From Reliance Protectron

Extreme temperature, flood sensors offer peace of mind

It’s that time of year again where strong winds, snow, ice and extreme cold weather sweeps across the country leaving many Canadians scurrying for the protection and comfort of their warm cozy homes.  What many homeowners are now realizing is that it’s also crucial to protect their homes from nature’s elements and the potential problems caused by winters’ deep freeze.

“People are realizing that it’s just as important to protect homes from extreme fluctuations in temperatures as it is protecting homes from criminal activity with their monitored home security systems,” explained Patrice De Luca, vice president of marketing and business development for Reliance Protectron Security Services, a leader in home security services who offer, among their suite of products and services, affordable solutions to help thwart the threat of water damage, and fire due to accidents caused by extreme temperatures.

This is especially true for snowbirds, those who travel for long periods on business or for vacation homes and cottages.  “No one wants to be concerned about their home and property while away on business or travel,” added De Luca.  “Damage caused by water and excessive temperature fluctuations like an overheated wine cellar or frozen pipes can be serious and expensive. That’s why monitored temperature sensors have been found to offer an effective safety measure for homeowners.”

Reliance Protectron’s temperature sensors are placed in strategic areas such as the furnace room to detect high or low temperatures. When extreme falling or rising temperatures are sensed, the alarm system sends a signal to Reliance Protectron’s monitoring centres where specially trained professional operators are standing by to dispatch appropriate emergency services if required.

These temperature sensors installed and linked to the monitoring centres protect homes 24 hours a day and can alert you of low temperatures in your home so you can react before your pipes freeze and you have water damage to clean up.  You can also find out about high temperatures in the event of a flash fire that may create very little smoke, or detect abnormally high temperatures due to a chimney or furnace malfunction.

“If your furnace stops working and your pipes freeze, time is of the essence. The quicker you can shut off the water or direct your plumber to the problem, the better chance you have to prevent pipes from bursting,” added De Luca.

Hopefully, with temperature sensors you can avoid a water emergency such as flooding. However, it’s always good to be prepared, and flood sensors work hand in hand with temperature sensors in case frozen pipes burst.  Flood sensors monitor water conditions in the home and are typically placed near water heaters and sump pumps.

De Luca added that temperature and flood sensors, when monitored by a professional monitoring centre, can even allow for the monitoring and detection of extreme temperatures and water levels in your home from a distance though their notification service (TeleGARD) on your cell phone or PC at work for example.

“These early warnings of potentially dangerous temperatures enable homeowners to take action before potential accidents can cause extensive damage to their family’s health, home and personal belongings.” he added.

by MeCC Interiors

Three (3) parallel island-like areas form an integrated kitchen / dining area, but clever built-ins hide everything that shouts “kitchen.” Oven, micro, coffee maker, toaster, etc. hide away in the column at the end of the open shelving. (Photo via houzz.com)

Sustainability and integration are the top trends in kitchen and bath design according to the latest Design Trends Survey by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Architects will generally see trends several months before builders.  Depending on your area and the calibre of local decorators and designers, you may find trends flow to architects from their design collaborators or vice versa.

Integration Leads Kitchen Trends

In the kitchen, functionality and organization is tantamount, with a secondary focus on sustainability.  (Scores are computed by subtracting those who say demand is decreasing from those who say it is increasing):

• Computer area/recharging station: 43%
• Integration with family space: 42%
• Renewable flooring materials: 36%
• Recycling center: 35%
• Adaptability / universal design: 34%
• Larger pantry space: 33%
• Renewable countertop materials: 31%
• Drinking water filtration systems: 29%
• Natural wood cabinets: 14%

Eco countertop by Cosentino in White Diamond.

Water and Energy Savings Lead Bath Trends

LED bathroom lighting . (Photo from topstail.com.)

Not surprisingly, environmentally friendly features are even more important in the bathroom than the kitchen.  Everything from lighting selection to faucet and fixture selection is looking at long-range impact and savings rather than immediate cost.  The top bath trends as reported by AIA:

• LED lighting: 57%
• Water saving toilets: 53%
• Accessibility / universal design: 51%
• Dual flush toilets: 47%
• Doorless showers: 44%
• Radiant heated floors: 41%
• Hand showers: 33%
• Linen closet / storage: 21%

by StonePeak Ceramics

StonePeak is excited to be a part of a new case study showcasing the latest and greatest eco-friendly construction material designed for sustainability and energy efficiency.  The Green Idea House is a 2,100 square foot home that is being remodeled to give it a modern look that says it is possible to be both environmentally sensitive and beautiful.

The house is being used in a long term case study put on by Southern California Edison to measure the effects of green products on energy consumption.  The great thing about this project is they are using affordable products in a replicable design, so the concept can be reused with similar costs to standard housing.

The owners of the house are not developers, architects, or manufacturers, but actually the family that will be living there.  While making the selection for their “green” house they were strictly looking to partner with businesses that are engaged in sustainable activities.

“We want materials that will stand the test of time and hold up for our active family. The selection process was made easier because of the wide variety of sizes StonePeak has to offer,” said house owner Monica Fortunato.

Upon their search they found that StonePeak exemplified these qualities and decided to install our tile in two of their rooms:

• For the upstairs bathroom The Green Idea House will feature Light Splendor from the Cesare Magnus collection.

“We chose from the Cesare collection because the color variation in the tile is one of the most beautiful tiles we have seen.”

• For the downstairs laundry room they will have Cloudsky from the Sky collection.

“We chose from the sky collection for our laundry and downstairs bath because of the thru-color and beauty of the tile.”

The Green Idea House will be holding tours of the house for the next three years, including The Solar Tour and the Earth Day Tour, along with several green building workshops.

During these tours you can speak with an Energy Upgrade California contractor and learn how you can:

•  Save money
• Increase energy and water efficiency
• Live more comfortably in your home
• Get up to *8,000 in rebates and incentives from Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles

How it’s Done

The tours will showcase the innovative technologies that make the Green Idea House net zero energy, zero carbon and responsive to the environment in terms of water, waste, and toxicity.

The concept of a net zero house is to harvest as much energy as you use.  With the state of California attempting to make all new residence net zero by 2020, the question arose in Robert Fortunato’s mind, “How are we going to get there?  Can we get there?  Let’s build it today!”

One of the key features of the Green Idea House is a massive overhang pointing south.  While the appearance may seem odd at first glance, the functionality of it is quite genius.  Simply put, during the summer months when the sun is high, the overhang will help shade the house helping it keep cool.  The opposite effect occurs during the winter months as when the sun is low; its rays will come in below the overhang penetrating large windows, thus helping to heat the house.  By using an air to water heat exchange they are able to harvest the ambient air from the garage and use it to help heat the rest of the house.  This effortless process can help with up to 50% of the energy it takes to heat and cool a standard house.

“The Green Idea House is like a stone soup,” Robert remarked.  “When everyone contributes it’s amazing what can happen.”

We will keep you updated with pictures and information as the house becomes complete.

For more articles visit http://blog.stonepeakceramics.com.

by MeCC Interiors

If you’re a trend watcher and can’t wait to know what’s on the design horizon for 2012, here are a few of the evolving shifts occurring within Canada and the US pertaining to home design, which are making our living spaces more practical than aspirational.  These trends apply not only to new homes, but more extensive renovation projects.

Open Concept Living and Family space (photo by homeaway.com)

Then: Formal Living Room.  Now: Open Family Room.

The first is nothing new and will certainly come as no surprise: formal living rooms are a thing of the past, with a preference towards open rooms that encourage family gathering.  Interior walls continue to be torn down or opened up to expand views and make interiors feel more spacious and connected.  Just be sure you’re not tearing down a load bearing wall if you’re removing anything.

Then: Second Staircase.  Now: An Elevator.

RAM residential elevator

Rather than making room for that second staircase, keep an area reserved for that future elevator!  With aging populations, this luxury will become more commonplace as multiple floors become more difficult to manoeuver.  Though definitely more expensive than your standard kitchen or bathroom renovation, sizes and interior finishes vary considerably, making them available in a wide price range.

Then: Soaker Tubs.  Now: Steam Showers.

Showpiece bathrooms almost always feature a standalone tub, though a shocking number of homeowners say they never use the tubs to soak in.  For those with more limited space, tubs are being replaced with steam showers, which are fabulous year round and not as drying to the skin as saunas.  In homes with more space, many feature full steam rooms, often in the basement near the gym.

Then: Dad’s Office.  Now: Lifestyle Centres.

The panelled office that doubled as dad’s retreat are disappearing in favour of “lifestyle centres.”  Most homes feature wireless computing, so a fulltime desk is not even necessarily part of the equation.  They tend to allow for flexibility and togetherness and may act as home office, homework centre, craft station, or something else entirely, but they are included within the main, open space and keep users connected with others in the house, rather than segregated.

Outdoor Firepit and Conversation area by insideoutpatio.ca

Then: Breakfast Nook.  Now: Outdoor Spaces.

Kitchen sizes have changed substantially over the years, with many now being the hub of the home and opening onto the family room.  (Many also contain the home’s “lifestyle centre.”)  Instead of breakfast nooks, they feature a bar area and stools.  During the same time, outdoor kitchens have seen a dramatic rise and many would prefer to spend time outdoors when the weather is nice, and so the outdoor room continues to trend upwards.  It includes more than just a dining table and a few chairs, though.  Separate seating areas with a fire pit, for example, will grow in popularity as they help extend the outdoor season.

Then: Grand Foyer.  Now: “Drop Zones.”

The double story entrance foyer is seen by many as a waste of space and is often terribly energy-inefficient. “Drop zones,” however, are functional spaces that help keep everyone organize.  Most feature a place to store coats and footwear, as well as backpacks or briefcases, whether on hooks or cubbies or within a closet.  They also provide a place to drop and sort the mail, set the house keys, and other things of that nature.  Larger zones also store sports equipment or feature a place to store Fido’s leash and accessories.  Depending on the layout of the home, it may be at the front door, or off a more commonly used side or back entrance.

Bayou Cottage Laundry / Craft / Drop Zone

Bellacor announced the launch of its members-only private flash sale site, www.Olume.com. Beginning today, customers can sign up to view and purchase a limited quantity of highly desirable home products priced at up to 75% off retail.

“The needs of our consumers are changing. We’ve adapted to these changes by continuing to offer our customers high-quality pieces for their home but at insider prices,” said Chris Fowler, Director of Marketing for www.Bellacor.com.

Olume showcases frequent new sales featuring a curated selection of home furnishing products from some of today’s most sought out brands such as Quoizel, Kenroy Home, and Southern Enterprises. Each sale will include a limited quantity of items from various categories such as lighting, furnishings, and decor. The pieces will be available on the site for a limited-time and sold on a first come, first serve basis.

Unique to Olume is the specialized knowledge of the furnishings industry that Bellacor’s merchandising department brings. “We have a decade of experience in this space and an equally long history with great brands. Using this knowledge, we offer our Olume members special access to an extremely large selection of product from over 800 brands—all at drastically reduced prices,” said Fowler.

Olume is also leveraging the social element of shopping.  Bellacor will offer members who refer friends (friends that also sign up to become members) to receive a $15 credit towards their next purchase. Additionally, members are able to use the Facebook “like” functionality within Olume to communicate preferred brands and products for future sales.

Home design enthusiasts can sign up for a membership at http://www.olume.com or check out Twitter (http://twitter.com/olumecom) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/olume) for new sales events.

About Olume
Olume is a private flash sale website offering members special access to in-demand brands at insider prices. New sales are launched every other day, with a curated selection of home furnishings. Discounts offered are up to 75% off retail.

About Bellacor
Bellacor is a one-stop showroom that promises a new way to shop the entire lighting and home furnishings industry from the comfort of your home by providing superior personal service and access to the largest collection of lighting and home furnishings on the web.

There are over 300,000 products at Bellacor.com, which boasts one of the largest and most impressive online inventories of home lighting. Bellacor showcases luxury home furnishings from brands including: The Minka Group, Murray Feiss, Quoizel, and many others.

by Robert Wright

There are always things that need to be worked on or required on your home. This is the time of year when you really see what happens to your home when you have not taken care of certain things.

It’s all about home maintenance.

After the winter has had its way with your home, it always looks dirty and you always find damaged things.

This is also the time of year when most people take an inventory of what needs to be done and also start to plan larger projects and renovations. This is when you see damaged roof shingles, or split fence boards, or the deck boards are broken, and now you see why the cold wind was blowing around the windows and doors.

All of these little items need to be addressed and looked after, because if you don’t repair them, they can become much larger problems. If you don’t repair and/or paint the window, you will need to replace it when it rots. Or the small opening in the siding will let rain into the wall and you will get water damage and mold problems. Does the eaves- trough still flow in one direction? Is the down spout clogged with last years leaves?

One area that most people miss is the HVAC equipment. Does the air filter need cleaning and/or replacement? When was the last time the HRV was serviced? Does the furnace and fan motor still run smoothly? Is the a/c unit ready to go for another summer? It can be very expensive to replace these pieces of equipment; and also you can greatly extend their service life with regular check ups and cleanings.

One thing to consider is to ask your renovation contractor to do a condition survey of your home. That way you can have a professional look at things to ensure you have not missed something. You can also discuss your immediate needs, future wishes and then plan for the completion of the various repair and renovation items in a systematic fashion.

Some of the rules of thumb I have heard are that you should invest between 2% and 5% of your homes value a year in your home for maintenance. That way you know your home will be in good condition and you will protect your investment in your home. If you don’t spend some time and/or money in your home, you could be in for a nasty surprise one day. As it was said in the commercial “you can pay me now, or you can pay me later”.

About the Author

Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com.

Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote.

by Robert Wright

Many times I get asked about permits for a renovation project. Many people don’t want to spend the money or are private. They also don’t understand why they are needed and when.

It’s about your safety (and peace of mind).

I have again visited a renovation gone bad. As we discuss the various issues, I asked if they have had any permits pulled….the answer was “I don’t know”. This is the wrong answer. It also confirmed some of my thoughts about the project. Not a good situation all way round.

So how hard is it to get a permit? An electrical permit is done with a phone call to ESA. Homeowners can pull one as well as an electrician. ESA has been getting very tough on non permit installations. This is because too many people are getting hurt and houses are burning down. With current regulations, a building permit has to be issued in 2 weeks if there are no problems with the application and other documents. It usually takes the design professional at least 2 weeks to produce drawings suitable for the application process.

What about a building permit? Every municipality is a bit different about which permits are required when. When you are only changing finishes, usually no permits are required. You will need a building permit for most renovation work and usually also a plumbing permit. In addition, you may need a HVAC and gas permit.

The biggest expense for a building permit is not the fee. It is preparing the drawings and documents for the permit application. The architect, interior designer, and/or the engineer make sure what will work well for you and ensure it will stand up. The design fee can range from about $1k to many k’s. The permit fees can be less than $100.00.

So what does a permit give you? The biggest thing it gives you is peace of mind and safety. When you apply for permits the city confirms that nothing being planned has a code issue. When you have the new work inspected at the various stages, they confirm that the work is competed to code.

So how does this give you peace of mind? God forbid you have a major problem and you have to make an insurance claim. One of the first questions you will be asked is “Who did the work and was permit “pulled”?” The worse case scenario is the insurance company denies the claim or they pay out the claim and you can not get insurance in the future. As Clint once said, “do you feel lucky?”

About the Author

Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com.

Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote.

by Vicky Sanderson

Rona lead free faucet

If one word sums up the design and décor zeitgeist, it’s balance. That’s because homeowners are increasingly tempering an appetite for possessions with practicality, weighing beauty against a budget and considering how over-consumption affects the planet.

Does that mean our homes will become colourless caves, mere machines for living? On the contrary, a simpler approach can actually open up options for individuality and creativity.

How to start? Try sourcing product from thrift shops, garages sales and online buy and sell sites like Kijiji www.kijiji.ca This an easy and fun way to shop locally for everything from art to furniture to collectibles, much of which you can customize to create a high-end signature look — with a bare-bones budget.

If you need to declutter, Kijiji is also a quick and convenient way to get rid of items you no longer want. Use it, as well, to educate yourself about collectibles, as I did after recently scoring two highly unusual glass Rembrandt lamps. If you’re selling collectibles, it’s also provides a reliable pricing guide for similar items.

Recycled décor can be a short-cut to one-of-kind style, but there are times when new is preferable. Newer-generation appliances are more energy and water-efficient, while it’s also often easier to get replacement parts for fixtures, a fact that will help extend product life.

Rona's lead free faucet

The best of the new renovation and building products strike a balance between style and sustainability. Rona’s Uberhaus line of bath and kitchen faucets, for example, is both green and gorgeous.  These good looking faucets, which come in a variety of finishes, definitely qualify as eco-elegant. It’s worth noting that Rona (www.rona.ca) has several eco-categories now, including Eco-Responsible, a program under which items are subjected to a program devised by the International Chair in Life Cycle Assessment at the École Polytechnique de Montréal, which looks at the impact a product has throughout its life, from manufacturing to disposal.

Pittsburgh Hacienda Palette

One of the simplest and most affordable to get a great new look is with paint. It’s also a wonderful way to express individual taste and style, and I was reminded of this when I recently spoke to colour expert Janice Lindsay www.janicelindsay.com who has a collection with Pittsburgh Paints www.ppgpittsburghpaints.com. I told Janice that I was considering backing off the wonderfully rich colours I’d picked for a project from that company’s sunny Hacienda Collection. She offered sage advice.

Pittsburgh Hacienda Palette

“If the colour really seems too much, don’t make the mistake of moving a few shades lighter on the colour chart. It’s not the same colour. Instead, introduce the colour you love it in small amounts — as a headboard or even a broad swath on a wall, “says Lindsay. How right she was. I stuck with my original colour choices; but used them as accents and focal points on a backdrop of PP’s Jute, which is my fave new “neutral”. And how does it look? Simple, stylish and sustainable, if I do so say so myself!

About the Author

Vicky Sanderson writes a widely-read weekly column on home improvement products and housewares, Hot Home Products, that appears every Saturday in The Toronto Star, while her blog, On the House, http://thestar.blogs.com/onthehouse is a personal take on up-to-the-minute news about all things home and decor related. You can also follow her on Twitter. http://twitter.com/#!/ She’ll be appearing at the International Home Show www.internationalhomeshow.ca from March 31 to April 3.

by Robert Wright

You may be aware of the eco-audit or energy savings programs run by the province and the federal governments. You may have heard that the federal government has cut these programs for budget reasons.

I think that was short sighted.

New homes built today are much more energy efficient than even homes built 10 years ago. This is one of the reasons the Canadian Housing industry was able to meet Kyoto targets – one of the very few industries to do so.  With most of our housing stock – up to 50% – built between the 1960’s and 1980’s; there are a lot of homes requiring energy updates.  Many things in a home require replacement over the years.  Why not encourage these replacements to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly?

The eco audit program requires that you have a pre renovation or repair inspection and then followed by a post renovation inspection. You could also “double dip” in the programs until you receive maximum rebate value. That means you could spread the work over time as your budget allows.

Many homeowners believe the most cost effective eco updates are the windows and HVAC equipment. They are not — it is usually the insulation and the air sealing updates. A handy home owner can complete some of these updates themselves with a caulking gun and some spray foam. Recently, I have been surprised at the number of 1960’s and 70’s basements that I’ve seen that are unfinished and uninsulated. I have finished basements in these types of homes in the past, and the home owner has seen the heating bills drop by 25% to 30%. It is amazing the heat loss that happens through the basement.

I have also done exterior renovations where the client could tell where the work was done – without leaving the home. They could feel the comfort level increase in adjoining rooms as we did the work! In addition, they went from two smaller a/c units running on high to one unit on low to cool the home.

You can still receive the provincial rebates. However, the cut off date for the federal rebates has passed – they did not give very much warning. I understand that if you have a file number and unused rebates, you may still be able to claim additional federal rebates to top up your rebates. You can call NRC at 1-877-953-5454 to confirm if you can extend your federal rebates.

So while the rebates may not be as lucrative as before, there are still savings to be had, which will only get better as time goes on. It still pays you to be green

About the Author

Rob Wright has grown up around construction and in the mid 1990’s, Rob joined and took over Citadel Renovations in Ottawa. Rob has presented seminars at the local home shows on various renovations subjects and is a contributor to the Home Renovation Guide. Rob has been active in the Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association for many years and previously served as the Renovation Council Chair. For more information, visit CitadelRenovations.com.

Looking for a local contractor? Visit the Home Renovation Guide’s Complete Directory or Get a Free Quote.

image from www.ceilume.com

Want to leave your old tiles in place, but have a whole new look?

There is no quicker, easier, DIY room makeover than replacing your old suspended ceiling tiles, and Ceilume’s 60 second videos show you exactly how.

Visit Ceilume’s Customer Photo Gallery to see these smart ceiling tiles in action and hear from the customers who installed them, and for the DIY nitty-gritty, be sure to visit the their blog.