Gutter repair
Straight Overlap Seam Repair:
Using EPDM Peel & Stick
1. Ensure that gutter is clean
2. Must be dry
3. Lightly sand with 200 grit sand paper
4. Peel back 8 – 12″ EPDM Peel & Stick and apply to seam
5. EPDM must extend 6 – 8″ over seam both ways
6. Use hair dryer to keep EPDM flexible
EDPM Peel 7 Stick ie: Protecto Wrap, Quaker Brand can be purchased at roofing distributors.
Tremco Instant Patch method and EPDM Peel and Stick method will work for either corners or overlap seams.
Looking for Information About Strata Living
The Canadian Condominium institute or CCI can benefit a person buying into or currently owning a condo in several ways; the most obvious being that, as a member of your local chapter and through the national organization, you gain direct access to certified experts in every field that is involved with condominiums, thus profiting from their experiences.
The CCI is a national, independent, non-profit organization that deals exclusively with condominium issues. CCI is currently celebrating their 25th year representing all participants in the condominium community from professionals and owners to builders and contractors. CCI currently has 15 chapters across Canada and is constantly growing stronger.
Strata boards or councils that become members of CCI are able to access a wealth of information and resources. Membership in CCI allows access to professionals, and discounted “membership rates” when registering for condominium courses and other sponsored CCI events. Informative national newsletters and articles are also at your disposal, and when necessary, lobbying efforts to encourage reform on behalf of condo owners.
For more information on the Canadian Condominium Institute, the national website is www.cci.ca and links to individual chapter sites throughout Canada.
HouseSmart Renovations named a finalist for prestigious Georgie Award
Shell Busey’s HouseSmart Renovations is in the running for a coveted Canadian Home Builders Association Georgie Award. HouseSmart has been nominated
in the category of Best Residential Renovation $200,000 – $399,999. Each year the Canadian Home Builders’ Association of BC recognizes select companies for excellence in new homes and renovation design. Last year HouseSmart Renovations was awarded the National Canadian Home Builders Association SAM Award for Best Kitchen Renovation. This year’s winners will be announced on February 8, 2008 at a Gala dinner in Vancouver.
About the project:
Real potential was visualized in this 35-year-old Langley home. A one acre lot on a quiet street in a natural setting amongst mature trees made an extensive renovation worthwhile. The main living space has an open concept including a centre stairway coming up the middle into the spacious dining room and gorgeous kitchen. The floor to ceiling cabinetry with beautiful crown moulding in clear alder are in a cappuccino stain. In the centre of the kitchen is a large working island in a black distressed finish with raised eating bar all in granite. Heated ceramic tile floor in the kitchen and garden room transition into hand scraped hardwood floors in the main living space.
An archway with built in bookcases welcome you into the great room with a custom fireplace mantel over the gas fireplace. Then if that area wasn’t enough – double French pocket doors open up into a “garden room”. Natural light pours in to this space that can be included for large entertaining or closed off for a quiet retreat. Off the kitchen / eating area is a large back deck that is more than fifty percent covered tying indoor and outdoor living together. The consistency of the size of windows complete with shutter style window treatments helps the entire home look nothing like a renovation. The principle suite and ensuite boast a 2 person soaker tub and large clear glass walled shower. In addition there is a ground level 1 bedroom legal suite. Colour, natural light and the perfect setting some up the qualities of this “new” home.
How to remove out-of-date vinyl and foil wallpaper off my bathroom walls?
Trying to remove that heavy vinyl or foil wallpaper can be very frustrating. Don’t give up – there is an easy solution. Begin at the top and pull the face of the paper straight down at 180 degrees flat to the wall. Apply a wallpaper removing solution to the back side. Allow the solution to migrate down the backside between the wall and the paper, releasing the paper from the wall. If the paper is heavy vinyl or foil, use a wallpaper perforating device (like the Paper Tiger – available at many wallpaper and paint stores) scoring and perforating the paper vertically and horizontally. Apply wallpaper removing solution directly over the paper to penetrate through the perforations, this will release the paper from the wall.
Once the majority of the vinyl & foil surface is removed, you can mix and use the homemade solution, which will make the remaining backing of wallpaper come off easy.
Hint – You can make your own wallpaper removing solution by mixing 1 cup (250 mL) of fabric softener (eg. Fleecy or Downy) into one litre of warm water. Spray onto wall and let soak about 5 minutes before scraping off.
Wash your walls with Shell Busey Home Cleaning Formula and rinse well before painting.
Why is frost forming on roof sheathing in my attic & how do I fix it?
Q: Last winter I noticed signs of white frost forming on the underside of the roof sheathing in the attic. Is this normal or is there something I can do to prevent it? Is this a job that the average homeowner can tackle?
A: Warm air from your home carrying high humidity during the winter months will be pushed up in and around light fixtures and the attic access allowing it to condense and freeze on the underside of your roof sheathing and turning in frost. The reason this is simply that your home has not been draft proofed to stop this air leakage and is possibly lacking sufficient roof ventilation. For more information on draft proofing your home contact Natural Resources Canada @ 1-800-387-2000 and ask them to send you the pamphlet on “Air Leakage”. Follow the outlined instructions on how to draft proof properly. To correct the roof ventilation, calculate the square footage of the insulated area and divide this by 200. This will give the amount of square feet of sufficient roof ventilation. 50% percent of this calculation is required in the soffit venting (overhang) and the other 50% on the roof, preferable along the ridge if you have a gable roof. You may be required to use mushroom or gable vents depending on the roof design. Contact the HouseSmart Referral office if you would prefer to have a company perform the draftproofing for you at 604-542-2236.
Shell Busey
How to lay ceramic tile over existing vinyl flooring properly
Q. Can we apply ceramic tile directly over an existing vinyl floor with a plywood subfloor and underlayment?
A. Yes, you can apply ceramic tile over the proposed substrate. To begin, wash the floor with a dewaxing solution such as Shell Busey’s Home Cleaning Formula. Then lightly sand with 60-grit sandpaper if the floor has a high gloss finish. (This is just to etch the surface.) Remove any dust with a damp cloth. Next, apply a galvanized diamond wire lathe over the entire surface using half-inch staples. Trowel over top with a thin set mortar floor levelling compound. Allow to cure overnight. Proceed to set tiles using adhesives, mortar and grout. (Note: It is important to seal the grout lines before any major foot traffic.)
It’s just that easy!
Shell Busey
How to cut and lay vinyl flooring properly yourself
Q: I want to change the old linoleum in a small guest bathroom but I am a little nervous about tackling the job since I have never attempted to install vinyl flooring myself. Do you have some tips that will help me with measuring and cutting to avoid having seams showing?
A: Installing a sheet-vinyl floor is a manageable do-it-yourself project with proper preparation. Most bathrooms can be covered with one piece of sheet vinyl flooring which is sold in 6′ and 12′ widths, making it possible to install a seamless floor in smaller areas. To begin, remove the toilet. You can make a template of the floor layout using heavy glossy magazine or flyer paper and place over the entire area. Tape all these pieces together to form a full size pattern. Next, in another room lay the new vinyl flooring on a flat surface face down and place the template on the vinyl. Trace around the pattern then cut the vinyl with snips allowing a half-inch oversize. Roll the vinyl up and lay it in position in the bathroom then trim to size using a vinyl utility knife.
When you are ready to apply the adhesive, fold or roll back half of the vinyl into the middle. Spread adhesive on the sub-floor for one side of the floor following manufactures instructions. Carefully lay the floor back in place and roll vinyl into adhesive. Repeat the process for the other half of floor. To ensure proper adhesion, roll from the centre out using a vinyl floor roller or a rolling pin. Avoid foot traffic for at least 24-hours to allow the adhesive to dry. When re-installing the toilet be sure to use a new Wax Seal, applying the wax seal to the base of the toilet before placing over floor flange. I should also mention that installation kits are available through flooring retailers that include all the necessary tools for this project.
Shell Demonstrates Just How Easy it is To Save Energy
Upgrading your furnace to a high efficiency ENERGY STAR qualified model with a high efficiency variable speed motor is the greatest improvement you can make to lower your heating costs and save energy. You could save over 30% annually on your heating costs compared to an old standard efficiency furnace. When investing in a new furnace, it’s also important to take steps to ensure your home is properly draft sealed and insulated to get the benifit as well.
For some tips on how to save energy in your home, check out the how-to videos featuring Shell Busey demonstrating just how easy it is to:
Change a furnace filter
Apply shrink film to windows
Install a Water Wizard™
Install weather-stripping
Apply caulking to windows & doors
Install a low-flow showerhead
Click Here to View Videos.
Homeowners could receive rebates as high as $5,000 under a federal plan to make homes and businesses more energy efficient. It is expected that the average grant for a single property will be more than $1,000 depending on the individual upgrades performed. The average grant is expected to yield reductions in energy use and costs of approximately 30% and greenhouse gas emission reductions of approximately 4 tonnes per house. By implementing the energy retrofit recommendations, a typical homeowner could save $600 a year on a $2,000 annual heating bill. Under this new plan, home assessment checklists will be required by Certified Energy Advisors who will provide a list of upgrades and the grant amount for each as well as the relative impact of the upgrade on the home’s energy efficiency. You can order an energy audit through ecoEnergy, which will pinpoint exactly where the problems in your home are. For more details on this program please feel free to contact the HouseSmart Referral Office at 604-542-2236 or outside the Lower Mainland 1-888-266-8806 or visit Natural Resources Canada website.
Also check with your local utility provider for other rebates or grants available in your area. In some provinces, ENERGY STAR qualified furnaces and boilers are exempt from PST.
