Home Renovation Tips and Hints For Homeowners

As winter delivers its last icy blast this month, turn your thoughts to the sunny days ahead. Planning your garden and spring renovations is a lovely way to pass the long winter nights, and get a jump on things when the spring days arrive.

• If the view outside is a little dreary, it could be time to replace those dated, inefficient windows. March is the ideal time to call for quotes on energy-efficient replacement windows. It is one project that transforms your home inside and out, while brightening your view of the world.
• Expand your outdoor living space with a new deck or patio. Beat the spring rush by planning your project now and calling for quotes before the contractors’ calendars start filling up. The sooner you get things underway, the more time you will have to lounge on your new deck/patio this summer!
• Don’t forget to change the filter on your furnace and humidifier this summer. It keeps the air clean and helps the heating system operate efficiently.
• Prevent excess humidity from causing damage in the home by keeping your humidistat below 40 per cent. Watch for condensation and damp areas on walls or ceilings.
• Book tree removal and pruning this month.
• Test smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly.
• Take in lawnmowers and other garden tools for tuning and repair this month so they are ready to go when the warm weather arrives.

The winter months can be downright abusive on your home but, as harsh as we can be on our most expensive investment, a variety of easy and inexpensive precautions can greatly diminish the amount of winter wear and tear imposed on our homes.

A foot in the door
It all starts at the doorway. Winter means traipsing in and out of the house with mud, salt and snow on your shoes. And, being bundled up carrying groceries many times means you nudge the door open with those muddy boots, leaving scratched paint and stains on perhaps the most visible part of your home. A simple solution to this is investing in a durable kickplate.

Kickplates are available in a variety of sizes, finishes and quality. Choose something that complements the door's hardware (doorknob and knocker) and will be an appropriate size.

Baseboards that say "bring it on"
Baseboards are often overlooked until they are so dirty and worn that they stand out like a sore thumb. By design, baseboards are meant to preserve the lower portion of walls and withstand normal bumps and scuffs. However, choosing an appropriate paint for these baseboards can make all the difference when it comes to durability.

Paints designed especially for heavy traffic and easy cleaning are best for baseboards. Look for interior latex paints infused with stain resistant materials.

Clean carpets
Tile, laminate and wood flooring are incredibly easy to clean because they are not extremely porous. Carpet, on the other hand, is designed to be lush, meaning there are ample nooks, crannies and spaces for dirt and grime to hide.

Investing in a stain-resistant carpet cleaner that repels such substances from entering your carpet will maintain your carpet's vitality and cleanliness, between professional cleanings.

Slip and slide
Even though your house may have tile, laminate or wood floors, tracking outdoor substances such as muddy water or slush on them can add wear and tear.

Simple carpet runners can help prevent these unsightly and potentially dangerous issues. Many retail stores sell solid-colored and seasonally styled carpet runners that have a non-skid backing and are machine washable. Placing a few of these in heavily trafficked areas will reduce damage to all types of flooring and will provide safe pathways for walking.

Kitchen consideration
You might not think of it at first, but kitchens take quite a beating during the winter months. As the central point of congregation for family gatherings, dinners and simple evenings at home, kitchens see quite a bit of traffic during the winter.

Because of the increased use, kitchen cabinets endure a lot more bumps during the winter, but cabinet finishes can be spared with a few easy solutions. First, if your cabinets are not painted, apply a varnish that will act as a barrier against scuffing. If they are painted, reapply the color in a paint that is meant to withstand heavy traffic.

Any local hardware store should stock corner protectors. The edges of your kitchen cabinetry or islands often take the brunt of the damage because you have to maneuver around them. Wood or plastic corner protectors will help diminish this damage and can, if you like, be removed at the end of the winter.

These simple tips will protect some of your home's most frequently damaged areas, and help ensure a lasting durability. Courtesy of ARA Content

Ask about our CARPET CLEANING special this month!

When it comes to architectural style, it’s all in the details. Custom trim can transform a plain room into an elegant space with rich cornice, crown and baseboard mouldings. Stock cabinets can be customized at a fraction of designer prices with the addition of moulding. And, with the wide array of prefinished and plastic, maintenance-free trims available, the choices are limitless.

Here are a few ways to work some moulding magic in your home:

• Dress up plain interior doors and give the illusion of costly raised paneling by adding panel mouldings to the door and painting.
• A boring entranceway can be transformed with pilasters, mullions, and top shelves with pediments rams’ heads. Your contractor can help you design a style to complement your home’s architecture.
• Add sophistication to a plain drywall ceiling with cove and crown moulding and prefinished ceiling medallions or domes.
• Chair rails placed 32 to 42 inches above the floor and wood wainscoting add instant richness and style to a room or hallway.
• Proportion is in the eye of the beholder, but generally a wall will look best with baseboards as the heaviest element, a middleweight crown moulding and a narrow chair rail.
• Add personality to plain cabinetry by topping a cabinet or shelves with crown moulding.
• Layer two or three types of decorative moulding to create a heavier, custom look.
• Frame a plain door with wide casing and use corner blocks at the top and plinth blocks at the base to create distinctive doorways.
• Keep to a similar trim style throughout the house to create a harmonious flow from room to room.

Upgrading moulding is a cost-effective way to transform, upgrade and update your home, inside and out.

Let our contractors work their ‘moulding magic’ in your home!

The garage door is the largest moving part of your home and its safe operation should not be taken for granted. A garage door inspection should be part of every homeowner’s spring maintenance checklist.

Here are a few tips to keep your door system rolling smoothly:

• Have your garage door professionally serviced every couple of years to ensure safety and increase the life of the door.
• If it does not move up and down smoothly when manually opened, the spring system is probably out of balance. Have it adjusted or replaced.
• Be careful when handling garage door springs – they are tightly wound and under very high tension. Improperly handled, they can cause serious injury.
• If the door has two springs and only one is not operating properly, replace both. This will ensure your system is balanced and operates smoothly.
• Springs should be enclosed in a metal tub or have a safety containment cable to prevent injury from a spring snapping.
• Inspect the cables which connect the spring to the bottom brackets on either side of the door and have them replaced by a professional if they are showing signs of wear.
• Check that the bottom brackets of the door are snug and well-fastened.
• Have your garage door opener installed by a professional and tested periodically. A faulty or improperly adjusted reversing mechanism on your door opener could damage your car or cause serious injury to a child or pet if they get caught under a closing door.

Ask about this month’s Garage Door Opener Installation special!

Does your kitchen or bathroom look like it's stuck in a time warp? Then it might be time to update the most-used rooms in your home. For inspiration, look no further than the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), which recently shared its top 2010 kitchen and bath trends.

To compile the findings and determine the latest kitchen and bath trends, the organization surveyed those members who designed a kitchen or bathroom during the last quarter of 2009. According to NKBA, the top 10 trends for 2010 are:

1. Shaker style kitchen design
2. Maple and alder cabinetry finishes
3. Quartz countertops
4. Pull-down/pull-out kitchen faucets
5. Polished chrome finishes
6. Under-counter refrigerator drawers
7. Dishwasher drawers for small loads
8. Marble vanity tops
9. Integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks and pedestal sinks
10. Bronze and stainless steel finishes

In the kitchen
Making a big statement throughout the kitchen in 2010 is the addition of functional drawer appliances. One such example, which has been specified by nearly a third of NKBA's kitchen designers, is modern refrigeration technology. Turning convenience into a luxury, under-counter refrigerated drawers feature adjustable horizontal and vertical dividers to keep frequently used items close at hand. Perfect for the ultimate entertainer, refrigerated drawers are quite roomy, typically tall enough to store a 2-liter bottle and wide enough to hold items such as serving trays and pizza boxes.

If you're tired of running the dishwasher when it's only half-full, consider installing a dishwasher drawer. Because it's independently operated, you can wash small loads as economically as large ones. Plus, the extra flexibility to run cycles simultaneously with your traditional dishwasher makes clean-up quicker and easier, explaining why nearly a third of designers are incorporating this new trend into kitchens, as well.

Another popular element to include in the kitchen in 2010 is a pull-down or pull-out faucet. Utilized by 85 percent of kitchen designers, it's an easy way to make a design statement at the kitchen sink while increasing functionality.

In the bath
Granite is the dominant material chosen for vanities in current remodels - used by seven of every eight designers - however, in 2010 alternative natural materials, like marble, will continue to grow in popularity.

According to NKBA, just under half of bathroom designers utilize marble, as it provides a sophisticated look that's reminiscent of Roman baths with its regal, refined detail that exudes a sense of luxury.

Plus, marble countertops provide a stain-resistant, water-resistant, rugged and durable surface - ideal for child-friendly bathrooms or homes with just one bathroom that see a lot of traffic throughout the day.

Integrated sink tops are forecast to be a popular choice this year, as you can easily adapt existing items to achieve this look. By adding a sink into an antique dresser or chest, designers are creating one-of-a-kind vanities for nearly 30 percent of all clients.

Polished chrome finishes are another bathroom design trend for 2010. Look to incorporate this chic metal accent into all your hardware by updating the accessories in your bath, as well. You'll be able to make a big impact with small updates like new towel bars and robe hooks, for a completely coordinated look. Courtesy of ARA Content

Call our kitchen/bath pros for a FREE quote – (416) 925-1111

Here are some timesaving tips that will help you get a head start on all your spring cleaning chores:

Time-savers

• Gather all cleaning supplies together and use a crate or holder to cart them from room to room.
• Recycle old spray bottles by filling one with bleach and other with vinegar, two super cleaning agents for kitchen and bath cleanups.
• Vacuum floors before washing them. Vacuum before you dust.
• Hook an extension cord to your vacuum cord so you can do the whole floor (or house) without unplugging.
• Keep extra plastic bags at the bottom of your wastebaskets to make replacement easy.

Tips and tricks

• Cut soap residue on glass shower doors by rubbing with half a lemon or spraying with vinegar before scrubbing.
• Use a sponge mop to clean shower and tub walls – it saves wear and tear on your back and makes the job easier.
• Microwave cleanups are a snap when you place a measuring cup filled with water and a teaspoon of baking soda in the oven, heat on high for two minutes and let the steam loosen the residue. Simply wipe clean.

We do walls, windows, floors – let us clean house for you!

If spring decorating projects include new furniture pieces, here are a few furniture facts to take with you when you shop:

Measure first - Measure the space before you start to shop. And don’t forget to measure doorways to make sure you can get your purchase through the door. Take a tape measure with you.

Comparison shop - Compare prices, styles and fabrics and take notes. If you are matching existing pieces, take a swatch of the fabric with you.

Try out the furniture - Have a seat - it’s the only way to find out if a couch or chair is comfortable. Try out the recliner in all positions. Give sofa cushions a push to see how quickly they spring back.

Don’t judge a chair by its cover - Upholstered furniture contains three basic components – the frame, the filling and the outer fabric. Ask what the frame is made of. Kiln-dried wood is the best for wood frames as it will resist warping. The outer fabric will last longer if it is a tight weave. Reversible cushions will wear longer than cushions with only one good side.

Check the moving parts - Look for drawers with centre or side guides to prevent the drawer from falling out completely when opened too far. Wood screws and dovetailed joints indicate quality construction; staples and nailed joints do not.

Know your wood terms - Solid wood means the exposed wood on a piece is constructed of the wood named, such as “solid Oak.” Drawer sides or rear panels may be made from other woods. When the wood name is preceded by the word “Genuine”, such as Genuine Oak, this indicates the exposed portions are constructed of oak veneer, or thin layers of fine oak bonded to less expensive wood parts underneath. And when the piece is referred to as Oak Style, it indicates the use of manmade materials made to look like wood grain.

By arming yourself with a few furniture facts and planning your purchases, you can be sure your furniture investment will reward you with enjoyment for many years.

Love your tired furniture? Call for a quote on reupholstering!