We all want a great result when we undertake a home improvement project. Much of that result depends on three important things: 1) good planning 2) a well prepared budget 3) good workmanship We as home owners can control the first two, but we trust our contractor to do the rest. Good workmanship...
Hardwood flooring is known to add value to your home. The warmth and elegance given off by this natural material makes it a desirable feature in almost any space. While hardwood is known for its durability, these floors tend to wear over the years. At times weathered flooring acquires a charming, rustic aesthetic,...
Creating Atmosphere Through Lighting: Selecting the perfect lighting for a home or office can be tricky. The fixture you choose goes beyond simply illuminating a room; it serves to redefine the space. Considering this, deciding on the atmosphere you’d like to create in a space can simplify the hunt for that perfect light. New...
The heyday of wall-to-wall carpeting at home may have dwindled over the past couple decades, but its appeal still lives on. There is no denying that carpets can add a certain warmth to spaces – making them feel softer, and more welcoming. Sadly the negative aspects associated with carpets tend to outweigh the positives....
Spring is finally here. If colour is on your mind like it is on mine, check out colour tips for around your home at this great website from ” House Beautiful Magazine”. The website offers links to great colour and home decoratiing ideas for every room in your home. www.housebeautiful.com We are featuring spring...
Well, it’s official, it’s midwinter in Canada! Our driveways and sidewalks are caked in frozen snow and ice and of course SALT! Thanks to the salt stains on my shoes and the inevitable return trip to Canadian Tire for some de-icing salt for my own use, I thought that I’d do a little research on...
Hiring a Contractor (original article) At some time, most homeowners will hire someone for repairs or renovations. Even a homeowner experienced in home repairs may have to hire a contractor or renovator because of the size or level of difficulty of the job. This fact sheet will help you choose a contractor and work...
Although it is ideal to pay for your renovations in cash, comparing financing options can ease the stress of the renovation process. Most renovators turn to financing their renovation using credit cards and personal loans. This can become quite costly as interest rates on these types of financing are typically higher (typically 6 to...
Do you get knots in your stomach every time you walk down to the basement during the spring thaw? You’re not alone! Water in the basement is a very common problem. You might assume that the most obvious cause is a crack in your foundation, but that’s not always the case. Check out these...
Cansolair is a company based in Newfoundland that’s developed a solar heater that’s built with recycled pop cans (and by “recycled” we mean basically opened, cleaned and painted, there’s no expensive smelting and recasting involved). It’s pretty fascinating as this video attests: How the cansolair pop can solar heater is manufactured More info here:
If you’re like me, even if you hire contractors to do all of the dirty tasks, you are still going to pitch in here and there to do some renovation work such as patching, sanding, cleaning, painting, demolition etc. During the beginning of winter, when the air turns most dry and we use hotter...
Ijeoma Ross has put together a great article that lists and explains the Top 10 renovations that give you the most bang for your buck (10 renovations with big returns). Here they are: 1. Bathrooms Renovators can get 90% – 105% of their bathroom money back when they sell their house. Adding an extra...
Fall season home improvement “must do” projects around your home With cold weather approaching and heating bill season here for a while, we have some suggestions for this fall season. Get your furnace cleaned, whether hot water, forced-air or other, dirt and grime greatly affect your furnace’s efficiency Replace your furnace air filter. Forced-air...
After working for several years with geothermal energy pioneer James Bose at Oklahoma State University, entrepreneur Gerald McClain has developed a new geothermal heating and cooling unit suitable for homes that uses up to 2-3 times less power than conventional electric heaters. Heat pumps work as a fridge in reverse Heat pumps work as...
Well it’s that crazy time of year again for all of us, back to school means moms and dads are happy that school is starting! Students are heading back for another semester and moving companies are as busy as ever… As the September excitement hits us, we have some tips for home owners at...
That old house, best opportunity? I have renovated 3 early 20th century houses in the past 10 years. Beautiful, disgusting, challenging and financially rewarding, each of them! My first home was called the “Money Pit”, named so by a friend I invited over for a demo party, where we were tasked with taking down...
“Green” is now such a loaded word it immediately makes you think of… well… politics, consumption (like sometimes spending more to save more) and opinions less than our impact on the earth. “Thinking Green”, “Going Green” and “Green Movement” all should mean the same thing: doing things more efficiently, with less materials and less...
By Erik Kulakowsky, CA ( Kül & Associate … www.kultax.com ) At this point, the only way we’re getting rid of this tax is if the NDP get elected (NDP leader Andrea Horwath vowed to abolish HST should she win the next election), but since that’s never going to happen, might as well learn...
Advancements in roofing have been made over the years in regards to durability, sustainability, and aesthetics. From the earliest fire-hazardous and short-lived straw roofs to a modern green roof. Though roofs have always served to protect inhabitants from the outdoors, basic improvements such as slanting a roof and adding eavestroughs for proper water drainage,...
In Ontario, home owners don’t have to pay the 8% Ontario provincial sales tax on home renovations, they’re basically exempt thanks to current tax laws. However, with the introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) this year, home renovation contractors in Ontario will have to start charging the full 13% tax on any work...