homes have, … (2 comments)
home improvements: Think carefully before paying a contractor up front
- 11/14/17 10:05 AM
(NC) You've decided to get going on your dream renovation and worked out the details with a contractor. Now you're anxious to get the work started. But the contractor wants half the money up front. What should you do? Think very carefully before paying. Then think about finding a different contractor. Outside of specific circumstances — such as pre-ordering high-value custom products that cannot be returned, paying for permit fees, road cuts, tree removal, building demolition, or moving hydro wires — down payments for work not yet completed should never amount to much more than 10 per cent of the total cost. If … (1 comments)
home improvements: Split Ductless Heating & Cooling Systems
- 03/22/17 09:55 AM
Energy efficient ductless heat pumps are an excellent upgrade choice for homes with older, inefficient ducts, or no air ducts - or as a new cooling system for homes with in-floor heating. Here's an excellent video from Mitsubishi Canada, explaining how their Mr. Slim ductless heating and cooling systems work.
Mitsubishi Mr. Slim: How does it work?
… (0 comments)
home improvements: Home comfort is redefined with radiant in-floor heating
- 01/15/17 02:00 PM
Keeping your feet warm is the key to comfort, which is one reason why homeowners are increasingly turning to hydronic radiant heating systems over conventional methods. Conventional forced air systems trap heat near the ceiling, where it's least useful, while drying the air out by lowering its relative humidity. This dry air will always feel colder than more humid air at the same temperature. Like the luxurious feeling of sunshine on your skin, the warmth of direct hydronic radiant heat can turn any home into a comfortable and healthy environment. A radiant heating system starts at the floorboards warming your entire home … (2 comments)
home improvements: How to protect your deck against old man winter
- 01/15/17 11:59 AM
(NC) - As the heat of the summer winds down to eventually give way to fall rains, it's the perfect time to start thinking about applying a stain to your deck to protect it against the oncoming punishment of our harsh Canadian winter. Contrary to what many homeowners currently believe, experts say the late summer or early fall is the best time to apply a protective stain to your deck. According to Philip Caron, technical trainer at Sico Paints, the late summer or fall is the ideal time for a stain application of your wood surfaces. "A lot of people are not aware … (1 comments)
THE 1% RULE When you consider the life cycle of every component of a house, a reasonable annual estimate of the cost of normal maintenance is 1% of the value of the house. One year you may replace the furnace; a few years down the road you may re-surface the roof. Throw in the odd unexpected repair in between and you average 1% per year. It’s incredible but this rule is not far off, both for very expensive and very inexpensive houses.
NORMAL MAINTENANCE If you strip away the cosmetics, a house is made up of the structure, roof, exterior … (1 comments)
Let's start by differentiating between a home improvement and a home repair. A home improvement, as the name implies, means improving something. It is usually a renovation to create more space, change the layout of the house, improve energy efficiency, or to make aesthetic changes. This report will deal with the simpler topic of home repair--basically replacing things that are worn out or fixing things that are broken. Here are some very basic rules to follow.
Know what you want done If you are replacing a worn out furnace, for example, do some research to find out whether you want … (0 comments)
home improvements: Top 10 reasons to replace your garage door system
- 12/26/16 07:29 PM
(NC)-Replacing your old garage door system can completely change the appearance of your garage and bring undeniable advantages to your home. According to the experts at Garaga, one of the leading sectional garage door manufacturers in Canada, there are ten valuable reasons to replacing your old garage door: 1. Increase the value of your home. Replacing an old garage door with a new stylish maintenance free door will do wonders for the value of your home. Many Real Estate agents will confirm that it is easier to sell your home when the garage door looks good. 2. Improve the appearance of your home.Some garage … (5 comments)
home improvements: Estimating Home Improvements
- 12/26/16 01:53 PM
To be successful, every home improvement project should be based on sound planning. There are an abundance of books, magazines and TV shows where you can get some great ideas. After you decide exactly what you want to do, try to estimate your costs as accurately as possible. Making a rough sketch can be helpful in working up your materials list. Shop around for the best prices, and watch for sales. Try to visualize the stages of your project, and make sure you've listed every item, no matter how small. When you're certain you haven't forgotten anything, add 10 percent for wastage; … (2 comments)
Many newer systems also function as heat pumps, providing primary heating as well as cooling. Video: Mitsubishi Electric Mr. Slim: How It Works 4:41
Advantages Easier installation than central systems Air ducts not required Zone control provides balanced comfort and energy savings Quieter than window or thru-wall units More secure than window air conditioners Eliminates losses common in air duct Disadvantages Split-systems cost about $1,500-$2,000 per ton (12,000 Btu/h) of cooling capacity. This is about 30% more than central systems, and may cost twice as much as window units of similar capacity. Qualified contractors may be difficult … (0 comments)
(NC) Household chores and endless projects can seem like a thankless job, but regular home maintenance is important to ensure your home's safety, comfort and long-term durability. If your to-do list is ever growing, there's no need to feel overwhelmed. Focus on this list of must-tackle jobs to not only improve your home, but your daily living, as well.
;)
;)
