How much thought do you put into your windows? Though they act to enlarge, lighten and even decorate a space, windows are an area that can be overlooked when considering a renovation. A total window rehabilitation is a clever means to improve the overall aesthetics of a house and gain energy efficiency in the process. As seen here, two Albertan family homes are re-vamped with new Design Series windows by Pella.

We take a look at what installing new windows entails, from delivery to the first time they get opened. Watch and see as a breath of fresh air falls over these homes.

Dated windows (left side), such as these circa 1976 plastic frames can give a tired, worn appearance. The owners recently added a new backyard deck, to which the complement of a replacement patio door is a small, but noticeable change. The result is a window that is not just a window, but a feature piece for the house which displays the beauty of real wood. The windows shown here are part of Pella’s Designer Series that feature a triple pane window. A more solid frame also gives additional security to this entryway, for both ease of use and potential break-ins.

Pella’s emphasis on customer service comes through every step of the way. The installation team calls the customer in the morning before 9am to confirm they are on their way, and oncethey arrive on site, they first come to the door and introduce themselves as the Pella installation crew. Before any product is pulled out of the vehicle, the installation team walks the customer through the job, making sure that both the installation members and the homeowner have the same understanding and expectations of how the job will go. Once this is achieved then the crews will start to set up for the job.

During the installation the Replacement specialist will come out for a site visit to see the progress of the job and make sure the customer is happy with the progress.

A full frame installation requires that the team first pull out the existing window and prepare the opening to install a new window. In order to install a new window, two workers are required: one installer installing from the outside and a second installer on the inside. On the interior of the home, drop cloths are used to protect the furniture and floors.

Once the opening is prepared, the new window is inserted. On the inside (seen here), the window is shimmed until level, plumb and square and then foamed with a insulation foam. The Design Series comes with the option of putting the blinds within the panes of glass, which these homeowners gladly chose. This means 200 times less air-borne allergens, making these ideal for households with allergic people, not to mention lessening dusting responsibilities.

From the outside (albeit a different window), a nailing fin is used to ensure the proper placement of the window. It covers the construction and is used to drive nails through in order to secure the frame. When retrofitting, it is possible to leave the nailing fin in place, but for a full installation like this, it is necessary to take out the old nailing fin and replace it fully.

Once the nailing fin has been properly installed, expander and receptor trim is applied to the exterior, replacing the old brick mould or wood trim. On the interior, new casing is applied to finish the window. As shown here, the window is flush with the stucco exterior, seamlessly blending in with the home while also giving it a modern look.

As it is easy to see with the contrast here, changing the windows on a home can make a significant difference in its appearance. Added benefits that aren’t quite as visual include lower energy bills, added solidity and the assurance of quality.

Once all the product is placed, the installers clean the window, using a dry vacuum to remove all debris from the exterior of the house as well. The the installer walks the customer through the house to demonstrate the operation of each of the windows, patio doors, and fully functioning blinds – in all it’s shiny glory.

(Renovator: Pella, Date Completed: June 2008, Location: Edmonton, AB,  Services Performed: 13 designer series windows and a patio slider, Budget: $28,000)

About the Builder

At Pella, our process is focused around the customer, providing them with an experience that is second to none. Pella was recognized as #1 in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power and Associates, North America-wide, and won Energy Star’s Window and Door Manufacturer Partner of the Year for both 2007 and 2008. If you are interested in having your windows replaced please visit us at www.westcan.pella.com, www.pella.com or call 403-292-0080 (Calgary) or 780-484-5622 (Edmonton). If you are outside of Alberta, please go to www.pella.com and enter in your postal code to book an appointment and get the location of your nearest Pella office.

By Pearse Walsh

Renovating or building your home should be a positive experience free from stress and worry. But did you know that electrical and gas installations and renovations can pose some of the most serious safety risks in the home?

“Do-it-yourself” might make sense when it comes to some home improvements, but when it comes to doing electrical or gas work, it’s best that you rely on the experts. Simply put, hiring licensed contractors provides peace of mind.

So while you’re thinking about renovations that involve gas and electricity, think about the legal requirements and benefits of hiring a licensed contractor to do the work.

Laws and regulations

Every province and municipality has its own set of laws and regulations that must be followed. A licensed contractor works with these every day, and knows what work is regulated, and requires permits and inspections.

Doing regulated electrical and gas work without a permit is illegal, and may jeopardize your insurance or the re-sale value of your home, not to mention your family’s safety.

Quality and qualifications

In order to be licensed, a contractor must have the training, expertise and experience required to do the job well, safely and to code. While a license doesn’t guarantee quality, it provides you with some assurance that the contractor has adequate knowledge and experience in his or her field.

Before issuing a license, the provincial licensing agency or board will verify the contractor’s background and be satisfied that the person is qualified to hold such a license.

In British Columbia, for example, all gas and electrical contractors doing regulated work are required, under the Safety Standards Act, to hold a valid license issued by the BC Safety Authority. The license ensures the contractor and the people employed by the contractor are qualified and can perform the work safely. Licenses must be renewed annually and require certain qualifications are met, including a $10,000 surety bond.

Finding a licensed contractor

Check websites, look for contractors listed in your local phone book, and by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations.

No matter how you find a contractor, it’s important to confirm he or she is a licensed contractor. Ask to see the license, or contact your licensing authority.

When you can’t wait for a licensed contractor

Sometimes it’s difficult to find a licensed contractor who can take on the work when you want it done. You may be tempted to do the work yourself, or go with an unlicensed contractor. Don’t! Work done improperly can impact you and your family’s safety, whereas having the work done by a licensed contractor will give you assurance and peace of mind that it is done safely. Good licensed contractors are busy because they are in demand.

Think about the safety of your family and your home. Delaying a renovation project to make sure it is done correctly and to code is worth the wait.

Many people think it’s okay to hire their neighbors or friends, if they are licensed electricians or gas fitters. This is not so. The person they hire must be a licensed contractor. This is important for the homeowner because contractors are bonded. If subsequent safety issues arise and the contractor refuses to fix them, the BC Safety Authority can call in the bond and have the work made safe.

This article was provided by the British Columbia Safety Authority. Pearse Walsh is the leader of Business Development for the British Columbia Safety Authority, which is an independent, self-funded corporation that provides cost-effective and essential safety services to business, industry and the general public. For more information, or to find gas and electrical companies and contractors, visit www.safetyauthority.ca.

In the world of self-help, it doesn’t get much bigger than Oprah. The media maven has the incredibly ability of taking just about any topic and making it seem fixable, from the mundane to the most inane. The Home Renovation Guide has its own stable of experts to answer your home improvement queries, but now Oprah wants to hear from you too! On Thursday, Ty Pennington, he of Trading Spaces and Extreme Makeover fame, will be on the show, answering the questions of viewers like you. In the words of one of Oprah’s production assistants:

“Do you have a home improvement question that only Ty Pennington can answer for you? Are you in the middle of a home design project and need Ty’s help to finish it? Do you have a great do-it-yourself idea that you want Ty to know about? Do you have a home improvement creation that you want to show off to Ty? Well, we have great news for you! Ty Pennington is coming to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to help you solve all your home design dilemmas! If you are a HUGE Ty Pennington fan and have a question just for him, we want to know! If you’re interested and have questions/ideas/anything for Ty, please click here to submit your information!”

It sounds like a golden opportunity for home predicaments if there ever was one - Oprah, Ty Pennington and your queries. Be sure to submit your story today to make it into the Thursday taping of the show (the episode will air at a later date). And now, I just have to grab those countertop samples I’ve been debating about for my bathroom …

Even though it’s been nearly a decade since I sat in a classroom, the fall season—the quickly approaching fall season, I should add—always makes me yearn for new projects, whether it’s taking a course or ripping apart a kitchen. After summer’s laissez-faire attitude (boat drinks, anyone?), there’s a feeling of “let’s get serious” in the air.

For many of us, this let’s-get-serious mood stems from an anticipation of snow. There are only so many home reno projects you can do once winter hits, and since fall is more moderate than Hades-heated July and August, it’s a great time to do one or two more outdoor projects, especially those tasks that can’t wait till next spring.

While crawling the web, I came across an article featuring HGTV handyman Steve Watson, host of Don’t Sweat It. In the article, Steve outlines the Top 5 things every homeowner needs to do before winter. Luckily, none of these jobs take more than a day to do. Here are his tips:

Leaky Roof: if you’ve got a leak, do not wait for winter before tackling the problem. Find the source of the leak by watching where it comes in during a rainstorm. Then, once the source is located, climb onto the roof and fix the spot; or, better still, hire a pro to do it for you. Because you’ve done the initial sourcing, the fix shouldn’t take long.

Clean the Gutters: unless you want to create an ice dam in winter, now is the perfect time to clean out your gutters so that the icy runoff has somewhere to run into. Of course, if your house is situated near trees that lose leaves come fall, you should save this job till late fall so that you can remove any littered leaves that can clog up your gutters. Also, don’t forget to check the downspouts. Or, as with the leaky roof, just get someone else to clean the gutters.

Check Window Seals: if you’ve opened up your windows in the summer, chances are there’s dirt and debris along the seal, which means the windows won’t properly seal in the winter and you’ll lose efficiency. But by simply cleaning the seals (and replacing any damaged spots) you’ll keep in the heat all winter long.

Winterize Your Pipes: take a peak under your house or in your basement for any pipes that need insulating or that require new insulation. Measure the length and then wrap it with pipe insulation. So simple, and yet such a pain to do in cold weather. Do it now.

Check the Deck: You’ve stored away the patio furniture, now do a quick once-over of the deck. Did you forget to treat it this summer? Do it now by giving the deck a solid clean (using a power-washer if you’ve got one) and then apply a coat of water-sealant. Done and done. You’re officially serious.

In Part I, we discussed distressed furniture as a design idea. Now it’s time to stop talking and start damaging furniture!

Distressing furniture is a lot of fun. When else do you get to drag heavy chain across tables, burn cabinet edges or drive over cabinet doors all in the name of an “authentic” look of yore.

Before beginning, there are two things to keep in mind. First, only real wood can withstand on-purpose distressing; MDF, particleboard and other synthetic materials don’t stand up to damage. Second, you’re trying to make the damage look convincing, so concentrate on areas that would naturally wear, such as near handles and along edges. In other words, don’t add a tire squeal mark to your tabletop. For inspiration, take a gander at some examples of well-worn furniture and then simulate the look.

While there’s no single method for distressing furniture, remember that a little damage goes a long way; don’t go overboard or you’ll be left with a decrepit piece of, well, garbage. Start slowly with a few scratches created by dragging a heavy chain across the surfaces, a method equally effective using coarse rocks or rasps. You’re trying to create random markings, so any heavy uneven surface works well. Continuing with the medieval methods, half-drive a few nails into a piece of wood and then simply drop it onto the object you’re distressing, or wrap a pile of screws, nuts and nails inside a cloth and then throw it against the surface. The list goes on and on.

You can also create a distressed look through paint or by lightly sanding around edges and handles (a sander, or even just sandpaper, is another useful tool to get your hands on for this project).

First-timers are encouraged to experiment with random pieces of wood before tackling and potentially ruining your furniture. And if you’re feeling nervous and looking for specifics, you can always Ask the Expert.

For the lucky ones, summertime means taking a vacation away from home for a week or two for some well-deserved R&R—actually, make mine a G&T. Weeks before a trip, pet owners call up their neighbour for feeding and walking duties; others hire house-sitters to come and water plants. Obvious stuff, really.

But why stop with plants and pets? The fine folks over at Charles & Hudson recently wrote about having your hardwood floors refinished while away on vacation. Instead of living through the messy, five-day refinishing process, why not have it done when you’re not around? Same goes with any type of flooring, whether it’s hardwood or you’re having wall-to-wall carpeting installed, putting down laminate.

Of course, you’d have to trust the contractors working while you’re away, so make sure you hire a reliable company.

Now that I think about it, many home-renovation projects suit this while-we’re-away timetable. Is your driveway looking tired? Have it repaved, resealed or bricked when you’re gone. Same goes with any exterior paths and patios.

What about your deck, does it need refinishing? No use having this done while you’re home barbecuing and entertaining guests. Speaking of backyard parties, who wants up a big whiff of paint fumes? Nobody, so if you’re home’s in need of an exterior paint job, get it done while you’re gone.

Of course, there’s something to be said for DIY projects or even keeping an eye on the contractors at work, but there’s a big difference between being watching and “living through” the job.

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and while not every dad pines for tools, nothing says “I love you, Mr. Fix-it” quite like a new tool.

But rather than getting him a tool he won’t use or that’s beyond his abilities—hey, let’s not embarrass him on his one day to be king—look for a simple-yet-cool tool. Here are the Top 3 slightly ridiculous, over-the-top tools for Father’s Day:

Titanium Hammer: You’ve heard him mention “titanium” in reference to golf clubs, but this lightweight yet tough-as-nail material is not limited to sports equipment. This 15-ounce hammer feels as light as a squash racquet but packs a punch. Take a close look and you’ll notice a few special features, including a side nail puller and a magnetic nail starter. But the best part of this gift is you can tell him, “Honey, this hammer has 10 times less recoil than steel.” Go ahead, tell him that.

Solar Robotic Lawn Mower: When I was a younger I wanted an Omnibot 2000, a robotic servant that could carry drinks on a tray. While I never got one, I am pretty sure it was pure novelty anyway.

That said, robots have come a long way since ’83. Husqvarna, best known for chainsaws, recently unveiled its Automower, a fully automatic mower that operates itself by following a path set out by an invisible wire. What’s more, this mower runs on a rechargeable, solar-powered battery; when the mower require more power, it simply drives itself to the charger and basks in the sun till it’s time to get back to work.

SawStop Table Saw: There’s nothing funny about losing a finger to a saw blade, and yet finger-cutting accidents are common whether your dad’s a pro or Mr. Butterfingers. Luckily, there is a solution in SawStop, an electronic detection system that detects human flesh in a millisecond, stopping the blade as soon as contact is made. The website features a video showing what happens when a hot dog hits the blade. Now that’s progress.

Canadians and Americans are different. For every similarity—our love/hate relationship with Celine Dion; our affinity for televised sports, with regional differences, of course — there are differences that clearly make each country separate. And I’m not just talking about Canada’s love for Clamato and the ongoing love affair Americans have with spray cheese. Gross.

But the real difference between America and Canada, at least as far as this blog is concerned, concerns the White House and 24 Sussex Drive. Don’t know what “24 Sussex Drive” is? That’s my point.

This past weekend, the Canadian media reported on the decrepit state of Prime Minister Steve Harper’s abode, pointing out that the 34-room house, built in 1866, is in desperate need of a reno—to the tune of $10 million.

At stake: who will pay for the renos and where will Steve and his family live during the repairs, which include replacing old windows, removing asbestos and installing a sprinkler system. They’re looking at a 12- to 15-month project, and that’s assuming that the subcontractors show up on time.

I simply cannot imagine the White House undergoing such prolonged and publicly debated scrutiny over when and how the “official residence” will be brought up to date; it’s not that the White House has never been renovated—it has, many times—but that Canadian leaders have historically lacked the political will and wallets to authorize big-budget renovations, let alone the cosmetic changes brought in by U.S. presidents and (likely) future leaders.

Of course, all this pales in comparison to the reno headaches suffered by other world leaders. Former Czech president Václav Havel writes in his memoir, To the Castle and Back, about concerns with the Castle’s garden hose, which needs to be lengthened, and the bat inhabiting the vacuum-cleaner closet, all while trying to run a newly democratic country. Talk about gaining perspective.

Sometimes I think Canada suffers from too much democracy; as in, too much debate over how and when things need to get fixed. It’s why there is an excessive number of elections, and a state house in need of the Holmes treatment. In the States, on the other hand, the chain of command means things get done ASAP, which is good when it comes to renos, but not as good when it comes to foreign policy.

No, we’re not the same. But that’s what makes us friends.

A few weeks ago, during Easter dinner, my wife’s cousin pulled out his new iTouch gizmo. He wanted to show me some pictures he’d taken at his cottage. Pretty soon he was showing off his device, logging online through a wireless network—over turkey and wine. Then came the chainsaw videos.

YouTube, as I’ve mentioned before, is teeming with silly, sometimes dangerous acts caught on video. And while the Paris Hiltons of the world think “bedroom” when it comes to dangerous acts caught on tape, some of us think chainsaw, as in: wielding a five-pound tool spinning a chain that would sever your head in five seconds … and using it as a toy!

Dumb acts with a chainsaw: entertaining, yes; something you should try at home, no. Instead, sit back and learn from these lessons.

Lesson 1: Safety harnesses are key when climbing a tree in order to cut it down.

Lesson 2: When removing a tree, yelling “timber” isn’t enough—make sure the surrounding area is clear too.

Lesson 3: If chainsaws make you nervous, try another tool (U.S. readers only).

Lesson 4: In the esteemed words of Dean Martin, “if you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt.” Same goes for chainsaws.

Lesson 5: Chainsaws eliminate the need for hotdog buns.

Lesson 6: Ask yourself, does the tree really need to come down?

Lesson 7: Cutting down a tree with a chainsaw? Easy. Filming it? Not quite as simple.

Of course, it’s not all fun and games when it comes to deadly, gas-powered tools. Here’s some great video on the dos and don’ts of chainsaw operation and maintenance. And its follow-ups, how to remove or tighten the chain.

Safety equipment is a genuinely crucial component of operating a chainsaw. Especially important: how to put on chaps.

But if you’re into talking about chainsaws, learning about the difference between electric and gas, or just looking at pretty pictures of these fine-toothed beauties, the recently launched Chainsaw Blog is where it’s at. No one seems to be sporting chaps, but it’s probably because they know better.

Home sellers have one goal: to sell their home for the most amount of money they can get. A home in move-in condition makes meeting this ideal easier.

Many of today’s prospective homebuyers have busy lifestyles and are looking for properties that don’t require a lot of work. Homeowners should be proactive by making needed repairs before putting their homes on the market. Inspect both inside and outside the home, and make a checklist of practical and aesthetic repairs.

Some things to improve upon:

• apply a fresh coat of paint on the walls, doors, and shutters

• clean the carpet and buff and polish wooden floors

• repair cracks in sidewalks and driveways, and clean any stains on them; reseal the deck

• replace missing or warped roofing

• clean or re-grout kitchen and bathrooms

• repair dripping faucets and drains or plumbing fixtures that aren’t operating; tighten and polish hardware

• fix sticking doors and replace old locks and doorknobs

• replace burned-out bulbs and broken electrical sockets, as well as cracked windows, torn screens and broken fencing

• clean up stains on the tiles and countertops

We also recommend hiring a certified home inspector to thoroughly and impartially evaluate the property. A standard report will review the condition of the home’s heating system, central air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement and visible structure. If the pre-inspection results in a checklist of things to be done, let your agent look over the report with you to help prioritize the list of repairs. Your goals and local market conditions may dictate how extensive your repairs need to be.