February 2002
Newsletter
- About Us & $300
Winner
- Plan Smart-Save $ on
Renovations
- Snow And Ice Removal
- Brick Front Fireplace
Make-Over
- Simple Steps For A Safe
Winter
- Affiliate Program and
Our Sponsors
- The Monthly Funny! :)
1. About Us &
$300 Winner
We are a reliable and easy way to find
SCREENED, LICENSED,
and INSURED professionals for any Home or Business
improvement need. We do your HOMEWORK for you. We would
like to remind you that the "Refer A Friend" program is in
affect
until March, so keep those referrals coming. We would also like to
congratulate DON WATTS, he was our $300 Home Show winner.
Don will receive $300 towards his renovation project. Please
come
down and visit us at the Home and Garden Show February 27th -
March 3rd, 2002.
2. Plan Smart and
Save on Renovations
To Get the Most for Your Money
These simple strategies will help you minimize the hassles
of
remodeling and maximize the payoff.
While the remodelers are at your home, you can save money by
hiring them to do other jobs at the same time. Accomplish work
when it costs the least. Let's say you're replumbing a downstairs
bath and intend to create a new master bath in the attic during the
next five years. It makes sense to rough-in the new wiring and
plumbing lines for the attic bath now. At the very least, you'll
minimize disruption and debris. The same principle applies if you'll
be running new ductwork in the future. Tearing out plaster and
refinishing the same wall twice will cost you far more in the long
run than springing for extra installation costs now.
Likewise, if you're hiring a carpenter or any other trade
professional, think about what else in your house might need to be
repaired or changed while the person is on-site. You'll pay a bit
more than you would have for just the one project, but it may cost
considerably less than if you call back for a separate job. Pay as
you go. By working in stages, you often can afford a higher-quality
job, because you're spreading out expenditures over time. You'll
also build equity as you renovate, provided your overall remodeling
plan is sound. As equity grows over time, prior improvements can
help finance the work yet to come. Talk to your financial and tax
advisers about your remodeling plans up front, and be realistic
about how much each step of the project will cost. Minimize
disruption. It only makes sense to isolate areas of construction as
much as possible and to plan for minimal inconvenience. If you're
adding a second bath, for example, do it before you gut the first
one. Before you make your kitchen unusable, consider building a
snack bar in your basement; even a makeshift arrangement will
make the project go smoother. Otherwise, the cost of restaurant or
take-out meals night after night can really eat into your budget.
3. Snow
and Ice Removal
Snow Blowers
Everyone knows about snow shovels, of course, but an
alternative
worth considering if you live in a heavy snow area is a snow blower.
There are three basic types, with differing uses and capacities.
Single-stage snow blowers are good for most urban and suburban
uses. They are lightweight and maneuverable; have a rubber edge
auger that gets very close to the pavement; handle wet, heavy
snow very well. But they will not handle the hard, icy accumulation
left behind at the end of your driveway by the snowplow, and are
not suitable for gravel. A two-stage snow blower is good for
larger
driveways or drifting snow. It has an auger that breaks up the snow
and an impeller that throws it. Its skids adjust the height and
therefore are good for gravel. If you have a lawn tractor, it may have
a snow blower attachment. Check with the manufacturer.
Chemicals
Often, removing the snow is just the first step in the
process of
making your driveways and walkways snow and ice-free. Dealing
with the ice left behind is the next challenge. Ice does not just
freeze on the pavement, it freezes to the pavement. Breaking that
bond, or keeping it from forming in the first place, is the task of
chemical de-icers or anti-icers. A de-icer is a chemical agent that
is spread on snow or ice. It does not melt all the snow, it seeps
through to the surface of the pavement and melts the ice there,
breaking the bond and making it easier to remove the snow.
An anti-icer is a chemical agent that is applied before the
snowfall
begins. It prevents the bonding, thereby facilitating the removal of
snow down to the surface of the pavement.Many factors must be
considered and much of the information is confusing or even
conflicting. For many years, the most common de-icer has been
rock salt. The indirect damage and environmental concerns were
offset by its cost-effectiveness. Any de-icing chemical has the
potential to harm the environment if misused. Some will chemically
attack concrete. Over application of any can damage vegetation;
even those products claiming to be made from fertilizing ingredients
can cause harm. If you apply the chemicals as precipitation
begins, their effectiveness is increased and the amount needed is
diminished.
New Technologies
If snow falls on a warm surface, it melts. Problem solved.
So the
question is, how do you warm the surface? There are three basic
choices: electric, hydronic and infrared. Electric snow-melting
systems use buried cables to heat surfaces such as sidewalks
and driveways. They must be laid before concrete is poured and
could require upgrading the electric service panel but can conform
to any shape. Lower installation and maintenance costs may be
offset by higher operating costs. Electric heat-conducting rubber
mats are a less expensive method and need no modification to
melt snow. These easy- to-install rubber mats provide many years
of use.
Hydronic systems use flexible pipes buried under concrete to
circulate heated fluid that warms the surface. They too must be laid
before concrete is poured. It is possible to tie them into your
existing heating system so that higher installation and
maintenance costs could be offset by lower operating costs.
Infrared systems use quartz lamps on poles targeted to warm up
desired surfaces. These systems are good for spot applications or
remote walkways and require little time for warm-up. They are more
easily installed and good for retrofitting but they consume more
energy making them more expensive per square foot to operate
when compared to the other systems. (Tom Morgan -
HomeStore.com)
4. Brick Front Fireplace Make-Over
What
to do when you have a plain brick-fronted fireplace surround
that's showing its age? Many people would just paint the brick.
You can cover it with Tile. The hardest task, finding a tile that is
durable, long-lasting and that will achieve a surround that will
be
uniquely your own.
Firstly lay out all your pieces beforehand, to make sure each
element would tie in with the others. You can even created a
"storyboard" by gluing some of the pieces to heavy
cardboard, and
then propping it against the fireplace to study your design. When
you are satisfied with the overall look and design, concentrate on
the existing surround.
Besides painting the brick your other option could be to remove the
old clinker brick, but that will be quite labor-intensive, and if your
room can accommodate the additional depth of tiles applied to the
brick, go for it. So then trowel on a coat of cement mortar. After
letting the mortar cure for a week, you will have a smooth, solid
surface on which to apply your new tile. Arrange the tile as you
had it laid out on cardboard. You may now begin to install the tile
as per regular tiling instructions. Good Luck. (BHG.com)
5. Simple Steps To
Enjoy A Warm & Safe Winter
1.Allow at least one meter of clear
space around heating
equipment, or follow manufacturer's requirements.
2.Make sure there is proper ventilation when using heating
equipment that burns fuel.
3.Have your fireplace and furnace checked by a professional each
year and cleaned if necessary.
4.Keep children away from heating sources. Warn them about burn
hazards and fire danger.
5.Do not modify any fuel-burning appliance and always ensure that
replacement components are approved.
6.Check all heating equipment for a Canadian Standards
Association (CSA)
6. Affiliate Program & Our Sponsors
We currently also have quality, reliable companies that help
promote our service. Please find out more about them at:
http://www.homeworkcanada.com/sponsors.htm
Pillar to Post Home Inspection,Re/Max First, Remax House of
Real Estate, AmeriSpec Home Inspection Services, Keaco
Services, Chesney's Home Hardware, Gunther's Building Supply,
Verda Tech Inc.,High Security Lock Co., Home Alyze, Chesney's
Home Hardware, Revy Home & Garden, Homelife Realty, Banbury
Lane, Calgary Seniors Society, Coldwell Banker, Gunthers Building
Supply, Royal LePage, BenchMark Real Estate, Diamond
Fireplaces, Maxwell South Star Realty, Century 21, Smith
Insurance, Century 21 The Professionals, WeList.Com, Accesible
Housing Society.
6. The Monthly Funny :)
Little Johnny was playing with his father's wallet when he
accidently swallowed a quarter. He went crying to him mom,
choking on the quarter. They took him to a doctor, who said that
the quarter was impossible to remove without surgery, they
consulted a specialist who was of the same opinion. Then came a
man who said he could get the money out in a jiffy. He turned little
Johnny upside down and patted him with great precision on the
back of neck and, sure enough, the quarter rolled out. Everyone
was amazed, the father said "You must be an expert!" The man
replied, "No sir I'm just a tax collector."
* If you enjoy this newsletter please forward it to friends!
They can then e-mail us to receive it each month and be entered for
the draw. Thank You!
