At 1:41pm, an earthquake registering 5.5 on the Richter scale struck Ottawa June 23, 2010, at a depth of 19.2 km and lasting 108 seconds at the epicentre. If you live in an older home and heard cracking or breaking glass, check the house out for damage, being careful to watch out of leaking...
Blog Archives
Mortar Combat
A great post on our friend’s site realsnoop.ca about mortar; it gives some great advice on mortar on old homes. Did you know: “Most modern mortar mixes are based on cement and sand. This produces a hard mortar, which is impervious to water, so moisture in the stonework is unable to escape through the...
Basement remodeling – thinking below ground
Are you thinking below ground? Have you finally realized the potential of your basement as more than an uninviting storage space? Home theaters, spas and even bowling alleys are all that we dream of, however simply closing off space to be used as guest-rooms or home offices will add that extra square footage that...
Window Cleaning, Tips and Techniques
I stand outside my home and I look up at the spotted windows. And like most of us, I think (I dread) doing my exterior window cleaning. Experts recommend cleaning the windows twice a year in the spring and fall, but most home owners may only clean windows from the outside once every second...
Building permit fee super tip!
Courtesy of realsnoop.ca – some incredibly useful information on building permit fees: “As you know, in our “Cost of Building” series we feature a number of properties and tell you what the projects cost. Actually, the information regarding cost we disclose is the cost of the project included by the applicant to the City...
Exterior Painting Tips
Many home owners have painted their homes, but do they really know why the front porch floor peels every year? Well, we don’t know all of the answers in all cases, but we do have abundant experience in a northern climate (Canada). Our winters are brutal with freezing cold periods of -30 below, followed...
Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) – America’s war on lead paint
Information on the new Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a new rule aimed at protecting children from exposure to lead-based paint. According to the EPA, a million American children still poisoned by lead paint each year, putting them...
Don’t forget your permits when renovating!
Even though permits are a requirement for most home renovation projects, a lot of renovations are done without one. In fact, if the project is DIY or the work is being done under the table, there’s an even greater likelihood that a permit will not be obtained. Why is that? If you’re planning on a home renovation, here...
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Most Famous Buildings
It’s not hard to find Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence in many new homes these days, as good style is timeless, and his use of repetition, line and decoration brings elegance to even concrete boxes! If you count the number of homes and buildings bearing his influence, one could say that his work numbers not...
Renovations can increase your home’s value, here’s how:
Why did the house down the street sell for more than yours? It’s the same vintage, similar design and property size, probably the same condition as yours… why do some homes – regardless of comparable location, age, design etc. – command higher prices? Well, the difference likely is due to recent renovation. Regardless of...
All about renovations and photosharing
When it comes to looking at renovations images, you can use the Internet for inspiration, to keep friends and family in the loop on your latest project and purely for entertainment value alone.
Renos gone wrong
Many a do-it-yourselfer’s fine ideas looks less brilliant (or even suicidal) a few years later...
Man finds treasure above ceiling boards during renovation
Fred Murray of Winnipeg was just hoping for a renovation rebate on the old house he bought, but when he ripped out some ceiling panels in his home’s basement, he discovered a literal treasure trove of money. Under (or over, depending on your point of view) 3 layers of previous renovation, he discovered the...
about bidmyreno.com
bidmyreno.com is a free on-line listing service for home and business owners looking for quality contractors at a competitive price. Simply post your project description and available plans for free and you’re done! Our system will post your project details for contractors to evaluate and only those interested will contact you. bidmyreno.com will clearly list...