Home Renovation Tips and Hints For Homeowners

Homeowners can use the long days of summer to catch up on home repair projects and tackle those jobs around the house that have been put off.

• Windows can account for up to 30% of a home’s total heat loss. Summer is the ideal time to upgrade to energy-efficient windows and doors. Even replacing one or two key windows can result in savings on both your heating and cooling bills while giving your décor a facelift. Look for the ER (energy efficiency rating) when you buy: a positive number means the window will conserve more energy than it loses over the heating season. Look for an ER rating of at least -3 to +2 on fixed windows and -11 to -13 on opening windows.
• A new coat of paint can transform your home’s exterior while providing protection from the elements. Or, maybe this is the year you switch to a maintenance-free exterior with vinyl or aluminum siding. Either way, Homeservice Club has professionals that can help – call for a free quote.
• If you are planning a move this summer, Homeservice Club can help make it easier. Call for a free quote on professional moving services, book a home inspection with our qualified professionals and use our real estate services and pay only 3.75% commission when you sell your home.
• Help your air conditioner do its job by keeping doors and windows closed, drapes drawn and appliance use to a minimum during the hottest time of the day. Turn on the air conditioner before the house heats up and keep the temperature about seven degrees cooler than the outdoor temperature for maximum efficiency and comfort.

CALL TODAY FOR PROJECT ESTIMATES – (416) 925-1111

Foundation plantings are the finishing touches on your home’s exterior. Here are some tips on what and where to plant:
Plan your plantings - Take a look at your home from different angles and decide what features you want to emphasize, where you want privacy and where you need some green camouflage.
Draw attention to the entrance - Low-growing plants on either side of the walkway and taller plantings beside the doorway draw the eye to the entrance. Mass plantings should be kept close to the house and near the front walk – this draws the eye away from the driveway and onto the focal point – the front entrance.
Go with the flow - Make the plantings flow by wrapping the bushes and shrubs around the corner if possible. This creates a smooth transition from front to side and back. Soften sharp corners with a tall shrub with low plantings in front that flow around the corner of the house.
Control the view - Take into consideration what you want to see when you look outside your window. You may want to plant a deciduous tree for shade in the summer or a pretty flowering shrub, like a serviceberry, that will give you different views each season.
Hide the flaws - Full shrubs with ground cover in front mask exposed foundations, air conditioners, meters and other unappealing features.
Mix the plantings - Combine deciduous and coniferous shrubs with vines, ground covers, landscape stone and flowers. Colour draws the eye, so place it where you want to focus attention. Choose plantings in colours to complement your home’s exterior.
A garden for all seasons - Select plantings to ensure a continuous display of colour year-round. Vary evergreens with flowering bushes and shrubs with red or variegated leaves.

Our garden experts + your property = BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPES

One of the hottest trends in the home and design world is the outdoor room. Either as a cozy backyard sanctuary or an expansive rooftop entertaining room, Canadians are making the most of their available outdoor spaces to extend the season.

Creating an outdoor room can be an easy project once four fundamental steps are considered:

Plan - Will your outdoor room be used as an extension of your kitchen and dining area, thus a built-in fire burning oven or hearth is needed, or will be it an intimate living space in which to read, connect with friends or enjoy the stars? Once you’ve determined the usage, carving out the space is relatively easy.

Create a focal point - Identify what you want as the focal point for your “room” – is it a water feature, outdoor fireplace or the seating area itself? Outdoor fireplaces are definitely becoming a strong impact statement. Depending on where you live, adding a source of heat also serves to extend use of the space well into the fall. The warmth of a fire with the juxtaposition of a cool night breeze can also make for a lovely, intimate setting.

A leading trend for outdoor fireplaces is now bringing gas fireplaces outside. Sleek and self-contained, gas inserts are a modern, efficient and clean option to add sophistication, and warmth, to an outdoor room. Recently Monessen Hearth Systems introduced its see through gas fireplace, the Echelon, to consumers – the only wide view, see through fireplace on the market, which can be put in as a stand alone on a patio, or in a wall where it can be seen inside as well as out. This creates a truly transitional and easy flow from indoor to outdoor space. A key benefit to gas fireplaces is the technology that comes with it to turn the fire off and on remotely. The Echelon can also turn its pilot light off after a certain period of unuse which is a wise safety and energy saving feature.

Durable Goods - More and more consumers are asking the questions of companies – what are you doing in the backend to ensure sustainability? Are you planting trees to replace the wood used for goods? Are you creating a product that is healthy for my family? So when looking to create your outdoor space, continue that dialogue and look for companies that are doing their bit. Also consider using recycled goods in your design.

Lighting - Consider lighting for your space. Votives and patio torches can be very effective but you may also want to consider the many new advances in LED or solar lighting. As well, solar panels can be unobtrusively hidden in what look like patio stones or rocks to add atmosphere to your space. If you have an awning or pergola over your patio, consider a vintage and retrofitted chandelier to add charm and elegance to the space.

Visit http://www.monessenhearth.com for more information on outdoor fireplaces.

Let us help beautify your outdoor living space – (416) 925-1111

If your deck is looking tired and weather-beaten, maybe all it needs is a little TLC this summer. With a thorough cleaning, maybe a new finish and some regular maintenance, your deck will give you many more years of outdoor enjoyment.

Start by giving your deck a thorough inspection every spring.

Take a look at the footings - The concrete should be sloped away from the post for proper drainage. If the posts were set in concrete and then filled with dirt to ground level, they will rot over time. Remove the dirt and fill with concrete or loose gravel to just above ground level.

Check the deck boards - Remove any debris trapped between the slats that could hold moisture. The deck must be able to drain quickly or mildew and rot will appear. Check for warped or rotting boards using the screwdriver test: if an area looks spongy, press the sharp edge of the screwdriver into the wood. If it sinks in easily, the board is rotten and will need replacing.

Inspect the surface - Get out your hammer and nail set and inspect the surface for popped nails which will rust and break if left untreated. Always use non-rusting fasteners. If you are renailing, do not use the old nail holes. If certain boards tend to come loose every year, consider replacing the nails with bolts that can be tightened if necessary. Replace split boards and repair splintered or worn boards by sanding smooth and sealing.

Check railings - Ensure that the deck railings and steps are securely fastened and in good condition. Trim vegetation away from posts, supports and the deck surface.

With a little preventative maintenance each year, your deck will reward you with years of outdoor living enjoyment.

Save on DECK REFINISHING projects in July!

This winter’s temperature extremes can have a punishing effect on your home’s exterior. Exterior paint is protection for your home against moisture and ultraviolet rays. If it is blistered or peeling, it’s time to repaint.

Paint manufacturer Benjamin Moore says how well exterior paint does its job depends on three considerations: the quality and type of paint or stain, the quality of the preparation and the quality of the application.

In addition to its protective value, a new coat of paint or stain can be aesthetically transforming. Colour, of course, is the power tool for achieving the visual impact. And, choosing colour is always a challenge. Here are five basic cues on choosing hues from Benjamin Moore:

• The architecture should always be your starting point. For inspiration, look for houses like yours whose colours you admire. Or, if you're interested in historical accuracy or appropriateness, research your home's period style. Your local historical society may be a helpful resource, as well, as you dig for information.
• The roof, driveway and chimney are "givens"—existing elements that won't be painted but that should play a role in determining your colour choices. For a façade that's partially stone, using a similar colour will add visual harmony. If the fixed colours are intense-a terra-cotta tile roof, for example-a neutral colour, such as sand or a warm white, will bring balance.
• The landscaping is another important factor. Select colours that fit in with the surrounding palette. If you have brilliant-coloured spring blooming trees or a sea of green foundation plantings, choose colours that will complement them.
• Keep in mind your interior décor. Exterior paint colours that don't correspond with your interior furnishings can be jarring. The colours used on the windows or outside shutters, for example, should be in sync with those used on interior window treatments.
• Choose a colour scheme that is compatible with the other houses in the neighborhood. You don't have to imitate the palette or application exactly, but can put your own individual spin on similar colour combinations. Regional influences also are bound to affect your choice as you account for the local terrain, seasons, interplay of natural lighting, even history and culture.

Before choosing your colours, you can do some research online. Visit www.benjaminmoore.ca to explore possible exterior colour combinations for your home using the Personal colour Viewer.

Save on EXTERIOR PAINTING in July. Call for a quote today!

Replacing dark accessories with brighter, lighter ones is a fast, easy way to lighten the mood in your home. Re-accessorize the right way - spend your redecorating dollars on items that will give you the most impact for the lowest monetary investment.

Here are a few ideas from the home decor experts at Montgomery Ward (www.wards.com) to get you started:

* If you're looking to create a brighter, lighter feeling with wall decor, forego heavy canvases or tapestries, dark colors and large, heavy frames. Opt for nature-inspired art in simple materials like metal, and simple styles like lightly framed floral prints.

* Doff the heavy winter drapes and give windows a light, airy and optimistic feeling with sheer, frothy fabrics in light hues.

* Clean the fireplace of ash and debris, and place a lush, green fern inside the fireplace. Or, incorporate the light-hearted feeling of running water by placing an electric-powered fountain inside the fireplace. - Courtesy of ARA Content

Call the Club for an interior decorating consultation – 416-925-1111