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48 hours to a perfect patio



(NC)—Ah! The warmer temperatures are bringing us back outdoors. But before you can truly enjoy the fresh air – there are many needed updates to your patio areas to help recover from the harsh effects of old man winter.

Luckily, with a few spruce–up projects in only a weekend, you can achieve a patio revival that's simple, yet sensational.

Wash Away Winter

No matter what type of patio, pressure washing is a simple way to make it shine. It offers instant gratification as layers of dirt, dust and grime are quickly blasted away. Don't have a pressure washer? Don't worry, most rental companies or home improvement centers offer reasonably priced daily rentals. Or it's an opportunity to visit the neighbours who you haven't seen during the cold months to borrow theirs.

Bring New Life to Old Furniture

Once your patio is clean, bring out the seating. But Have your table and chairs seen better days? Fortunately, you can easily turn something ready for the trash into a new treasure by updating it with a coat of spray paint.

To start, lightly sand and clean the entire surface. Next, spray the entire piece of furniture with a new, updated paint colour. For metal, wood or wicker surfaces, try Krylon's Outdoor Spaces spray, or for plastic surfaces, try Krylon's Fusion for Plastic spray paint. Both products are available in a wide selection of popular colours and finishes and offer superior protection to keep your patio furniture looking beautiful for years to come.

Petals and Pots with Pizzazz

Finally, liven up your patio with beautiful flowers. But just as important as the pretty petals, is planting them in the perfect pot. Terra cotta pots are ideal since they come in a variety of sizes and are inexpensive. For added pizzazz, you can update these planters with a splash of colour.

To start, turn each pot upside down on newspaper and spray the pot with your favourite shade of Krylon Outdoor Spaces spray paint. Once dry, you may choose to spray your vibrant pot with a clear or glitter spray to achieve the dazzling finish you desire.

With just these few simple projects, your patio will be festive and fashionable with just a weekend's worth of work. More information on other projects can be found online at www.projectsinacan.com .
How to improve air quality in your home



(NC)—Canadians live in anticipation for warm weather and sunshine. Yet, some summer days can be difficult to enjoy when overtaken by smog and humidity, especially for those who suffer from asthma, allergies or other sensitivities.

When summer temperatures soar, homeowners tend to seek refuge in their homes by closing the windows and relishing the air–conditioned space. Believe it or not, a retreat indoors may not alleviate symptoms or offer much comfort if the air from outside is invading the home.

Home occupants are not protected from outdoor allergens and humidity unless these seasonal preparations have been checked off the to–do list:

Seal it tight. Use an insulation/air barrier to seal up cracks and penetrations that allow hot air to invade the living space, carrying with it unwanted airborne irritants. Spray foam is an effective option because it's sprayed on as a liquid and then expands to seal every nook and cranny so that no air can pass through. Spray foam makes it easy to get a tight fit around wall openings, such as windows, electrical/cable service entry points, and light fixtures. Some spray foam products, such as the ones offered by Icynene, are air barriers. Icynene also offers a 100% water–blown product, making it an even healthier option for homeowners.

Ventilate right. Once the leaky areas have been sprayed and sealed, homeowners should check with their insulation contractor to see what changes they might want to make to their HVAC system to improve efficiency and ventilation. This may be achieved through downsizing their system, introducing a ventilation system, or installing a HEPA filter.

Sealing tight and ventilating right are the two most critical steps to breathing healthy indoor air, no matter what the quality of the air outside may be. More tips for a healthy home can be found at www.insulationsmart.com .

 

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Give Dad a home theatre with this simple renovation tip

(NC)—With Father's Day quickly approaching, you've decided that now is the time to renovate the basement and give him the home theatre he's always wanted. The perfect gift for the perfect dad, your only concern is the spread of television noise traveling through the house. No need to worry, there is an easy solution that will satisfy you both.

“Properly engineered insulation is the best way to prevent sounds from traveling,” says David Flood, insulation expert at Owens Corning. “Installing engineered insulation such as QuietZone® will act as a sound barrier between your home theatre and the rest of the house to help keep your home peaceful and quiet.”

To minimize noise in your house, install EcoTouch™ QuietZone® PINK™ FIBERGLAS® Acoustic Insulation between the interior walls, ceiling and floors of your home theatre. This will help prevent the sound of the latest action moving drifting into the bedroom and disrupting your much needed beauty sleep.

QuietZone® acoustic batts are made with EcoTouch™ PINK™ PureFiber™ technology – the newest innovation from Owens Corning. Made with natural* materials comprised of over 70** per cent recycled content, EcoTouch™ PINK™ insulation is good for your home by helping to reduce waste from going to landfills.

Stop worrying about finding Dad the perfect gift this Father's Day and get started on your home renovation project to create your new home theatre.

More information on insulating with QuietZone® can be found at www.owenscorning.ca.

*Made with a minimum of 96% by weight natural materials consisting of minerals and plant–based compounds.

**Over 70% recycled content, based on the average recycled glass content in all Owens Corning fiberglass batts, rolls and unbounded loosefill insulation manufactured in Canada.

The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning © 2011 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved.


Smart energy–saving choices deliver faster returns

(NC)—As summer temperatures continue to rise, so does the cost of energy bills. Homeowners can keep their cool with a number of energy saving options. To get the fastest payback, homeowners should identify and fix the major sources of air leaks in the home.

Air leakage can account for up to 40% of a home's heating and cooling costs. In the average home, typical areas through which air escapes include joints at windows, cracks at doors, electrical service and cable TV entry points, electrical outlets and ceiling light fixtures, ductwork and chimney leaks. To compensate for the loss of conditioned air in the home, the heating and cooling system has to work harder to maintain a comfortable indoor environment.

Energy saving options that offer the best payback are those that help homeowners realize a return on their investment as quickly as possible. This benefits all homeowners, whether they plan on staying in the home for the short– or long– term.

Air–sealing with a spray foam insulation, such as those offered by Icynene, can offer significant savings each month. Icynene offers proof by estimating the energy payback for homeowners who want to see instant savings from their insulation purchase. A local dealer can provide a customized energy analysis.

More information about air–sealing for energy and cost savings is available online at www.insulationsmart.com.
 Finding your first home at a price you can afford



(NC)—Attractive mortgage rates and home prices are making 2011 a good year to look at buying your first home. There are a number of factors that you should take into consideration to make certain your first home is truly one you can afford.

“Buying your first home is one of the biggest life decisions you will ever make and you want to ensure you are both financially and emotionally prepared,” said Kavita Joshi, director, Client Strategies, RBC. “Your first step should be to determine how much you can afford while still maintaining your chosen lifestyle.”

Joshi provides the following tips for getting started:

• Know how much you can afford – before beginning your house search in earnest, take time to review down payment options, household income, current debt, estimated monthly housing–related costs and closing costs. You can visit the RBC online calculator to help determine how much you can afford (www.rbcroyalbank.com/cgi–bin/mortgage/tools/howmuch/afford.pl).

• Work with a budget – budgeting and setting a maximum amount on how much you are willing to spend are key to ensuring you can buy your first home and still live within your means. Online budgeting tools such as myFinanceTracker (www.rbcroyalbank.com/myfinancetracker) can help determine exactly where your money is going and how much you have to spend within the parameters you've set for yourself.

• Do your research – friends, family members and online websites can offer you helpful tips and personal advice. Also, consider reaching out to an RBC mortgage specialist (https://mortgage.rbc.com) who can give you insights into your finances.

For further budgeting tips and to join the discussion on purchasing your first home visit the RBC Facebook page at Facebook.com/rbcroyalbank.

Mud Glorious Mud tips for your house



(NC)—Any parent knows that children come with lots of baggage, literally. Mud rooms in homes often become a dumping ground for coats, boots, knapsacks and sporting equipment as they enter and exit the home on a daily basis. A little organization can go a long way in keeping this space neat and tidy and helping to prevent dirt from being tracked in and out.

Here are a few tips to consider when designing an effective mud room:

Store It

Storage is the most important aspect of any mud room. A custom wall unit with built in shelves can store shoes and boots and free up floor space for a bench or chair, perfect for donning footwear.

Locker–style cabinets for each member of the family can help to keep each individual's items organized in one spot and provide storage for off–season items that aren't worn often.

Hang It

Hooks (spaced five to nine inches apart) allow for easy access to frequently needed items. For children, secure them about 35 inches from the floor, for adults, about 60 inches. These can be used to hang jackets, scarves or knapsacks.

Step on It

Slate, honed tile, cork or vinyl flooring is slip resistant and indestructible. An area rug is also great to catch mud or dirt before it makes its way into the house.

Clean It

Installing a wash basin and faucet, like Brizo's Venuto faucet with Touch20 Technology, can help keep those muddy messes to a minimum. Cleaning dirty boots or soccer shoes before you put them away cuts down on dirt and grit that's dragged into the home. “The Venuto's touch technology feature really helps when you've got muddy shoes in one hand and a scrub brush in the other,” says Brizo brand manager, Anita Griffin.

More information can be found online at brizo.com.