Archive for February, 2012

Renew and redo your bathroom

(NC)—Bathrooms are often one of the last rooms to get updated in a house. If wall-to-wall shag carpeting with a matching toilet and squeaky faucet best describe your bathroom, it may be time to give it a facelift. Whether you are looking for a complete overhaul or just some decorative do-it-yourself updates, the below ideas provided by The Home Depot Canada are sure to help:

Combine style with function: Replacing a bathroom vanity is an easy way to dramatically change the space – just remember it can also fulfill any storage needs. Whether your style is contemporary or shabby chic, The Martha Stewart Living line, available at The Home Depot, offers a wide range of stylish options with ample storage space too.

Make a splash: Updating a bathroom’s backsplash is an inexpensive and easy way to add a punch of style to this often drab space. Easy-to-use backsplash panels can be installed over existing tiles using adhesive or double sided tape.

Fancy a faucet: Installing a high efficiency bathroom faucet can reduce water usage by up to 30 per cent which is not only a smart environmental choice, but will save on water bills too. Standard faucets use 2.2 gallons of water per minute while high efficiency faucets, such as the American Standard cadet faucet, can use as little as 1.5, without affecting performance.

Brighten the bathroom: A splash of paint can take a bathroom from drab to fab. Make existing white fixtures pop with rich blue walls or complement dark cabinetry with a stylish shade of light gray. When selecting paint for a bathroom, consider options that are moisture and mildew resistant. These high performing paints will last the test of time.

If you are looking for more ideas on how to update your bathroom, check out the Bathroom Planner at www.homedepot.ca/bath.

www.newscanada.com

Related posts:

1. Planning your new kitchen – renew or redo?
2. Tiny tweaks in the bathroom produce big results
3. Bathroom remodeling ideas: from small to total overhaul

Transform tired looking kitchen cabinets into classics once again

(NC)—As the hub for so much of a family’s activity, the kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in a home. So it’s no surprise that with all the cooking and entertaining, the heart of the home can suffer from some natural wear and tear. The good news is making kitchen cabinets look like new again can be quite cost-effective with some easy do-it-yourself projects. Here’s how:

Update the hardware – Chipped or worn or out cabinet knobs and pulls are easy to replace – and affordable too. Prices range from about $ 1.00 for a basic knob to $ 5.00 for a beautiful polished nickel knob or chrome finish handle by Martha Stewart Living, available at The Home Depot.

Brighten with a fresh coat of paint – If new kitchen cabinets are not in the budget, consider updating worn or wood grain finish cabinets using a cabinet transformation kit. Rust-Oleum offers an easy do-it-yourself system that requires no stripping, sanding or priming. It’s also available in a light and dark colour option.

Add panel moulding – Another option for giving cabinets a facelift is adding more detail – essentially a panel effect – with wood moulding. This do-it-yourself project will require more work, but results in a completely new look. Once the moulding has been applied, finish with a fresh coat of paint and enjoy the transformation.

For more DIY projects to update your kitchen and the rest of your home, visit the new online DreamBook at www.homedepot.ca/know-how.

www.newscanada.com

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Build up a plan for a smart renovation

(NC)—Canadians love to renovate. A recent survey by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation found that 40 percent of households in ten Canadian markets renovated their home. The same survey found that about three quarters of households used a contractor to do all, or at least some, of their renovations.

Everyone has heard a construction/contractor horror story, either through a friend, family member or on a home improvement television program. Whether it is work not performed to code or customer specifications, projects taking longer than expected, or costs going way over budget, home renovations can be a stressful endeavour.

“Spending thousands of dollars on your home is a big decision, so selecting the right contractor is an important step,” said Wayne Ross, insurance expert at Aviva Canada. “And while stories of renovation headaches are frequent, there are thousands of reputable contractors out there. A little preparation beforehand will certainly ease the stress.”

Ross offers these renovation tips to ensure homeowners finish their summer renovation projects with better success:

• Connect with previous customers: Ask your friends for referrals of contractors that they’ve used, especially on similar projects. Request additional referrals from possible candidates.

• Look for consistency and permanence: The ideal service provider has a physical business office and address and has been in business for a number of years under the same name.

• Do a legal check: Ensure contractors are licensed by your province and that they have insurance, meaning they are covered if they are injured during the project.

• Notify your insurer: Contact your insurance broker to discuss if any of the renovations will require an adjustment to your home policy.

By following these simple tips, you’ll finish your summer renovation projects with success. More information is available from your insurance broker or online at avivacanada.com.

www.newscanada.com

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We have a rose bush that has been reaching out into our driveway for the past couple of years and this spring I planned to cut it back so it wouldn’t be grabbing at us when we walk up the driveway to the house.

I really like the little roses that grow on it and didn’t want to take away from that so we left it but I can’t put it off any longer. We actually thought it would be nice to have that same rose bush growing all along the sidewalk but didn’t want to go out and buy a couple dozen of them.

Well, just this morning I read an article which included a video I watched a video that explained exactly what I need to do. It’s called plant propagating and air layering and will give us the extra plants we need to make that rose hedge.

Plant Propagation Using Air Layering

Propagating our rose bush using air layering will allow us to make new plants for the hedge we want while at the same time trimming back the rose bush so that it’s once again under our control. And I won’t need to make a trip to our local nursery to buy more.

I would also like to start a few rose bushes along our property fence to give us more privacy and now we have the means to do that right here at home.

Air layering is when you use existing stalks or branches to start another plant while still on the original plant. The video explains it and shows how to propagate plants using this technique. It’s actually pretty cool.

Wider floorboard trend leaving many with gaps

(NC)—Wood is one of the world’s oldest flooring options, yet consumers continue to find themselves drawn to this classic building material thanks to today’s wide variety of styles colours and species. One hardwood flooring trend that continues to gain momentum amongst consumers across the country is the movement towards wider boards.

“More and more homeowners are choosing wide board widths these days and there’s a good reason for this trend,” explained Tom Gormley, President of Silhouette Hardwood Flooring. “Wider boards give you that nostalgic feel and make any room look bigger, even very small rooms will appear larger with wider floorboards.”

In fact, today’s hardwood flooring is often installed in 3 ¼, 4 ¼ and even 5 inch widths. But with this classic and nostalgic look also comes potential pitfalls, Gormley warned. “The number one registered complaint installers receive after a wood floor installation, especially for a wider board floor, is the unsightly and unhealthy gaps between boards that inevitably appear at the onset of winter.”

The most common cause of gaps between the boards is Mother Nature. When the weather cools and the heating season begins, the relative level of humidity in our homes becomes too low causing boards to lose their moisture and shrink. Meanwhile, when the wet and humid days of summer return the boards expand once again. This regular seasonal expansion and contraction over time is the most common cause of gaps.

Gaps can also occur when boards become too humid prior to installation leaving them with internal moisture levels that are too high when installed. Once installed and ambient conditions return to normal, the wood will lose its excess humidity and shrink, leaving a gap between each board.

“Over time, and if left unchecked humidity will cause gaps between floor boards of even the highest quality solid hardwood flooring,” explained Gormley. “Especially when consumers chose a stain color on lighter woods like Oak, Yellow Birch and Maple, even fine gaps will show unattractive lighter areas between some of the boards.”

Once considered a natural occurrence one had to accept when choosing wood flooring, Gormley explains there is now an innovation in gap protection available for consumers looking for the beauty and elegance of quality prefinished hardwood floors without the unattractive inevitable off-colour gaps.

Silhouette, one of Canada’s leading premium wood flooring manufacturers, has created the new standard in hardwood flooring protection called “Contour Guard”. It’s a unique patented contour finishing process that envelopes each of its floorboards. With its exclusive gap protection, not only the top, but the sides and ends of each precision-milled board are stained. “By doing so, you’re covered as the process virtually eliminates any possible unattractive effects from gaps,” Gormley added.

For optimal protection of your hardwood flooring, and to avoid significant unwanted movement, he also recommends maintaining the relative humidity inside your home within a range from 37 to 55 per cent year-round. More information on premium hardwood flooring protection is available at www.silhouetteflooring.com.

www.newscanada.com

Related posts:

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2. Customized pre-finished hardwood floors
3. Top 5 Questions on choosing a hardwood floor

Image via Wikipedia

Growing roses really be a rewarding endevour with some good looking flowers in your home garden as a result. The thing is roses are not a flower known to be easy to maintain. What this means to you is that you might need some quality tools and the time to properly maintain your rose bushes. Get it right and you stand to enjoy fresh and beautiful roses in your home garden.

The first step required is gong to be a quality pair of hand shears. Get quality shears that you can keep sharp for best results. Your shears will need to cut through a rose stem with one slick but. We have has shears that just crushed the stems and they went right into the trash. Roses can pick up diseases and a poor cut leaves them open to problems.

I like having protection against the thorns rose have so I like gloves that can keep my hands safe. They have even kept me from snipping my fingers a couple of times over the years.

At one time it would have been the best advice to head off to your local nursery but it’s not always as easy and looking online. We do go to the local nursery a few times during the year, just not during the winter. That’s the time I spend planning and finding new info online.

When I am at the local nursery I like to pick their brain for local climate or info about our growing zone so I pick the right roses for our area.

Once You Have Your Rose Bush

Roses, once they are planted, will require regular watering if you don’t get enough rain to feed them about an inche of water per week. This means you may have to water them by hand or install an irrigation system to take care of the roses.

Water is of course vital to your the continued health of your roses but the ground you put them in is important as well. Any how to grow roses guide would include info about adding compost to the soild to keep it healthy.

I’m not done yet, I also put mulch around the roses to help maintain moisture levels and save on water. I put about two inches of organic mulch. It also cuts right down on weeds giving me time for other things.

Pruning Your Roses

Pruning your roses is critical to having more blossoms and helps to get rid of any non producing growth. Always get rid of any dead or damaged branches. Pruning is also good to keep your rose bush under control and not over grown.

As the weather gets chillier, you need to now know not only how to grow roses but to protect them, too. Cover them as the weather gets cold, specifically when the temperatures drop below 30 degrees to preclude being frost bitten. You may purchase burlap bags to go over all of the elevated parts.
Beautiful roses can be enjoyed anywhere in the country as long as you have the right materials and time to dedicate to their expansion.

Jennifer Ferguson is an avid gardener and rose admirer. If you’d like to get more great and essential tips on roses and growing roses then feel free to visit her webiste and get her free instant email course on growing roses.

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Top 5 Questions on choosing a hardwood floor

(NC)—Q: What is the number one consideration when choosing a hardwood floor?

A: The number one priority we’ve found coming from consumers today is selecting the right colour for their flooring to match their decors.

Most hardwood flooring manufacturers offer a series of standard popular colour choices. Often these stain colours aren’t exactly what astute consumers are looking for and they spend the next days and weeks searching different manufacturers for that particular stain colour that will harmonize perfectly with their home decor.

We’ve revolutionized this process by offering clients customized colours for their flooring with our exclusive “Designer colour match” system.

We can easily match any color you see offered by most of our competitors at no additional charge. Even if you have a unique color in mind, simply supply your local Silhouette dealer with any kind of sample or colour swatch to match and we will reproduce it to create your one of a kind beautiful new floor.

Q: What is the difference between solid and engineered flooring?

A: Solid flooring must be nailed or stapled into an existing wood subfloor and is only recommended on or above the grade level (soil line) around your home.

Engineered flooring’s construction allows it to be installed over virtually any type of subfloor whether above, on, or below the grade level. Silhouette’s Symmetry Engineered flooring, for example, has the most versatile design, allowing it to be nailed, stapled, fully glued-down, or even floated.

Q: What should I look for when choosing a species and grade?

A: Examine the natural colour of each species, their distinctive grain patterns, grades and visual characteristics such as knots, and mineral streaks to find what appeals to you. Also consider the relative hardness of the different species. If you have an active high traffic household, harder species may be an option as they will show less dents and traffic patterns.

Q: What should I consider when choosing floor board widths?

A: Narrow boards, or strip flooring, performs well and has a certain appeal particularly in smaller rooms, while wide boards are often perceived as being of higher value, and have greater appeal in larger rooms. Up until now many hardwood dealers recommended against choosing flooring wider than 3 ¼”, because of fear that the floor would develop unsightly and unhealthy gaps over time due to uncontrolled swings in relative humidity within a home.

This is no longer the case thanks to the added protection of Silhouette’s unique Contour Guard finishing process which envelopes each of its floorboards to eliminate any unsightly effect caused by these gaps.

Q: What gloss level should I choose?

A: You need to determine the degree of light you wish your floor to reflect. A Semi-Gloss finish reflects approximately 50 per cent of the light shone upon it, while a simulated-oil look reflects approximately eight per cent and a satin-gloss finish reflects at a 30 per cent rate. Choose what you find most appealing but consider that if you have a medium to large size dog the simulated-oil look will hide dents made by your pets nails.

More information on the latest in premium hardwood flooring is available at www.silhouetteflooring.com.

www.newscanada.com

Related posts:

1. Customized pre-finished hardwood floors
2. Nostalgic look is in for hardwood floors
3. DIY – Flooring – Hardwood Floors

Customized pre-finished hardwood floors

(NC) – Most discerning homeowners want their decors to be distinct from their neighbours, families and friends. Ideally, they’d like their style and flair to shine through making their customized home decor a true reflection of their personality and taste. This is typically achieved by selecting unique pieces of furniture, artwork and colours to craft that custom look.

Until now, however, homeowners have found it challenging to customize one of the most popular elements of today’s home decors – their hardwood floors. Customers looking to customize and personalize their pre-finished hardwood flooring options were somewhat limited to the standard choices offered by hardwood floor manufacturers.

With colour being the determining factor in almost all hardwood flooring choices, clients were often settling for certain combination of colours, species, finishes and widths since not all colours came in their desired selections.

“We’ve found that today the number one consideration for consumers is selecting the right colour for their flooring to match their decors,” said Tom Gormley, President of Silhouette Hardwood Flooring. “Often the standard popular stain colours from manufacturers aren’t exactly what consumers are looking for and they spend the next days and weeks searching different manufacturers for that particular stain colour that will harmonize perfectly with their home decor.”

Canadian-based manufacturer Silhouette Hardwood Flooring has revolutionized this process by offering clients customized colours for their flooring with its exclusive “Designer colour match” system.

“We can easily match any color you see offered by most of our competitors at no additional charge,” explained Gormley. “Even if you have a completely unique color in mind, simply supply your local Silhouette dealer with any kind of sample or colour swatch to match and we will reproduce it to create your one of a kind beautiful new floor.”

It’s an ideal solution for those who need to precisely match existing hardwood flooring in their home. The customization is not limited to colours, he added, you can now order your pre-finished Silhouette hardwood floor in the exact species, width, and gloss level found from any competitive manufacturer to match your desired look.

From classic to exotic flooring with customized details, modern hardwood floors can now be as unique as the people who choose them. As an added bonus, Gormley explains that your customized flooring option will also receive the added protection of Silhouette’s unique Contour Guard finishing process which envelopes each of its floorboards to eliminate any possible effects from unsightly and unhealthy gaps which develop over time between boards due to uncontrolled swings in relative humidity within a home.

More information on the latest in premium hardwood flooring is available at www.silhouetteflooring.com.

www.newscanada.com

Related posts:

1. Nostalgic look is in for hardwood floors
2. Top 5 Questions on choosing a hardwood floor
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Nostalgic look is in for hardwood floors

(NC)—More and more Canadians are going back to a simpler time with their home decor choices and it’s all starting with their floors. They’re ushering in the welcoming charm and warmth of antique and wire-brushed nostalgic hardwood floors to set the tone for their decors.

“As the home construction and renovation industry continues to grow, architects, builders, and realtors are seeing a boom in demand from discerning homeowners for the warmth and luxury of old-world wood floors,” said Tom Gormley, President of Silhouette Hardwood Flooring, a leading Canadian-based manufacturer that also features a vintage floor “Nostalgic” collection to meet the growing consumer demand.

Gormley explained that the demand for older looking waxed or oiled floors has led to a number of companies offering synthetic oiled floors instead of urethane. Unfortunately, this option has resulted in many unhappy consumers due to the inherent maintenance issues associated with oiled floors. Stains from spills, and scratches occur all too easily with this type of finish, due to their lack of hardness and their negative reaction to even small drops of water requiring consumers to regularly sand and re-oil the affected areas.

In contrast, Silhouette’s Nostalgic low gloss wood floor collection brings out the character in every board making it a design favourite for those looking to add that old-world charm and enhance the look of their living space. But, as a simulated oil floor, the appearance of these pre-finished hardwoods only simulate that of an oiled hardwood floor, so no need to worry about maintenance hassles. Its antique, wire-brushed appearance makes it a floor that is timeless and distinct.

The low gloss colour (an industry low of only five per cent light reflection) enhances the vivid grains and patterns in the wood, yet hides the dents and scratches. Easy to maintain, this type of floor is durable and ideal for high traffic areas and for owners with kids and large pets.

“This floor gives you the benefits of a regular pre-finished floor with the resurgently popular old antique look but without all the maintenance issues,” Gormley added.

This oiled floor look is very popular in wide plank boards often sought in 4 ¼ and 5 inch widths which are unfortunately more apt to develop unsightly and unhealthy gaps over time if the relative humidity within a home is left uncontrolled.

Gormley explained this is no longer an issue with flooring that has the added protection of Silhouette’s unique Contour Guard finishing process which envelopes each of its floorboards to eliminate any possible unsightly effects resulting from these gaps and ensures the beauty and resilience of the floor. More information on the latest in premium hardwood flooring is available at www.silhouetteflooring.com

www.newscanada.com

Related posts:

1. Customized pre-finished hardwood floors
2. Wider floorboard trend leaving many with gaps
3. DIY – Flooring – Hardwood Floors

Spring into action: Protect your home

(NC)—The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing and our homes have a bad case of the winter blues. But before you tackle those dirty chores, remember that spring cleaning is a tradition that serves a very useful purpose – to rid the home and exterior property of the build up that has occurred during the winter months.

“The winter season brings a lot more headaches than cold weather and snow,” says Wayne Ross, insurance expert at Aviva Canada. “Many of the effects of winter are noticed in the spring and it’s important to take care of those problems before they lead to serious property damage.”

Ross offers four simple tips to help make exterior spring cleaning a breeze this year:

• Inspect your property: Frozen ground can cause shifts in your landscaping and patios which, if left unattended, can result in costly repairs and injuries. Be sure to inspect your walkways and driveways for cracks.

• Remove debris from your gutters: Ensure that leaves and dirt are removed to prevent water blockage.

• Repair damage to your roof: Replace missing or damaged shingles to prevent leaking roofs.

• Examine fences around your property and pool: Ensure fences are still sturdy and lock properly to prevent injury and intruders from entering your yard.

By following these helpful tips, you can prevent injury and ensure that your property is in shape and ready for the warm weather. For more information on how to protect your home, talk to your insurance broker or visit www.avivacanada.com.

www.newscanada.com

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