My father-in-law designed and built his own house a few years ago, a job that began with clearing and levelling the land. He did everything himself, with the exception of bringing someone in to help with the foundation pour. Not bad for a guy in his 50s.

I thought of him while reading a recent press release sent out by publisher John Wiley & Sons, creator of the iconic black-and-yellow For Dummies series of reference books. Pitched to “those frustrated and hardworking souls who know they’re not dumb” but lack technical knowledge, this hugely successful series of books—150 million in print; more than 1,000 topics—has ventured deeper into the realm of eco-building with Green Building and Remodelling for Dummies, written by Eric Corey Freed, a LEED-accredited architect.

This useful book helps navigate the reader through the onslaught of “green” building materials and systems, covering everything from water and heating to energy conservation to selecting “green financing experts.”

The timing couldn’t be better. Green building has gained a steady foothold among regular homeowners who see the value in energy and water efficiency. What’s more: not only are we renovating from a green perspective, we’re simply renovating more, period. According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans spent approximately $230 billion on remodelling in 2007; up in Canada, more than $17.3 billion was spent in 2007, with 39 per cent of all homeowners taking on a renovation project in 2007, according to Statistics Canada. Across North America, homeowners are staying put and fixing up, not moving on.

With all the greenwash out there, having a calm, even-toned tome written for the everyman is certainly appreciated. Add to this Wiley’s other eco-themed books—Solar Power Your Home For Dummies—and other home-reno titles such as Building Your Own Home For Dummies, Home Improvement All-in-One For Dummies, plus books on bathroom and painting—and you’ve got a well-rounded foundation for environmental building.

I say “foundation” because, really, would anybody be comfortable beginning such a huge project with only a few Dummies books as technical guides? Imagine your contractor showing up with one of these books. Staying put is one thing; deciding to build your own house after watching a few episodes of Flip This House and reading the For Dummies book … well, is this really a smart idea?

A few weeks ago, my friend was helping renovate the inside of an old house. Tearing up the flooring, they came across old newspapers from 1965. It reminded me of author Daniel Handler, better known as Lemony Snicket, who discovered during a basement flood that his San Francisco home was built entirely on newspapers. Less harmlessly (relatively speaking) was the Toronto contractor that found himself involved in a Nancy Drew-style investigation after finding a mummified baby from 1925 when renovating a home.

These cases aside, most of us delight in finding old, antiquated “stuff” when renovating, especially if it was left behind by a long-gone homeowner. Mental Floss magazine ran a story on this very subject in their blog, asking readers to send in stories of things they found while renovating their homes. One person found a bag of empty beer cans sealed into a wall, perhaps leftovers from the bygone era of contracting.

Time capsules offer us a glimpse of yesteryear but, if you’ve got the luck of the Irish, you might dig up something worth more than sentimental value.

Sometimes retro finds can alter your project’s design, leading you down a new path based on what you found. Which leads me to wonder: if a renovator left a magazine or newspaper from today inside a wall, what would the future homeowner 70 years from now read about?

Ah, springtime. The melting of snow, the sprouting of tulips, the return to life for many of us … and when I say “us,” I’m not just talking human beings. Spring cleaning can unearth unwanted house guests such as termites and carpenter ants that have been sleeping—that is, burrowing, building nests—in your walls and floors.

According to the Termite Institute, termites are a $5 billion problem for homeowners. Perhaps an even bigger problem, ants—not just carpenter but 10 different species that can threaten homes—are capable of infesting and multiplying at rapid rates. You know what I mean if you’ve ever left a can of pop open outside in summertime, or dropped fruit scraps in the kitchen; in mere hours, ants are at the scene like paparazzi on Britney (another unwanted, gross house guest).

Besides entomologists and Gary Larson fans, nobody wants to talk about pests unless you’re already facing an infestation; however, because termites and ants can strike without warning, even the best-kept homes are at risk.

The Termite Institute and the Ant Institute are trying to change all this by speaking out to homeowners about these pesky pests, providing homeowners with identification, prevention and eradication information. Especially interesting, both websites offer live web cameras that vividly simulate what it would be like if either bug moved in.

If you’ve read this far, you’re either worried about infestation or already dealing with one. Horror stories certainly abound across the Web, from those dealing with ongoing struggles that want to share their knowledge, to notification of goings on Down Under, where admittedly, the bugs look a whole lot scarier. For elimination of termites, the University of Kentucky’s Department of Entomology has a straightforward guide for homeowners, including how to deal with the problem and how to prevent it from happening in the first place.

The University has a similar site for ants, again directed right at homeowners. Why so generous, Kentucky? Maybe it’s all that tasty blue grass.

A waterproof system will protect your home from cracks caused by water, settling and expansion/shrinkage in the summer and winter. Over 40% of new homes have water problems within the first three years after construction. By law, builders only have to provide a two-year warranty, so be sure to check the fine print of your purchasing agreement.

Water damage only gets worse the longer that you leave it. Water leaks will penetrate your foundation, slip into cracks and slowly break them down — something people often forget is that concrete is porous. Although it is expensive to repair, the value of your house will drop a lot farther in price if there is water damage. Another factor that water damage brings is mold, which can create possible health hazards for you and your family.

Any new residential construction can be waterproofed the right way because the foundation is exposed. The most cost-effective way is to spray a rubberized coating onto the exterior walls. This fills in all the areas of the walls and acts as a membrane, keeping water out. It can be done by the ‘do it yourselfer‘, but you need to do your homework and seek some expert advice beforehand. Other products include cementitious and sheet membranes, hot tar or bentonite. Make sure you get several quotes and recommendations in regards to the leakage.

While it is common to find knob and tube wiring (an old type of wiring no longer being installed) in a home, home insurance companies will not insure your home because of it. They ask that it is removed, which can range from $6,000 - $12,000 depending on your home, and permits must be taken out for this. There are some companies that still insure homes with the electrical system containing some knob and tube, but they are not easy to find.

Knob and tube wiring was used in residential construction up until 1945. The name originates from porcelain knobs, which held the wire, and the ceramic tubes that were passed through wood framing. The biggest problem with them is that the coating around the wires breaks down over time and can create a hazard or even fire.

Another wiring problem is aluminum, which was used in the 1960s. It was discovered to be a fire hazard due to the chemical composition and overheating between connections.

While it’s fairly easy to spot knob and tube in unfinished areas of your home, I have found several situations where old wiring exists between hard-to-get-at areas, such as switches to ceiling lights.

A qualified home inspector or electrician should be consulted prior to starting any new additions or remodeling to your home. Also, some provinces and states have passed legislation where only certified electricians can do work on your electrical system, ranging from your panel to a simple light switch. Please make sure that the contractor is using a qualified electrician.
For more information, please visit the Electrical Safety Authority at www.esainspection.net.

cpaulsen@homerenovationguide.com