Home Renovation Tips and Hints For Homeowners

If you're dreaming of sunny summer days on these long, cold winter nights, February is the ideal time to plan your garden, shop for accessories and get quotes on renovation and maintenance projects. Here are a few other tips to get through the rest of the winter:

• The recent temperature fluctuations put a strain on your home's roofing system. Check interior ceilings near outside walls for staining caused by moisture damage. Watch for flooding or moisture damage in the basement. Check basement walls for signs of cracking and moisture damage. Check the hidden corners of your basement for signs of flooding.
• Help your furnace do its job this month. Cleaning air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators regularly can boost the efficiency of your heating system by 10 per cent. Clean or replace the furnace filter every month. Seal air ducts with duct tape to increase the efficiency of your heating system (use metal duct tape, not the cloth kind.)
• Keeping your chimney clean reduces fire risk. Minimize creosote build-up by burning dry, well-seasoned wood, burning a brisk fire for at least part of every time you use your fireplace and opening the damper a half hour before lighting the fire to warm the chimney and improve the draw.
• 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.
• Conserve electricity this winter - Turning your thermostat down just one degree can save you three per cent of the energy your furnace uses. Every few months, take off the cover of your thermostat and gently dust. Recommended settings are 21 degrees when you are at home relaxing, 18 degrees when you are sleeping and 16 degrees when you are at work or away.
• Periodically check the gas meter at the side of the house for snow and ice buildup. Keep your walkways safe for visitors by using ice melter.

Save on DRYWALLING projects this month (416) 925-1111

With the deepfreeze factor at its annual high, the potential benefits of making energy saving improvements really hit home. Yet saving energy and money and adding comfort to your home should always be in season. Industry experts at Icynene (icynene.com) recommend you put these home improvement tips on your 2012 calendar:

Winter
• Install affordable plastic window-sealing kits, especially where you feel drafts.

• Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and switches to reduce air leakage.

• Close the fireplace damper tightly when it's not in use. If you use your fireplace regularly, consider adding a well-designed insert.

• Replace or clean furnace filters at least once every three months.

Spring
• Consider larger home improvements like replacing windows that are best completed when the weather is nice. Consider adding spray foam insulation (like innovative Icynene) to your attic or in other areas of your home where the summer heat can infiltrate. You can start saving up to 50 per cent in energy costs all year long.

• Is your air conditioner old or on its last legs? Before things heat up, consider investing in an energy efficient Energy Star-rated unit. Consult an expert to ensure the size of the unit is properly matched to the needs of your home.

Summer
• Add window coverings to block sunlight during the day, so your air conditioner doesn't have to work as hard.

• Replace inefficient incandescent lighting with more efficient compact fluorescent or LED lighting that also produce less heat.

• Check your hot water tank. If it's warm to the touch it might need some extra insulation. Check your home improvement store for inexpensive pre-cut tank jackets or blankets.

Fall
• Check insulation levels where you can, like the attic or the floor of a room over the garage. If you didn't get to it in the spring, install spray foam insulation to seal around openings and penetrations that let air flow in and out of your home.

• Use caulking, sealant and weather-stripping to create a barrier against air and water around doorframes, windows and baseboards. Choose the right caulking for the surface.

• Insulate your hot water pipes to reduce heat loss. It may enable you to reduce the temperature setting on your hot water tank. www.newscanada.com

Call the Club for ENERGY-SAVING HOME IMPROVEMENTS – (416) 925-1111

Winter months provide the perfect opportunity to prepare your outdoor space for the warmer months. Planning and prepping now will ensure that you get full use of your outdoor space for the entire season once warm weather arrives. Get a head start by planning some of these spring projects now:

Grass
Before you know it, you'll be peeling off your wool socks and walking around your yard feeling the soft grass between your toes. To ensure a lush lawn, spend time this winter researching grass seed options so you can repair any sparse areas in your yard. Planting grass seed early gives the seed plenty of time to germinate which will give you a healthy, green lawn in the spring. In addition to research, you can also chat with someone at your local nursery for help choosing the appropriate type of grass to plant in the early months of spring.

Bulbs
Some bulbs grow best when planted in the early spring when the ground is still cool. Do some research to figure out the best bulbs for your region so you can determine the ideal planting time. There's nothing better than having a yard full of colourful flowers providing great curb appeal early in the season.

Deck
Sitting on your deck enjoying warm, sunny days or cooler evenings is something everyone looks forward to. Adding a new deck to your home or replacing an existing one adds value to your real estate investment. Homeowners have been consistently choosing composite decking over wooden decks over the past several years because composite decking is high performance and low maintenance. A drawback of wood decking is that it can splinter and crack over time, and could require staining and sealing. Composite decking is long-lasting, durable, made of recycled materials, and resists mildew, warping and insects. According to Remodeling magazine 2009-10 Cost vs. Value Report, adding a composite deck to your home has a 70 percent return on investment.

You can find free online tools to help you plan your new decking project during winter months. Visit www.timbertech.com to learn which decking materials are best for you by taking a quick quiz. Create free deck designs with the Online Deck Designer. Mix and match decking and railing colours with the Colour Visualizer and be inspired by other deck designs in the Photo Gallery. Before you know it, you'll have the perfect plan for your dream deck so when warm weather hits, you're ready.

Trees and shrubs
TAs you're deciding on the deck, consider a plan to plant trees and/or shrubbery to provide a more natural outdoor atmosphere. The right type of landscaping will not only be visually appealing, but will also provide privacy and shade. Planting your selections early can have many benefits including time for each tree or shrub to establish a strong root system so that it flourishes for many years to come.

Stop dreaming of warm weather and put that energy into planning your outdoor space. From decking to landscape updates, your efforts during the winter months will bloom into big results once the spring thaw hits. Courtesy ARAcontent

Our landscape/deck experts can help you plan your outdoor space (416) 925-11111

Staying indoors so much during the winter months can create clutter and mess around the house. But you don't have to wait until spring to give your house a good spring cleaning, and you don't have to do an extreme makeover. You can wake up and spruce up a tired-looking home with a few simple cleaning and organizing routines.

Here are some tips and tricks for making your home spring-clean right now, one room at a time.

Living Room
• Window blinds collect dust and dust mites all winter. To clean plastic blinds, add Greased Lightning to tub water. Remove blinds and let them soak in the tub. Clean them with a well-bristled brush, then let them dry and rehang them.
• Remove fabric window coverings and clean as needed. Use a feather duster around window frames to remove cobwebs and dust.
• Freshen up carpets by sprinkling baking soda on them, letting it sit for 30 minutes, then vacuuming.
• Carefully wipe the tops and bottoms of ceiling fan blades, which provide a perfect, level surface for dust to collect.

Kitchen
• Clean out the refrigerator and freezer, making sure to get rid of all expired products and old leftovers. Remove shelving and drawers and wipe them down using mild soapy water.
• Tackle your oven, inside and out. If your oven is self-cleaning, set it in the self-cleaning mode. Consult your manual for an estimated cleaning time. Also, make your stovetop and hood shine like new with a quick wipe from a sponge sprayed with Greased Lightning. If your oven is not a self-cleaning appliance, use the cleaning solution to wipe away baked on grease and grime. Remember to make sure the oven is cool before applying the solution.
• Don't forget to clean your dishwasher, too. Remove trapped food particles from the bottom and around any moving parts. Pour a cup of vinegar into the empty dishwasher and run it to clean the inside.
• Wipe down the outside of your cabinets, especially around the stove area.
• Vacuum and mop the floors, and launder any area rugs.

Bedrooms
• Launder bed linens -- including dust ruffles, bedspreads and pillow shams.
• Move furniture around so you can vacuum underneath and get rid of any dust bunnies that might have accumulated. While you're at it, try a new furniture arrangement to freshen up the look of the room.
• Now's a great time to clean out clothes closets. Empty closets to vacuum and dust inside. Then, before putting clothes back, sort through them and get rid of those items that no longer fit or that you don't wear anymore. You can donate them to a local charity.
• Clean blinds, light fixtures and ceiling fans. Wipe smudges off of light switch covers and door frames, too.

Bathroom
• Wipe down and disinfect all fixtures. Remember lighting fixtures, too. Carefully remove glass fixtures and clean with warm, soapy water. Let them dry thoroughly before reattaching.
• Sort through products and discard or recycle old bottles and containers. Get rid of excess clutter in your bathroom cabinets. Remove items from the medicine cabinet and wipe down all surfaces.
• You can use Greased Lightning to remove grease, grime, mildew stains and soap scum from your bathroom surfaces, including tubs, sinks, toilets, counters and baseboards.
To get additional tips to spruce up your home, visit www.glcleans.com.

HANDY TIPS

Furniture Moving Trick - When you need to move heavy pieces of furniture across uncarpeted floors, fold two clean towels, put one under each end of the furniture piece, then slide it across the floor.

Clean Lampshades - Use an adhesive lint roller to remove dust from fabric lampshades.

Have your UPHOLSTERY cleaned this month and save – call the Club!

Canadians may be taking some risks when it comes to fire safety according to a recent RBC Insurance survey, as 36 per cent of Canadian homeowners admit they don't have a fire extinguisher in their kitchen.

"Damages from a fire can be a financial and emotional nightmare for homeowners" says Tim Bzowey, vice president, Home and Auto, RBC Insurance. "It's important to understand how employing a few simple safety tips can help protect our loved ones and homes from the dangers of fire."

• Avoid using "octopus outlets". Clusters of wires and plugs can overload your electrical system leading to overheating and extremely dangerous electrical fires.
• Store combustibles such as newspapers, kindling, or matches away from the fireplace. If you use a wood-burning fireplace, have your chimney inspected by a professional prior to the start of every heating season. It's also important to make sure your fireplace and chimney are properly cleaned and maintained.
• Closely monitor flame burning candles and, where possible, use wickless candles. The survey also found that 52 per cent of homeowners are lighting flame burning candles in their home.
• Install a monitored fire alarm in your home. You could receive an extra discount on home insurance premiums as well as having the comfort of the alarm's additional protection.
• Always use the correct size fuse. Replacing a fuse with one of a larger size can cause excessive currents in the wiring and possibly start a fire.

Ask about our free security systems and February savings on monitoring rates – it could save your life!

A properly vented kitchen is not only easier to keep clean - it smells fresher! Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has some tips for homeowners on what to look for when buying an exhaust system and how to keep it running efficiently:

• The most useful kitchen range hoods have a low noise rating, an energy-efficient fan, fluorescent lights, sound insulation, anti-vibration mounts and duct connections. For heavy duty use, select non-corrosive materials such as aluminum or stainless steel. High quality hoods may have heat sensors and a safety shut-off.
• Kitchen exhaust systems should discharge outdoors. Recirculating range hoods rely on filters to capture some odours and grease. The filters are generally made of carbon which must be replaced frequently to be effective. Grease will coat carbon, making it ineffective. With recirculating fans, cooking moisture and odours will usually remain in the house.
• Range hoods are most effective when they extend out over the stove surface and are close to the stove top. Island units are less effective than wall units.
• Range hoods usually have washable, aluminum-mesh grease filters. Better quality filters have a smaller diameter mesh over a larger surface area and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Clean or replace grease traps and filters frequently. There are now range hoods available that allow you to remove the fan, but not the motor, for cleaning in a dishwasher.

Heading south? Advise the Club if you are authorizing a friend or family member to call us for emergency repairs in your absence – 416-925-1111