Many ways to keep out UV danger - The Province, June 16th, 2013

With the rain subsiding we are seeing more sunlight and many homeowners are noticing their dwellings are warmer than in recent weeks.

Summer heat can cause uneven temperatures and severe hot spots, resulting in overloaded air conditioning units and higher utility bills. Intense glare from the sun makes work and living areas uncomfortable and premature wear / fading to flooring, carpeting, draperies, and furnis...

Chimney repointing pointers - The Province, June 9th, 2013

This week I am going to address an issue many homeowners tend to over look, their brick or cinderblock chimneys.

Chimneys are being converting to metal insulated type of chimneys rather than the old flue-liner type with solid brick /block chimney chases. The reason for this change is the devices being used in the chimneys are also changing. I am seeing less traditional wood burning fireplaces and more controlled burning appliances being used in fireplaces such as heatilators, woo...

Concrete facts will ensure summer project succeeds - The Province, June 2nd, 2013

From the calls to my office it is obvious that homeowners have begun to look at the exterior of their homes and begin to plan their summer projects. Patios, decks, walkways and driveways are common places where concrete and concrete products are used. Concrete can vary in its use and appearance. You may be familiar with terms such as exposed aggregate concrete, concrete paving stones, stamped concrete, and smooth / broomed finished concrete. Each type of concrete product and finish has uses which are b...

BC Residents Tip the Scale at Science World!

On Wednesday, April 24, approximately 100 students, parents and members of the general public answered the Call2Recycle by taking part in our TipZone challenge at Science World.  The challenge was part of an event to launch Call2Recycle’s newest public battery and cellphone collection site, located in the lobby of Vancouver’s Science World. BC Lions’ star quarterback Travis Lulay and the team’s mascot Leo the Lion were on hand to meet the pub...

Use smarts around asbestos - The Province, May 26th, 2013

Asbestos was a popular material used widely in construction. If the asbestos fibres are enclosed or tightly bound in a compound, there is no significant health risk. Asbestos poses health risks only when fibres are present in the air that people breathe. People working in construction, maintenance or in the renovation of older buildings should be particularly careful when handling asbestos. Never sand or fine-scrape surfaces containing asbestos fibres.

During renovations and repa...

Be wise with waste

Waste from renovation projects varies in its makeup depending on the type and extent of the renovation project. However almost always you will have a demolition waste component and construction waste component. The demolition phase is where most of the waste is generated but with some planning much of the waste can be diverted from disposal or even avoided in the first place.

Look at what you can reuse before deciding to replace it. Do you need to replace this cabinet? Or change t...

Save energy, money with kitchen renos

Remodeling your kitchen to be more eco friendly and energy efficient doesn’t mean sacrificing budget and style. Many manufacturers of kitchen flooring, countertops, appliances and other accessories have created products that not only save you energy dollars and make your space more comfortable but also add a whole new look to your space. It goes without saying that a kitchen remodeling project starts with a well designed layout taking everything into consideration including your lifestyle, budget...

Know the facts on contracts

Spring is here, and that means the spring home show season is as well. I’m sure many of you have attended home shows this spring. I have been at several home shows recently and had the chance to speak to many people who attended the shows. Home shows are a great place to see products you may consider using for your home improvement projects and to speak to the trades people who may end up doing those projects for you. However, I often see many new to market products and services at home shows. Th...

Tips to get new life out of your old deck - The Province, May 19th, 2013

Many of you are not building a new deck, but have an older deck that you are happy with, and simply want to freshen it up. This is not a difficult task, but does require some preparation work, patience, and a little bit of manual labour!

Remodeling Decks or Restoring Deck Finish

Western Red Cedar & Pressure Treated Decks:

If face is nailed or screwed, nails will require setting below the deck surf...

Don't dicker about decks - The Province, May 12th, 2013

Last week, I explained choosing the best location for a deck, and spoke of several decking materials and options. Today, I will discuss a few other options:

Pressure-treated

Pressure-treated deck planks will be a headache for most homeowners. The homeowner trying to find a finish that will stay on will soon realize there's nothing that will stay on longer than two years. Why? I mentioned you must always finish all four sides and ends and th...