Home Tips

• Home Chores
• Colours and their Common Associations
• Furniture Placement
• Home Maintenance
• Control the Moisture

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Home Chores

Fall and Spring Chores
No matter where you live, seasonal changes in temperature and moisture levels require special maintenance tasks. Fall and Spring cleaning are necessary to maintain a house's appearance and keep it in good condition.

• close and drain hose bibs (fall), open hose bibs (spring)
• rake debris away from side of house and other structures
• clean out gutters and downspout elbows
• check gutters, downspouts, and roof penetrations for leaks
• treat wood gutters (fall)
• check and repair caulk (if needed) around exterior surfaces (fall)
• note any cracks in foundation, brick or stucco
• hose off house exterior (spring)
• scrub mildewed areas of house exterior and treat for mildew and fungus on decks (spring)
• clean gaps between deck boards above joists
• clean around air conditioner compressor
• trim any trees or shrubs that touch house
• inspect and replace (if needed) weatherstripping
• inspect and repair (if needed) screens
• inspect and clean (if needed) storm window weep holes
• clean out under decks and porches
• inspect and repair (if needed) glazing compound
• clean out basement window wells
• examine septic system drain field for flooding, odor;have tank pumped yearly

Annual Interior Chores At least once a year, these items need to be checked. It's important to properly check the fireplace and combustion appliances by fall, because the house is "sealed up" in the winter and not much fresh air enters in.

• clean and seal tile grout
• inspect plumbing shutoff valves
• inspect toilets for stability
• "exercise" circuit breakers
• vacuum smoke alarms
• vacuum heating registers, vents, ducts, radiators
• inspect fireplace flues for "glassy" creosote buildup and have flues cleaned regularly
• inspect fireplace firebrick and mortar for cracks and deterioration, patch small cracks, but large ones require professional repair

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Colours and their Common Associations

Red is viewed as an exciting, dramatic and rich colour. Think of the associations with the words "red carpet treatment." Red also is passionate; think of "The Lady in Red." And it stimulates the appetite; think of your favourite Italian restaurant. The darker shades of red such as burgundy and maroon have a rich and stately feeling about them; think of the Victorian era. A front door painted burgundy is dramatic and inviting.

Orange gives off a cheerful aura. It is bold and exciting, friendly and informal. The dark, muted version if orange is rust. Rust colours in the living room or family room are inviting and give a feeling of casualness.

Yellow is the most visible colour. That's why you see so many street signs in yellow. Pastel yellows are happy without being overpowering and make for a nice, cheerful backdrop when the room's walls are painted in this hue. Gold tones create an atmosphere of richness or can be construed as antique such as in Colonial days where every room had a touch of gold.

Blue has a universal appeal because it reminds us of blue skies and deep blue oceans. There's a feeling of serenity and openness with blue. There is also a feeling of power with blue; think of a navy suit on an executive. Blue works well in bedrooms and on the exterior of a house and comes across crisp and clean if trimmed with white.

Green is nature's favorite colour. Green is very soothing to many people, perhaps because of its association with nature. Hunter green is associated with country life. Jade greens remind us of jewels and precious stones. Green works well in a dining room and can actually be used in any room in the house. It is easy on the eyes.

Violet reminds us of royalty and wealth. Purple and violets are luxurious colours. Many young females are attracted to this colour and love to have their bedrooms decorated in a violet motif. Too much purple can be overwhelming, but accents of this colour do much to punch up a room.

Brown also is a colour associated with nature. It is relaxing and easy to live with. Red-browns are more formal and work well in great rooms or living rooms. The lighter hues such as tan and beige work well with most colour schemes to bring about a base that unifies.

White symbolizes freshness, purity and cleanliness. It happens to be a favorite colour for walls. Off white and tinted white walls afford a great canvas for any other colour combination motif.

Black is authoritative. It conveys sophistication. It provides a neutral counterpoint to any other colour you might choose to couple it with. Too much black can be depressing. But when blended with other colours, it makes for a dramatic statement in any room.

Grey is elegant. Since it is a neutral, it also blends well with other colours. Grey and blue give a clean, no-fuss look. Grey trimmed with white is classy for both interior and exterior paint.

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Furniture Placement

1. Take Measurements
The first step in arranging a space is determining its size. Use a tape measure to get the dimensions of a room. Or, a quick tip: measure your foot and then walk heel to toe across the room. It’s an easy way to estimate the basic size. If you’re running out the door to the furniture store, at least walk across the room and count your footsteps. Most feet are somewhere in the 10 to 12 inch range. Counting your footsteps will give you a rough measurement before you shop.

Always check the dimensions of the hallways, stairs and door widths leading to the space. This is the eternal challenge for the homeowner, being sure the entrance and egress of the room is large enough for potential purchases. Choosing a piece of furniture that can’t fit through the doors is disheartening, to say the least.

2. Estimate Volume
Objects are like people-they have the same physical characteristics as we do. All have height, depth and width. For added visual interest, “people” your room with varying furniture of varying characteristics. If you are going for a serene, unchallenging area for rest or recover, keep the furnishing volumes in a room similar.

3. It’s All a Matter of Scale
The size of pieces relative to one another and the size of the space is their scale. Again, similarly scaled pieces are more serene when used together, but a nice balance of pieces creates a harmonious atmosphere, utilizing the differing physical qualities of height, depth and width throughout the room. When furnishings are out of scale-say, the rug is too small for the space or one piece of furniture is really gargantuan-you’ll notice that it just won’t feel comfortable or right.

4. Create a Healthy Relationship
The relationship of items to one another to form a pleasing whole is termed balance. There are two forms of balance, symmetrical and asymmetrical.

Bilateral symmetry is like the human body: there are two of everything. Asymmetry refers to an imbalance, such as two candles of slightly different sizes next to each other. Symmetry is very restful, while asymmetry is used to add visual motion and excitement.

5. Paint Your Room
Look at your space as a painter looks at a work of art. There are visual tricks that painters use to create the appearance of depth in a space. You can use these tools too.

The first trick painters use is “triangulation.” A painting begins with images lower in the left and right corners with objects coming to a peak just above mid-center of the painting. This draws the viewer into the scene, which is what the painter wants to accomplish. A basic example of triangulation used in interior design is the placement of two end tables on either side of a sofa with a painting over the sofa. If you can imagine this scene, it is lower on the corners with the apex of the view just above mid-center at the top of the painting.

The second trick painters use is the creation of depth in artwork, which is a two-dimensional medium. Paintings often have a foreground, mid-ground, background and vanishing point. Look at the bottom of, say, a river scene with mountains. The river will appear near the bottom of the painting, trees will make up the mid-ground, the mountains the background and the place in the painting where the “eye can see no further” is the vanishing point.

Stand at the threshold of your room. Place a chair, perhaps at an angle, in the foreground closest to you. The cocktail table will provide a mid-ground and the sofa with the wall behind it, the background. A window in the scene will give you your vanishing point. Or, the vanishing point can be within a work of art placed above the sofa.

6. Think Gestalt
All furniture arrangements have a certain gestalt, or “totality,” a “form.” Large rectangular spaces can be dealt with by dividing the “form” of the space into another form. A long narrow living space, for instance, can be split in two by creating zones of function. Say, one half is for the sofa, or the function of conversing, and the other half is for a dining set, or the function of dining.

This helps you take the bite out of large rectangular rooms by dividing them into squares by zones of function. Humans tend to feel more comfortable and less formal in square furniture arrangements vs. rectangular.

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Home Maintenance

Monthly Safety Tests:

• Make your home safer by inspecting these items monthly and keeping them up-to-date.
• automatic garage door opener
• ground fault interrupter receptacles and circuit breakers
• inspect and lubricate windows for emergency exits
• carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms
• general inspection of heating unit and water heater

Fall and Spring Chores
No matter where you live, seasonal changes in temperature and moisture levels require special maintenance tasks. Fall and Spring cleaning are necessary to maintain a house's appearance and keep it in good condition.

• close and drain hose bibs (fall), open hose bibs (spring)
• rake debris away from side of house and other structures
• clean out gutters and downspout elbows
• check gutters, downspouts, and roof penetrations for leaks
• treat wood gutters (fall)
• check and repair caulk (if needed) around exterior nbsp; surfaces
• note any cracks in foundation, brick or stucco
• scrub mildewed areas of house exterior and treat for mildew and fungus on decks (spring)
• clean gaps between deck boards above joists
• clean around air conditioner compressor
• trim any trees or shrubs that touch house
• inspect and replace (if needed) weatherstripping
• inspect and repair (if needed) screens
• inspect and clean (if needed) storm window weep holes
• clean out under decks and porches
• inspect and repair (if needed) glazing compound
• clean out basement window wells

Heating, Cooling and Hot Water Systems

Most heating system maintenance should be done twice a year, once before the heating season and once before the cooling season.

• general furnace inspection: look for rust, scaling on heat exchanger, proper flame color, note odd sounds or smells and check condition of venting
• test for proper drafting at furnace and/or water heater diverter, examine flue for leaks, rust, damage
• examine pressure-temperature relief valve for leaking, and test, if desired
• arrange for appropriate regular servicing and cleaning of combustion appliances
• drain hot water system expansion tank
• check hot water system water level (pressure)
• bleed hot water system radiators

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Control the Moisture in Your New Home - It's Important!

Today’s building products have eliminated much of the time-consuming and often tedious work involved in home maintenance. However, no home is maintenance-free. Special care is especially required to maintain modern, energy-efficient homes which are tightly constructed to seal out the cold weather in winter and keep in cool air in summer.

Guidelines for properly venting your home should be followed in order to prevent excess moisture from building up inside the home, which can result in damage that would not be covered by the statutory warranty. Bathroom fans, kitchen range hoods and packaged ventilators such as heat-recovery ventilators are specifically installed in your home to help you control moisture and contaminants. As well, regular use of your home ventilation system will remove excess airborne moisture caused by bathing, showering, doing laundry and cooking.

What causes moisture damage?
Your home can be damaged when weather-related water is allowed to enter and remain in the structure. Water from leaking pipes or fixtures that is not immediately cleaned up, and indoor humidity levels that are not properly controlled, can have serious consequences.

Sometimes this damage is easily seen; at other times the damage is hidden inside wall or roof space. Regardless of where it occurs, moisture damage can lead to serious problems, such as rot and structural failure.

How can I control moisture?
We recommend that new homeowners always use their home ventilation system to control moisture. Here are some tips you can follow to help prevent moisture damage to your home.

Outside the home        

Inside the home  
1. When using a humidifier or dehumidifier, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. In the winter, keep the relative humidity in your home in the range of 30-45%. Lower humidity levels may affect your health and cause things made of wood to shrink. Excess humidity can cause condensation on windows and damage the surrounding wall. In the summer, dehumidify the basement to avoid condensation build-up on the cool foundation walls. Relative humidity levels should not exceed 60%. 

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